There’s nothing like a tasty rack of ribs! Here’s how to heat up ribs in different ways so that you can enjoy this BBQ staple days later.
Every cookout or barbecue needs a juicy rack of ribs! Whether you smoke them, bake them, or BBQ them, ribs are delicious! They can taste just as good days later if you reheat them correctly.
This guide will show you how to heat up ribs so that the meat is still juicy and tender, not dried out and flavorless. Lock in all that flavor and taste by following these tips.
How to heat up ribs
There are some sure-fire ways to make ribs taste like they are fresh off the grill, even after they sat in the refrigerator for a few days.
Skip the problem-solving phase and just use these tried-and-tested ways to heat up ribs, so they are saucy and tender every single time.
Heat up ribs in the oven
The oven is the best way to heat up leftover ribs. You’ll need some aluminum foil, a baking tray, and an internal food thermometer.
Reheating them at a low temperature is the secret to tender, juicy, reheated ribs. Follow these steps:
- Preheat the oven to 225F.
- Let the ribs come to room temperature before you bake them. Just set them out on the counter for about 30 minutes.
- Brush more BBQ sauce (or whatever sauce they were grilled/cooked in first) on top of the ribs. If ribs were dry-rubbed, add a bit of water on top.
- Wrap the ribs up tightly in a packet of aluminum foil.
- Reheat the ribs for about 30 minutes.
How to reheat ribs on the grill
Inject your cold ribs with that amazing smoky flavor you love by reheating them on the grill. This method is faster than you might think – and the steps are much like the oven ones you read earlier.
- Preheat the grill by turning it to high.
- While it preheats, let the ribs sit on the counter.
- Smother the ribs in more BBQ sauce or add some water to dry rub the ribs.
- Wrap the meat loosely in a packet of aluminum foil.
- Turn the grill’s temperature down to medium and grill the ribs for about 8-10 minutes.
Reheat ribs in the air fryer
The air fryer is a super-fast way to reheat ribs, but you risk them drying out. Follow these tips to prevent them from turning to jerky.
- Preheat the air fryer to 355F.
- Add BBQ sauce to barbecue ribs or a bit of water to dry-rub ribs.
- Place the ribs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You do not have to cover them with foil.
- Cook the ribs for about 5 minutes. After five minutes, check on them to ensure they are heated through.
How to reheat ribs on the stove
This is my least favorite option out of all of them, but it can work in a pinch! The secret to keeping the flavor locked in is apple juice.
- Add about 1/4 a cup of apple juice to a large soup pot. Heat it up until the juice is boiling.
- Place a steamer basket in the pot and put the ribs in the steamer basket.
- Cover the soup pot with a lid, turn the heat to low, and steam the ribs until they reach an internal temperature of 130-140F.
- Add more BBQ sauce as necessary.
More helpful kitchen tips
Now that you know how to reheat ribs in a bunch of different (and easy) ways, here are some more kitchen tips that will have you cooking like a pro!
