Ribs aren’t just a food; they’re an experience. They’re all things meaty and tender, sweet and smoky, sticky and juicy, no matter how you make them. Ree Drummond jokes that she feels like a “cavewoman” when she eats them, but “sometimes it’s just fun to cut loose, lean over your plate, and dive in with both hands, unconcerned about how unfeminine—and covered in sauce—you look.”
Making ribs isn’t an everyday occurrence for most, either. You put so much time and care into making them, even if you pop them in the slow cooker. And let’s be honest, they don’t usually come in small portions, so you end up making a big ol’ rack and eating as much as you can… but what if you have leftovers? Do you know how to reheat ribs?
Reheating BBQ ribs so they stay juicy and tender and keep all that flavor can’t simply be done by popping them in the microwave, after all. Please, don’t do that. They’ll get all rubbery! But you can still reheat ribs in a few simple steps. You just need a little patience, just like you did when making them. Read on for more.
What is the best way to reheat leftover barbecue ribs?
The best way to reheat ribs is in an oven. Preheat your oven to 250˚F, then take your ribs out of the refrigerator to let them warm to room temperature. Place your ribs in a pan and add a bit of liquid to the pan to help keep them moist, like broth. Then cover the ribs tightly with aluminum foil and cook for about 15 minutes or until they are warmed through. The same process can be done on indirect heat on the grill!
Is it better to reheat ribs fast or slow?
Much like making ribs from scratch, reheating ribs is best done low and slow to retain moisture. But you can speed up the process by using your air fryer if you’re in a hurry. Set the air fryer to 300˚F and cut the ribs into smaller portions to fit in the basket without overlapping. Brush them with a little moisture (broth or sauce), then cook them for three to four minutes per side. They may not be as juicy as the original, but a little more sauce can help mask that.
How do you keep ribs moist when reheating in the oven?
Adding moisture is the key to reheating ribs. Think of what you used in the original recipe to add it in the first place: broth, stock, soda (like Ree’s Dr Pepper ribs), and even more sauce will work. It helps compensate for the moisture lost due to the oven's heat.
The other key to retaining moisture is sealing the aluminum foil around the pan. This helps circulate the heat and trap the moisture inside, so it has nowhere else to go but into the meat itself. The end result is hot, tender, and moist ribs. Just don’t forget to set out extra napkins while they’re heating back up. You’re gonna need ‘em!
