How to Reheat Ribs (5 Tried and Tested Methods)

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Can’t be bothered firing up the smoker every time you crave ribs? Leftover ribs are the best, so cooking a big batch is a good idea!

Plus, I find it easier to reheat my ribs than to make them from scratch each time.

Some in the BBQ community frown upon reheating meat. But why? People think that reheating meat will dry it out. Well, that doesn’t have to be the case. It all depends on the reheating process. 

We’ll cover all the reheating methods I have tried; these will ensure that your leftover ribs look and taste just as good as when you first pulled them off the barbecue.

Some Tips on Reheating Your Ribs

Popping the ribs in a preheated oven (or using any other heating method) can produce some dry meat.

You can do two things to ensure that your ribs maintain their moisture levels while it’s heating up.

These include: 

• getting the timing just right
• adding extra moisture

The timings can change due to many variables: How much meat are you reheating, and what methods are you using? I have given rough guides below; however, reheating is a bit of trial and error.

The second thing is to ensure enough moisture during the heating process. You can keep your ribs moist by adding any of the following liquids to your meat. This can include something as basic as a bit of water. Or you can use this chance to add some extra flavor to your meat. Here are some ideas:

• BBQ sauce or any other layer of sauce
• Grill sauce
• Beer
• Apple juice
• Apple cider
• Beef broth or any other type of suitable meat broth

You can brush a layer of barbecue sauce on the ribs. And if you’re opting for a thinner liquid, you can pour it into a spray bottle and spray it onto the meat.

There are five methods for reheating ribs – see them below

Below are my five tried and tested methods!

1. Reheating Ribs in the Oven

Now, let’s move on to some easy, no-fuss reheating methods. At the top of our list, we have the oven.

The oven is versatile for cooking all sorts of food and is also good for heating leftovers. 

Of course, whether you’re using a convection oven or a regular oven, you’ve got to keep an eye on it. The last thing you’d want is to have tough and dry ribs in the oven.

Here’s what you should do, step-by-step:

1. Ensure that the ribs are at room temperature by taking them out of the fridge and letting them sit on the kitchen counter 
2. Set the oven temperature to 230℉.
3. Line a tray with aluminum foil and place the ribs on top. Add moisture (water, sauce, or juice) to keep the meat moist.
4. Cover it with another layer of foil to retain all the juices.
5. Put everything in the oven for around 25 to 30 minutes. Keep checking on it to make sure that it doesn’t overcook.

2. Reheating Ribs in a Steamer

If you’ve had your fair share of bad experiences with reheating ribs in the oven or grill, you might want to try steaming it instead. 

Unlike all those other dry heating methods, steaming keeps the meat moist

Here’s what you should do, step-by-step:

1. Heat half a cup of liquid in a pot on a stove. You can use any liquid. Apart from water, we suggest using apple juice or beef broth. Keep the pot lid on until the contents begin to boil.
2. Next, place your ribs in a steamer basket (it doesn’t matter if it’s metal or bamboo) and let it rest over the open pot.
3. Leave everything to steam for up to half an hour. Watch it carefully so the pot’s contents don’t overboil.
4. Next, you’ll want to use a meat thermometer to check that your ribs are at least 135℉ to 140℉ before taking it off the heat.
5. As an extra step, you can save the liquid in the pot and serve the ribs in it. 

3. Reheating Ribs using a Sous Vide

If you’re up to trying a new reheating method, how about learning how to sous vide? You don’t have to be a professional chef to do it.

However, you will need to get your hands on proper food-grade vacuum seal bags. This is important because you can submerge any old plastic bag in hot water.

This method of reheating ribs ensures that the meat stays moist without coming into contact with extra liquid.

Here’s what you should do, step-by-step:

1. Make sure that the ribs are in a vacuum-sealed food-grade bag. The bag must be watertight so the meat doesn’t come in contact with the hot water.
2. Heat the water to just below your prior cooking temperature. If the ribs were exposed to 140℉ before, check the water temperature at 130℉.
3. Place the bag in the water for anywhere between one to three hours.
4. When it’s done, remove it from the water, cut away the bag, and serve it.

4. Reheating Ribs in the Air Fryer

Air frying is a popular cooking method; many people choose it because it’s much healthier than frying food.

 It uses less oil but still provides a ‘fried’ taste and texture. Coating them in a sauce is the best way to ensure they aren’t dry.

Here’s what you should do, step-by-step:

1. Begin by setting your air fryer to approximately 350℉.

2. Toss your ribs in your chosen sauce. Place the ribs in a glass dish in your air fryer basket. Don’t overpack them, or the fryer will not be able to cook them properly.

4. You should not leave it in the air fryer for more than 5 minutes.

5. Can You Reheat Ribs in the Microwave?

Of course! This is the easiest and most convenient way to reheat leftover ribs. That said, it doesn’t always yield the best results. For example, the ribs may be too soggy, overly dry, or tough. 

Here’s what you should do, step-by-step:

1. Place the ribs in a ceramic dish, and do not cover them. 
2. Put the dish in the microwave oven and place half a cup of water next to it.
3. Set the microwave to ½ power, and turn it on for 3 minutes.
4. When it comes out, use a meat thermometer to check whether the ribs have an internal temperature of 140℉.
5. Place the ribs back in the microwave for 20-second intervals — until the ribs reach 140℉.
6. Plate it up, and it’s done!

My Favorite Ribs Recipes

Smoked Rib Recipe (The Easy 3-2-1 Rib Method)

Smoked Baby Back Ribs on a Pellet Grill

Smoked Beef Short Rib Recipe

Smoked BBQ Beef Ribs On A Pit Boss Pellet Grill

Pork Country Style Rib Burnt Ends

Grilled Beef Ribs with Sweet Smoky Barbecue Sauce

Storing Your Ribs

You should always store leftover ribs in an airtight container to retain their freshness and longevity.

How Long Can You Store Cooked Ribs?

If it’s in the fridge, you can keep it there for up to 3 days.

Best Ways to Store Cooked Ribs

The best way to store cooked ribs is to place them inside the fridge or freezer.

Storing Ribs in the Refrigerator

Keep the ribs in an airtight container. If possible, the best way is to vacuum seal it to prevent it from drying out in the fridge. 

If the ribs have an accompanying sauce, then store them together.

Storing Ribs in the Freezer

Believe it or not, you can store ribs in the freezer for over half a year! That said, you’ll need to ensure they are wrapped tightly. We suggest a zip-lock bag.

So now you have my top tips for reheating ribs like a pro and getting the most use every time you fire up the smoker!

If you’re going to cook up a big batch, make sure you see my tips for storing it. You don’t want the meat to go to waste, and you don’t want to disappoint your family with tasteless, dry ribs, so hopefully, my tried-and-tested methods will come in handy!

If you have any methods that I haven’t covered here, please share them with the rest of the community. We want your hot tips! Share your industry insider information, and we will all become better pitmasters!

If you see your neighbors or friends with leftover ribs, send them this resource!

Smoke on!

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