Spare Ribs vs. St Louis Ribs Showdown

Everyone loves good ribs that are moist tender, and easy to pull from the bone. What are the differences between spare ribs and St. Louis ribs? Both are excellent choices, so long as it’s cooked slow and low, has a nice smoke ring, and is season properly.

Sometimes with ribs, less is more, some pit masters insist on only using a salt and pepper rub, and finishing with a light coating of barbeque sauce to finish the product. Make sure you have a sharp knife to cut to final product. Now that you’re ready to smoke some ribs, lets take a look at some of the differences.

At the end of the day our favorite part of smoking ribs is testing and learning. There’s no better option of picking up both, and choosing which ribs you and your family prefer.

Are St. Louis ribs and spare ribs the same thing?

No, while both St. Louis ribs and spare ribs are pork products, they are not the same thing. St. Louis ribs are often trimmed, rectangular in shape and are much easier to handle for beginners. On the other hand, spare ribs are a larger cut of pork ribs, that have more meat, and are cut from the belly of a pig. There may be a little more trimming and prepping when working with spare ribs.

What is the best way to cook St. Louis ribs?

If you ask a seasoned pit master, there’s only one way to cook St. Louis ribs: on an offset smoker, slow and low. However, there are a few different ways to cook St. Louis ribs: this could be done on a traditional gas grill, a kamado style grill like the big green egg, or even in an Instant Pot.

When smoking ribs different types of wood chunks are often added to enhance the flavor. Two of the most common wood chunks are maple and mesquite.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to cook spare ribs?

Similar to St. Louis ribs, spare ribs can be smoked using an offset smoker, a Big Green Egg, or even in the oven or with an Instant Pot. While many will scoff at using an Instant Pot – if you don’t have five hours of spare time, it’s an excellent quick option to get your ribs fix.

If you’re cooking in an Instant Pot – don’t forget Liquid Smoke. Be sure to use only a few drops, but this key ingredient will help add a nice smokey flavor to your cook.

Can I use the same recipe for St. Louis ribs and spare ribs?

More often than not, recipes for spare ribs and St. Louis ribs can be used interchangeably. If you’ve cooked ribs before, you’ll know that ever smoke is a bit different, and the amount of time required can vary based on the size of your rib rack, the outdoor temperature and how consistent you are able to keep the fire box. Check on the hour, and be sure to lightly spray and edges that are susceptible to getting burned.

What is the best knife to cut ribs?

When ribs are cooked properly they can become very delicate and easy to pull off the bone. When serving ribs, you want to make sure that you can make a clean cut the separates two bones, without bringing any extra meat with you.

When cutting ribs we often opt for something very sharp to cut right through the meat. Two great options are a chef knife, or a boning knife. Both are great options to give you a sharp cut to easily separate the two ribs.

We really like the Victorinox brand. Famous for their Swiss Army Knives too. The are affordable, durable, and will hold up for many years.

• Victorinox 8 inch Chef’s Knife
• Victorinox 6″ Boning Knife

Are St. Louis ribs more expensive than spare ribs?

St. Louis ribs are often slightly more expensive than spare ribs. This is due to the trimming and and prepping of the ribs before being sold at your local super market or butcher. That being said, the price difference isn’t too significant. The biggest factor when it comes to price will be the weight of the rack. The heavier the rack – the more expensive it will be when checking out.

Are St. Louis ribs more tender than spare ribs?

Some people believe that St. Louis ribs are more tender than spare ribs because they are trimmed to a rectangular shape, which removes some of the tougher connective tissue. However, the tenderness often comes down to the how the pitmaster preps and cooks their ribs.

Even when smoking spare ribs, if they are properly trimmed, and any excess bones are removed, they can be just as tender, if not more tender than St. Louis ribs.

Can I use the same rub or BBQ sauce for St. Louis ribs and spare ribs?

Yes, the same rub or BBQ sauce can generally be used for both St. Louis ribs and spare ribs. There are many different types of rubs that you can buy online, and at the grocery store. It’s also extremely easy to make your own once you find a batch that you enjoy. Lately, we’ve been going super simple, just using “dalmatian style,” the good old salt and pepper.

So are St. Louis ribs better than spare ribs?

The candid answer is that we haven’t met a rib we didn’t like. As long as it is season properly, cooked slow and low, and his a nice smokey flavor, you cannot go wrong with either cut.

When shopping for ribs, check what’s in stock, and these days, what’s on sale, and try to find the best cut available. We’re confident you cannot go wrong. Cooking ribs for family and friends is always a treat, and don’t