Everyone loves it when it comes to eating BBQ ribs. After all, they taste divine! — but cooking them? Whew! That is far from an easy process. Handling raw racks of ribs crusted with dry blood, or in some cases, fresh blood seeping through the burst arteries, is not pleasant. The slimy feeling of the meat and the membrane at the bottom don’t really add to the overall appeal either. You’ll need to put in hours upon hours of effort before the final, scrumptious meal is ready.
If you’ve had to deal with the same process, you’re probably tired of the intensive cleaning and cooking. Or maybe you’re wondering how to remove the membrane from ribs. If that’s the case, we’ve got you covered. This blog will tell you the easiest way to peel off that tricky membrane layer off your precious baby back ribs.
Do You Need to Remove The Membrane From Baby Back Ribs?
Many people wonder if removing the thin, translucent layer of membrane even makes a difference. And let us tell you, it makes all the difference, especially if you want your baby back ribs to have fall-off-the-bone meat. Cooking ribs with the membrane stuck to the meat can throw off the entire texture. The membrane might be thin, but it keeps the meat from sliding right off the bones, leading to frigid meat. Thus, it’s vital to take that extra time to pull out the membrane carefully.
What Happens If You Don’t Remove The Membrane From Pork Ribs?
If you decide to skip out on or simply cannot remove the membrane from ribs, your meat will end up chewy. Moreover, in the case you’re grilling or smoking the meat, the membrane will act as a barrier. This will prevent the dry rub or any sort of marinade you made from fully absorbing into the meat. Instead, you’ll be left with dry, flavorless ribs that are far too hard to chew. Since the intense richness of the smoke won’t be able to penetrate the meat.
How To Remove Membrane From Ribs
As delightful as it would be to have a rib membrane removal tool, it’s not exactly sustainable. There are various other ways you can peel away the thin layer easily. Although it might take slightly more time, the feeling you get after is one of pure victory and joy. Here are five helpful yet easy steps you can follow to remove the membrane from baby back ribs:
- Start by loosening the edge of the translucent layer on one corner with a blunt knife.
- Insert the knife underneath the membrane and place the rack of ribs on a flat surface.
- Slowly begin pulling at the membrane with a paper towel to prevent it from slipping.
- Yank the last remaining layer off for it to come off in a single piece.
- Once the membrane has been removed, continue to prepare your ribs with dry seasoning.
What’s Next?
In conclusion, if you were racking your mind, trying to find a simple, hassle-free way on how to remove the membrane from ribs, you now know. But if you don’t feel like going through the trouble of doing all that, just contact Jerry Lawler’s Memphis BBQ Company instead. We have plenty of customizable bbq menu options to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Dial (281) 864-5298 (Wallisville Road) or (832) 446-6557 (Jester Blvd. Suite) today!