Guide to pork spare ribs

In the UK, there are 2 main types of ribs - spare ribs and baby back ribs. Both types of ribs are popular, but spare ribs can have a slightly more meat and bone content than baby back ribs.

In this butcher’s guide, we’ll walk you through what spare ribs are, how to cook them and what marinade to pair them with.

What are pork spare ribs?

Pork spare ribs are finger-licking good. Sourced from the belly side of the ribcage, they tend to contain more meat than other pork ribs. They also contain more fat, making them more tender than back ribs.

Spare ribs contain high levels of marbled fat and collagen, enhancing the flavour of the meat and how juicy they are.

Popular in Asian and American cuisine, spare ribs yield fantastic pork flavour, and when cooked properly, they offer mouth-watering succulence. With that in mind, let’s have a look at how to cook pork spare ribs.

How to cook pork spare ribs

Delicious and affordable, pork spare ribs can also claim to be versatile and can be cooked in quite a few different ways. Enjoy them oven-roasted, barbequed, smoked or even slow-cooked.

For fantastic oven-roasted spare ribs, we’d recommend seasoning well and covering in tin foil to lock in flavour and moisture. Cook for a long time to ensure that the meat fully tenderises and the fat renders down, adding rich flavour.

A classic favourite in the U.S., BBQ spare ribs work well when both seasoned and marinated. And ensure to baste the meat with the marinade throughout grilling. Tex-Mex-spiced and Asian-inspired marinades worked fantastically well with pork spare ribs. Slow-cooked spare ribs are also a winner; the tender meat will simply fall away from the bone and melt in your mouth!

How long does it take to cook a pork spare ribs

The time for how long to cook your spare ribs varies. As a rough guideline, oven-roasted spare ribs take around 2 and a half to 3 hours at a low temperature, around 150°C.

Check the advice on your spare ribs to ensure the best results.

Pork rib marinades

There are so many spare rib marinades that work well to give you tasty, juicy ribs. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Classic BBQ - Use a blend of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce with paprika and garlic for that classic barbecue flavour
  • Citrussy summer marinade - Mix oil, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, mustard and cumin, perfect for a summer barbecue
  • Sticky Asian marinade - A flavoursome marinade with equal parts soy sauce and honey plus crushed garlic, oyster sauce, brown sugar and fresh ginger. So good you’ll lick your fingers clean
  • The simple marinade - Short on time? Mix olive oil, ketchup and soy sauce for a deliciously simple marinade

Save around ½ of your marinade to baste before cooking.

The longer you marinate your ribs, the better the flavour. Aim for a minimum of 6 hours to around 24 hours.

Pork spare ribs from Campbells

Our extensive range of quality pork produce includes finger-licking spare ribs, available to buy online. Choose between our Asian inspired Chinese Style Pork Spare Ribs or classic Scotch Pork Spare Ribs, our meatiest rib that’s bursting with flavour!

We also offer mouth-watering baby back ribs. Buy any of our pork rib products, and the team at Campbells Meat will prepare them and deliver them freshly to your door!