Grills Outdoor

5 Easy Steps To Cook Rib On Gas Grills

Written by George Arthur

Cooking Rib Guide

Are you keen to cook ribs on gas grills but find the process too challenging to try? We have the perfect solution for you!

Gas grills are more suitable for fast and intense cooking, but you need to grill them slowly at a low temperature to enjoy smoked, tender ribs. Wondering how to get the best results with gas grills? Keep reading to find out!

Today we are going to provide you with an easy-to-follow guide on cooking ribs. No fancy tools, no complications- just follow our instructions and recipe and enjoy the most tender, delicious smoked, grilled ribs with your fire pit grills in your own backyard.

Let’s get started!

Ingredients you need

  • 1 rack baby back ribs or more
  • 1 cup barbeque sauce
  • ½ cup powder rub (find powder rub recipe in the next section)

Preparation for cooking rib on a gas grill

1. Setting up your fire pit grill

Setting up the grill is the most crucial step in the grilling process of any food, along with ribs. If you have a quality fire pit and set it up the right way, there’s a higher chance of getting excellent results no matter whatever you cook.

Therefore, it would be best if you go for quality propane fire pits and have an extra tank of gas in case you run out with the first one.

In this cooking process, you will be using indirect heat (the rib piece won’t be directly over the burners) and need to check and monitor the surface temperature of the grill where the ribs will be cooking.

Therefore, you are going to need to experiment a little with your grill set up to figure out a steady low grill temperature in an area reserved for indirect heat. If you have four main burners at medium, you will get a steady 250°. By turning on the side burner, you will get 50° more.

If you have one burner, set a large pan on top of your cooking grate grills and cover it with a rack. We recommend using a surface thermometer to check the temperature and set it at 225°- 250° for grilling the ribs. Clean and oil your grills before starting the process to maintain the quality and taste of your grilled ribs.

2. Prepare rib rack and give it a rub

Avoid frozen ribs and go for the fresh racks of ribs, as they are the best option if you want to enjoy tender, delicious grilled ribs. Use a paper towel to pat them dry as you open them up.

Now, trim the membrane sheath from the back of each rack. Use a small, sharp knife to run in between the membrane and snip off. Get rid of the membrane that covers the bones so that the rub can penetrate the meat easily and thoroughly.

Try not to cut off all the membrane (or fats) as the objective is to reduce the thicker parts and prepare the meat in a square, even shape. The ideal amount of fat will help to keep the meat moist and tender while grilling.

Now that you have prepared your rack of ribs, rinse it with cold water, and let it dry wrapped with paper towels.

While the rib rack is set for drying, you can make a powder rub using different ingredients to add versatile flavors to your grilled ribs.

You will find several DIY rub recipes that you can try. However, we are providing you a list of a few simple, easy-to-find ingredients that you can use to make the powder rub.

Ingredients for powder rub
  • 1/4 cup (8 tablespoons) brown sugar
  • 2/3 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Now, prepare the mixture using all the ingredients mentioned earlier; spread as much of the powder rub onto both sides of the ribs as you want it, but try not to overdo it. If you want to avoid the ribs from getting too dark and spicy, do not thoroughly rub the powder into the ribs. Just let it sit through.

3. Get the cooking accessories

Having the ideal set of culinary tools can speed up your cooking process with less effort and less trouble. Therefore, make sure you have your hands on the best gas smoker grill combo set before you jump with the process.

Step by Step Instructions to Cook Rib on Gas Grill

Step 1: Once you are done with setting up your fire pit grill, adjusting the temperature, and preparing your racks of ribs, it’s time for action!

Step 2: Place over the drip pan and start the smoke. Do the ribs for about 30-60 minutes, and then leave it like that for about 3 hours (count from the start of the cooking time). If you are cooking more than one slab, it can take around 4 hours.

Step 3: If you want to cook your ribs like a pro at adjusted 250°, follow this detailed instruction guide on smoking ribs at 250° to get the perfect, tender, mouth-watering smoked piece.

Step 4: Additionally, Notice the instant-read temperature and check for the range 200°- 250°. If you also notice some bone, that would mean the rib bones are striking out, and it’s almost done.

Step 5: As the rib cooks, add barbecue sauce every hour. When the ribs are almost done, add more sauce before taking it down, wrap them in aluminum foil and resume heating for some time until it’s fully done.

Tips and Tricks on the Go!

  1. Proper grill setup and temperature adjustment will get your job half done.
  2. Preparation time may require 10-15 minutes, and cooking time may require around 3 hours (will vary with the number of racks). So, overall cooking time may require three and a half hours. However, never go by the clock; it’s important to learn your endpoint of cooking.
  3. If you are unsure about the proper grill setup or cooking smaller ribs, start checking at 2 hours from the start time.
  4. Don’t forget to clean your gas fire pit after every cooking session. Proper cleaning and maintenance will make your fire pit sustainable, allow you to use it for an extended period, and won’t affect the taste and quality of your food.

Conclusion

If you have made it this far, we can assure you that you are ready to cook ribs on a gas grill. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! There will be trial and error, but you will get better with each cooking attempt. Therefore, get all the ingredients and tools and set for your cooking journey.

Now, let’s take a quick look at what learned so far. Here, you have got a detailed helping guide on cooking ribs on a gas grill, consisting of information such as the ingredient list, recipe, cooking duration, grill set up, nutrition facts, etc.

Kindly note, while you might be pretty excited about cooking and enjoying BBQ in your backyard, patio, or campsite, creating a safe fire environment should be your top priority. Always keep a bucket of water and fire extinguisher nearby and make sure no combustible material is lying around. Choose a place distant from hanging branches, walls of residents, tents, and avoid wooden surfaces for your outdoor cooking experience.

Moreover, you should always follow the standard fire pit safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe outdoor fire experience for you and your beloved ones.

So, did the guide help you to get a well-researched idea of cooking ribs? If so share your opinions with us and if there’s something more to add, let us know. We would appreciate your feedback!

About the author

George Arthur

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