How To Reheat Ribs Without Drying Them Out – Keep Fresh

How To Reheat Ribs Without Drying Them Out; I can say with full confidence that your ribs were so fine, that there would not have been a single piece of meat left in them. If it’s not, you’ve served guests more ribs than you saved.

But when you find yourself with leftover ribs that you want to enjoy again but you may have trouble reheating them because what’s the best way to reheat leftover ribs? what are you interested in?

Reheating leftover ribs is not an easy task, if you overheat the ribs they will surely turn into a dry mess which we don’t want.

This post will teach you how to lock in as much moisture as possible and how to store it well while keeping the ribs tender while you reheat them.

We are sure that you will know some different techniques here that will make you an expert in reheating ribs.

How To Reheat Ribs Without Drying Them Out

Heating leftover ribs and retaining moisture inside them comes with proper storage that prevents them from turning into a hard mess.

You don’t want the leftover ribs to lose their moisture. It’s important to take as many steps as you can when you’re freezing or refrigerating ribs.

Below we’ve put together some essential tips on how to store and reheat ribs to get the best flavor and moisture out of the rest of the rack, which goes a long way.

1. First of all, you have to keep in mind to keep your leftover ribs in the fridge as soon as possible, or else bacteria like salmonella, staphylococcus, and E. coli will grow rapidly which is harmful to health and ribs.
2. Cut ribs into serving-size portions are the most efficient way to store and refrigerate them. It is up to you how much you serve. Usually, it is preferred to cut the rack in half or in thirds.
3. After cutting the rib, wrap it tightly in two layers of aluminum foil and then seal a plastic bag or container and leave it in your ice cooler for at least 2 hours. Take care not to take the ribs out without refrigerating them.
4. A vacuum-sealed bag is the best solution if you want to preserve its moisture for storage; if you don’t have one, you can also use a sealed container or zip-lock bag.
5. Refrigeration, freezing, or reheating them all will strip the moisture of the ribs, so you’ll need to try to add moisture to them. You can use rib broth or a splash of Coke to cut back the moisture, but apple juice or cider vinegar is a great seasoning for pork ribs.
6. It is important to ensure that all types of bacteria can be destroyed by returning the ribs to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit according to USDA guidelines.
7. Most importantly, whenever you’re going to reheat ribs, you’ll want to avoid direct heat and choose the lowest hotspot to keep the moisture in your ribs. Although it will take some time to cook, it is the best way to reheat most ribs.

How to reheat ribs in a microwave

It’s easy to reheat ribs in the microwave that will soon be ready to go in your stomach but it’s almost impossible to get the best results out of it. The microwave dries out the moisture from your food faster and also has a reputation for not heating up consistently.

Although you can serve ribs when guests suddenly come to your house and they are in a hurry, you can get the best results by taking a few steps from your microwave.

Use two wet paper towel method

Moisture is the key to reheating and not drying your ribs. Removing ribs in the microwave is easy, all you have to do is soak two paper towels in water and then ring. Now put the soaked towel under one vessel and the other on top of it.

Your microwave will soon turn the water from the soaked paper towels into steam. This will help keep your ribs moist and cooked through. The paper towels will wipe off the fat and BBQ sauce inside your oven.

Follow the guidelines given below.

1. Keep your ribs in a container with no lid
2. Place a wet paper towel under it and another on top of it.
3. Now set your microwave to medium power and after waiting 3 to 4 minutes check the internal temperature of the ribs.
4. If the internal temperature of your ribs reaches 140˚F it is ready to serve. If it doesn’t reach this temperature, take another 30 seconds and cook.

How to reheat ribs in a steamer

The best way to reheat ribs in a steamer is that it’s a great way to keep the ribs moist and flavorful and liquid as part of the process.

I like to reheat in the steamer, maybe you like it somehow but here there is less to worry about losing moisture in the ribs.

