Dreaming of fall-off-the-bone ribs without the hours of cooking? Look no further than your air fryer! This innovative kitchen appliance takes rib night to a whole new level, delivering juicy, tender ribs in a fraction of the traditional time. With a simple marinade or rub and a quick air fry, you’ll be savoring restaurant-quality ribs in under an hour.
Ingredients
- Rack of pork ribs (baby back or spare ribs)
- BBQ rub of your choice
- Optional: Aluminum foil
- Barbecue sauce
Instructions
1. Prep the Ribs:
Cut the rack of ribs in half, or into thirds, to fit your air fryer basket.
Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs, if desired. This is a thin layer of connective tissue that can make the ribs chewy. You can find videos online for how to easily remove the membrane.
Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. This helps the seasoning adhere and promotes crispier ribs.
2. Season the Ribs:
Generously coat both sides of the ribs with your favorite BBQ rub.
3. Air Fry the Ribs (2 Methods):
Method 1 (For a more fall-off-the-bone texture):
- Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (163°C).
- Arrange the ribs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them for even cooking.
- (Optional) For extra juicy ribs, add 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 35 minutes at 325°F (163°C).
- Increase the heat to 400°F (204°C) and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meatiest part of the ribs reaches 170°F (77°C).
Method 2 (For a crispier texture):
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C).
- Wrap the ribs loosely in aluminum foil (optional). This can help steam the ribs for a more tender texture in the beginning.
- Arrange the ribs in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 20 minutes at 380°F (193°C), flipping the ribs halfway through.
- Remove the foil (if used) and brush the ribs with barbecue sauce.
- Increase the heat to 400°F (204°C) and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and caramelized and the internal temperature of the meatiest part of the ribs reaches 190-200°F (88-93°C).
4. Rest and Serve:
- Let the ribs rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making them even more tender.
- Serve with additional barbecue sauce for dipping, if desired.
Tips
- You can adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your ribs and your desired level of doneness.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will prevent the ribs from cooking evenly.
- If you find that your ribs are getting too brown on the outside before they are cooked through, you can lower the heat to 350°F (177°C) for the last few minutes of cooking.
- For a smoky flavor, you can add a few drops of liquid smoke to your BBQ rub.
Enjoy your delicious air-fried ribs!
