Instant Pot Short Ribs in Red Wine Recipe by The Redhead Baker (2024)

FAQs

Why is my short ribs tough in the Instant Pot? ›

Why are my short ribs tough in the Instant Pot? If beef short ribs are tough, they simply haven't been cooked long enough. If your short ribs aren't completely tender after 45 minutes, simply pop the lid back on and cook at High Pressure for another 5-10 minutes or until tender.

These ribs are chunky, with plenty of meat surrounding the bones and dense fat marbling throughout. This flavoursome fat and connective tissue means that beef short ribs need long, slow cooking in order to become tender.

Because short ribs require long, slow cooking for tenderness and flavor, braising is the perfect technique for cooking them. Most recipes are quite easy—once you've put everything on to simmer, the slow, moist heat does the work.

Nothing that a little sauce can't fix, and it does mean you get more of the pork flavor, but they're not as nuanced. And the winner is: The slow cooker, but just by a hair (by a rib?). If you're pressed for time, pressure cooker is the way to go.

How long does it take to braise beef short ribs? The time it takes for the beef to become fall apart tender varies depending on what cooking method you use: Oven – 3 hours at 160C/325F. Stove – 2.5 hours.

For braising beef, look for a dry, full-bodied red wine such as Cabernet, a fuller-bodied Pinot Noir, or Chianti Classico. Don't Overcook the Beef. Believe it or not, it is possible to braise short ribs for too long.

You will need to brown the short ribs before braising. Using a dutch oven or a sauté pan, add the short ribs on one layer and use medium-high heat to brown them. Sear them on each side and let them get a deep brown. Browning is an art form that can take years of practice.

Wine is basically an acid ingredient (which helps tenderize the outside of the meat) and it has a lot of flavor. The wine-based marinade helps keep meat, poultry, or seafood moist while it cooks, too.

You want liquid to come about a quarter and no higher than half way up the side of the meat. Because of the curvature of the dino ribs, we'll be cooking them on their sides, so they make a crescent in the pan. Then, of course, you must cook them. Cover the pan in which you are braising and put the ribs in the oven.

If they aren't braised long enough, they can be super tough to eat; if they are cooked too long, the meat will just fall apart. The key to preparing short ribs is to cook them until they reach a point that is just before they would fall apart.

Do you cook short ribs bone up or bone down? ›

Lay the beef (bone side down) in a baking dish, snuggle the ribs close together and cover tightly with aluminum foil. I use 2 sheets of foil. Cook ~ 3 ½ - 4 hours or until bone starts to separate from the meat and meat is tender.

Because of the connective tissue in this cut, short ribs are less tender than other cuts of meat.

Start by trimming the fat down to the silverskin, then with your sharp knife remove it. There is also a heavy membrane on the backside of the beef ribs. It's best to leave this membrane on as the meat may fall off the bone during the cooking process. Once you cook the ribs, the membrane is easily cut away.

At this point, if you want any additional thickening, you can add a small amount of cornstarch slurry to get you the rest of the way there, just enough to ensure your sauce coats the back of a spoon but not so much that it's obvious cornstarch has been used.

Braising beef short ribs: why and how

You end up with a meat and a sauce that are ideally suited to each other and are both incredibly tasty. Braising is an ancient means of cooking tough cuts of meat to tenderize them, and is also quite simple.

If your ribs are dry, you likely cooked them too hot and fast. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to fix dry and chewy ribs. For next time: Want Great Ribs?

What is the best way to cook ribs so that they are tender and not tough or chewy? Low and slow is the key. 250 degrees to 275 for 4 to 5 hours. Baste or squirt them with apple juice every 30 minutes.

Steam method

If you want to lessen the time required in the previous method, you can try steaming. After coating your meat, transfer it to the oven or a steamer and cook it over low until extra tender. The moisture will help pack in flavors and break down tough fibers.