How Long To Cook Ribs In The Oven At 350F – Ultimate Guide
Do you know how long to cook ribs in the oven at 350F? The answer may not be as simple as many people think.
But fear not, because today I will show you the ultimate guide to determining the best cooking times for different kinds of ribs, cuts, and sizes. I’m sure you’ll get the juicy and tender ribs after this cooking process.
If you love food guides like this, you will also enjoy other meaty tutorials like How Long To Bake Chicken Breasts and my Chicken Wing Internal Temperature Guide.
What Will Affect The Cooking Time Of Baked Ribs At 350?
There are MANY factors that will massively affect the ultimate cooking time of ribs. While this may not seem like such a big deal, it could mean the difference between undercooked, overcooked ribs, or perfectly cooked savory treats.
A quick example of this is when it comes to the type of ribs that you use. A rack of beef ribs is MASSIVE compared to baby back pork ribs. The difference in cooking time can be hours!
So, before looking at an exact answer, let’s dive into the variables that will affect it.
Type Of Ribs
First things first: the type of meat will massively affect the cooking time of the ribs, even if the size of the racks is the same. For example, lamb is much easier and quicker to cook than beef.
Now, naturally, the type of meat will also affect the size of the rack as well as the type of cut.
Cut Of Ribs
Because the size of a full rack of ribs differs SO massively between different animals, the cuts also look quite different, even if they go by the same name.
There are 3 main kinds of beef ribs. Short ribs, flanken-style ribs, and baby-back beef ribs. Short ribs are the larger of these and will take the longest to cook. Furthermore, it’s a super meaty cut which also adds to the overall cooking time.
When it comes to pork, which is arguably the most popular kind of rib, there are MANY cuts and specialty cuts. The most common options include spare ribs, baby back pork ribs, St. Louis-style ribs, country-style ribs, or even boneless ribs.
Larger pork ribs, such as spare ribs, take significantly longer to cook than smaller cuts like baby back ribs, or thinner cuts like country-style ribs.
And finally, when it comes to lamb ribs, usually they are cooked on the rack. Surprisingly, because of the TYPE of meat, a rack of lamb doesn’t take super long to cook.
Size Of The Rack
Now, we’ve just discussed how different cuts affect how long to cook ribs at 350. And naturally, the different cuts have different sizes.
But can the same cut from different animals have different sizes as well? Of course, they can! And this is another reason many people struggle with it when cooking ribs.
You can have two portions of baby back pork ribs, each cut in the exact same style. But, if one of them weighs 1 1/2 pounds and the other 2 pounds, the cooking time will differ.
Are You Using Pre-Cooked Ribs?
Another very important variable people often overlook is what type of meat they are working with.
Are they using uncooked ribs or smoked ribs? Even using cured or marinated ribs can affect the cooking time.
Uncooked ribs will always take the longest to cook, regardless of type, cut, or size.
Exact Cooking Technique Used
This point kind of goes hand in hand with the one above. If there are any prior preparations of cooking techniques used on the ribs, it may affect the overall cooking time.
If, for example, you are charring the ribs before slow-cooking them in the oven, it will shorten the time slightly.
Furthermore, if you are baking the ribs covered versus uncovered, it will also affect the cooking time.
How Long To Cook Beef Ribs In The Oven At 350F?
Boneless beef short ribs will take about 1 – 1 1/2 hours to bake in the preheated oven at 350 F (180⁰C).
When the bones are still in, the cooking time increases to between 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on the exact size.
Flanket-style ribs have a much shorter cooking time. Traditionally they are grilled over high heat. But, if you do want to bake them, they will take between 20-35 minutes, again depending on their size.
How Long To Cook Pork Ribs In The Oven At 350F?
Pork spare ribs are quite big, so should be baked for at least 2 1/2 hours. If you add some liquid and cover the roasting tray, this cooking time can increase significantly. The benefit of this is that your meat will start falling off the bone without overcooking or drying out. For a slightly different cooking method check out my recipe Slow Cook Ribs In An Oven At 200 Degrees.
Baby back ribs can bake in the oven at 350 F for roughly 50-70 minutes, depending on the size.
Country-style ribs are similar to beef flanken-style ribs, so take much less time to bake. You can expect them to be done within 20-30 minutes.
To achieve more delicious pork ribs, I suggest putting barbecue sauce for the last 20 minutes before they cook. The caramelized BBQ sauce will surely enhance the taste of your baked ribs.
How Long To Bake A Rack Of Lamb At 350F?
A rack of lamb can be cooked in the oven at 350 F for as little as 40 minutes. But if you want the meat to fall off the bone, cover the roasting tray and bake the rack for up to 2 hours.
How Long To Cook Ribs In Oven Covered With Foil?
When you cover the ribs or roasting tray with aluminum foil first, the cooking time will increase.
By how much? It’s difficult to say because of the many other variables.
You can expect the cooking time to increase by at least 5-10% on average. But, if you use a good cooking technique, the ribs can be baked for hours longer, resulting in tender, juicy, perfectly cooked ribs that melt in your mouth.
How To Know When Ribs Are Done Baking?
The most accurate way to test the doneness of ribs in the oven without the meat falling off the bone is to test the internal temperature using a meat thermometer.
Beef ribs need to reach at least 160⁰F (71⁰C). A rack of lamb has to be at least 145⁰F before being safe to eat. With both of these meats, you can cook them for longer or until their internal temperatures are higher. These are just minimums.
Pork ribs are safe to eat at 145⁰F. However, most people recommend cooking it to 190-205⁰F instead. This is when the meat falls off the bone and melts away in your mouth.
Can you overcook the ribs?
Yes, you can overcook ribs! Especially if using a dry rub as the sugar in the mix will caramelize and burn when cooked for too long.
If cooking ribs uncovered in your oven at 350 F, plan on 45-60 minutes depending on the size of the rib rack. Always check the internal temperature to ensure the meat is safe to eat and not overdone. For larger racks, it may take up to 90 minutes or even a bit more.
What temperature should the ribs be when done?
The internal temperature of the ribs should reach at least 145⁰F for them to be fully cooked, properly, and safe to eat. Keep in mind that bigger rib racks may take longer to cook and need to reach a higher temperature.
How long should I let the ribs rest after cooking?
It is important to let your ribs rest for at least 10-15 minutes after cooking. This will allow the juices to circulate throughout the meat, creating more succulent and tender ribs. To make sure you don’t overcook them, check the temperature of the middle rib bone with a thermometer. It should be around 145⁰F before they’re safe to eat.
How to store leftover cooked ribs?
Leftover baked ribs can be stored in an airtight container for up to four days. Make sure they are completely cooled before storing. When you are ready to reheat, take them out and place them on a baking sheet. Heat in a preheated 350°F oven, until heated through – about 10-15 minutes, should do the trick.
What are the best sauces to use with oven-cooked ribs?
Now you’ve learned how to cook ribs in the oven at 350F, let’s talk about sauces. The best sauces to use are those that are thick and sticky, like the all-time favorite BBQ sauce or a honey mustard glaze.
These will help the ribs develop a flavorful crust on the outside while staying juicy and tender on the inside. You can also mix up your favorite marinade or dry rubs for more flavor to this delicious meal.
