The Difference Between Short Ribs And Spare Ribs
If you're of a carnivorous persuasion, it's hard to beat a good old-fashioned barbecue, with macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and, of course, plenty of meat. There are so many great grilling recipes to choose from, but ribs are a particular standout in the BBQ pantheon. Even if you love to eat them, you might not know much about what the various rib cuts actually are. For instance, what is the difference between short ribs and spare ribs?
The first and most significant difference is the animal that each of these cuts comes from. Typically, when you hear someone refer to "spare ribs," that is a BBQ favorite that comes from the ribs of a pig, while " short ribs" refers to meat that comes from the ribs of a cow (and is not recommended for grilling). But the story doesn't end there. Beef spare ribs do exist, as do pork short ribs. Both rib meats come from the same general part of the animal, but there are differences in either the cut or the exact location of the meat.
What exactly are beef spare ribs?
As it turns out, the term "beef spare ribs" is somewhat nebulous. According to beef butchers Fischer Bros, it's entirely about the cut: "When [uncut beef ribs are] cut along the bone into 1" slices, we call this 'Beef Spare Ribs,' typically about 6" long. When cut across the bone about 3" thick and then cut again between each bone, we call this 'Short Ribs.'"
However, the Fischer Bros also note that "terminology can vary between shops," and this is borne out by other sources. While Lawry's agrees that short ribs should be shorter and spare ribs should be longer, they maintain that short ribs come from the lower part of the ribcage, while spare ribs come from the upper back of the cow, near the prime rib. This discrepancy appears to stem from the fact that "beef spare ribs" is a bit of an irregular term: Lawry's considers it to be synonymous with back ribs, while Fischer Bros views it as a particular cut. So if you ever go to a butcher to ask for this particular cut, make sure you know how they define it!
Now that you know spare ribs from short ribs, why not learn the difference between ribs and rib tips?