1. Put your favorite juice (apple juice) in a large pot to boil on the stove. If I reheat beef ribs I will replace the apple juice with beer or thin beef broth.
2. Now after boiling, put in the steamer and place your ribs in the steamer and cover the top and keep a heavy object on top so that the steam does not leak.
3. The important thing is not to remove the lid when you are steaming the food or else the temperature of the pan will drop. The longer the lid is removed, the longer it will take for the ribs to cook. Steam the ribs for about 30 minutes, usually without removing the lid.
4. If you’ve spent 30 minutes without removing the lid, it’s time to check the temperature of the ribs at 140˚F, then transfer the ribs to a plate. If the temperature is not 140˚F, repeat the steaming process and add a little more liquid to the pot if necessary.
5. Pour the remaining liquid into the bottom of the pot, stir it well, and then add your freshly heated ribs to it.

How to reheat ribs in an oven

Do you know Matthew Registers? He’s the owner of Southern Smoke BBQ. Matthew Registers’s favorite technique is to reheat ribs in the oven.

He’s the expert in the world of BBQ at the best and suggests some great steps to follow to keep meat from drying out. We have also experienced and I have got the result which I am sharing with you.

1. Preheat your best oven to 250˚F.
2. If you cook ribs with sauce, add another layer of sauce or add Coke, rib broth, or even beer to moisten your ribs.
3. Now you need to place the ribs in a pan and cover it with aluminum foil.
4. Now you have to cook it to the internal temperature set at 145˚F and as soon as it reaches this temperature, take out your pan.
5. Now remove the aluminum foil wrapped on the pan and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes more so that the sauce caramelizes and the crust becomes slightly crisp.
6. Note, if you use a spice rub on your ribs, you’ll need to wait until it’s hot and rub the spices again before serving.

How to reheat ribs in an air fryer

Reheat the ribs in an air fryer that uses hot air to cook your deep-fat ribs. The air fryer heats the outside of your ribs, making them a great crust.

Unfortunately, the air fryer doesn’t produce good results with wet ribs, so to use it you’ll need to barbecue the ribs with a dry rub and avoid soaking them in the sauce.

1. Your first step is to set your air fryer to preheat to 350°F.
2. Second, most air fryers are too small for your ribs, so cut your ribs so that they fit snugly, taking care that they don’t come off. If you stuff the ribs in an air fryer, the hot air won’t circulate well enough to reach some of the ribs.
3. The temperature of the air fryer should be 140˚F. This is important.
4. The hot air will dry out your ribs so to avoid that situation add a spoonful of oil and be prepared for some extra crunchiness.
5. Your ribs will be cooked for 3-5 minutes in the air fryer, for this, you need to check their internal temperature. Make sure your ribs don’t dry out as the air fryer will burn your food quickly. Cook the ribs in as small pieces as possible.

How to reheat ribs on the grill

If you want to reheat leftover ribs in your barbecue grill, that’s also possible, but caution is essential otherwise it will all go to waste. Learn how to smoke cheese and mac

Follow the directions so you can preserve the flavor and moisture of the ribs.

1. First, you need to preheat your grill to 250F. Remember, preheat your grill first.
2. Wrap your leftover ribs tightly with aluminum foil and then wrap them with another layer of aluminum foil to really lock in the moisture inside.
3. Place the ribs in the indirect heating zone of the grill and use your thermometer to temperature its accuracy and allow it to heat to an internal temperature of 165F.
4. Take it off the grill as soon as it reaches your set temperature, let it cool for a while and serve it with your favorite sauce.

How to use sous vide for reheat ribs

What are the sous vide method? This ‘under vacuum’, sealed food in plastic bags is cooked with hot water. If you are using a vacuum sealer then this is the ideal method for you. The freezer or fridge can add ribs directly to your favorite sauce.

You may have found a great expert, but this method can also be used to reheat ribs over a large pot on the stovetop.

1. Heat your sous vide machine to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a large stove-top pot if you don’t have a sous vide machine.
2. Put the vacuum bag filled with the remaining ribs into the machine or pot.
3. Keep in mind that your sealed bag should be kept in hot water for 45 minutes per inch of thickness. If you are cooking frozen ribs, leave them there for an extra 30 minutes.
4. There is no need to worry about moisture as your bag is completely sealed and uses indirect heat to cook your meat.

Don’t have a vacuum sealer machine in your kitchen? A very handy machine for storing and reheating your BBQ leftovers, this is a must-have in your kitchen.

Final Verdict

I hope you enjoyed this recipe on how to reheat ribs without drying them out in several ways. I find Palia very tasty but still, my favorite is Grilled Tri Tip, the recipe of which I have shared with you on the link.