Beef Back Ribs vs. Short Ribs: 2 Types of Beef Ribs

Beef back ribs are cut from the back of the cow in the dorsal area behind the shoulders. The rib area is where prime rib roast and ribeye steaks are cut. After the prime rib roast is cut, the small amount of meat attached to the rib bones is the beef back ribs cut. The meat is found in between the rib bones. You can braise or barbecue the meat on the beef back ribs.

Beef short ribs, also known as plate short ribs, are a cut of meat from the lower part of the cow’s rib cage (the short plate) behind the brisket. The meat in beef short ribs is thick and tends to sit on top of the bones. Beef short ribs have a lot of fat content and marbling or connective tissue, so they’re a popular choice for hands-off, low-and-slow cooking methods. You can braise beef short ribs in a slow cooker or barbecue or smoke them.

You can cook beef back ribs and short ribs in similar ways, but they are different types of beef ribs from separate parts of the cow. Consider the following differences:

• Cut: The back ribs are cut from the upper back of the cow. Short ribs are cut from the lower portion of the rib cage in the front section of the cow. Short ribs are directly beneath the back ribs.
• Meat: The little meat on beef back ribs is between the bones, and beef short ribs have meat atop the bones.
• Fat: Short ribs tend to have a layer of fat on top of them. Beef back ribs are relatively lean in comparison.
• Length: Back ribs are usually six to eight inches long, while short ribs are cut in a variety of sizes, depending on your needs. For example, the English cut, common in Texas-style barbecue, is usually four inches long and two inches wide. The flanken cut is typically half an inch to one inch long and is popular in Korean cuisine. If you are barbecuing, a longer cut will be preferable. If you are braising, it is better to have smaller cuts of rib meat.

Despite the differences, you can substitute beef back ribs for short ribs and vice versa for most recipes. If using beef back ribs in place of short ribs, you may need to add fat.

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