The Difference Between Spareribs, St. Louis Ribs, and Baby Back Ribs

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Differences Between Spareribs, St. Louis Ribs, Babyback Ribs

• Author pops6927
• Publish dateFeb 2, 2017

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The best way to differentiate between these is to look at the animal and see where they come from:


pigroast3.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

This is a whole pig with the backbone split down the center, but not separated.

Let's split it:


pork hog halfa.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

Now, let's draw cut lines to separate out the parts'n'pieces:


pork hog halfb.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

and label them:


pork hog halfc.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

First, let's take the Pork Belly Spare Ribs: these also have the pork belly attached, so we have to separate them into:

Pork Belly:


pork whole belly.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

and Pork Spareribs:(front and back views):


pork whole sparerib.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

Now, from the whole sparerib comes the St. Louis Style sparerib:


pork st louis style spareribs.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

where the Rib Tips are separated from the ribs, and the

skirt is removed from the rack along with the membrane:


pork sparerib skirt.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

pork sparerib back mem.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

The Finished St. Louis Style Ribs:


pork St. Louis style.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

Then, there is the Carolina Sparerib:


pork Carolina Style spareribs.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

with only the brisket section removed, giving easier carving into individual ribs.

Now, above the sparerib/belly section is the Loin:


pork whole loin.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

If you bone out the loin, you end up with a boneless pork loin:


pork loin bones.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

with the bones separated.

Cut the rib bones from the back bone:


pork loin bones b.jpg

• pops6927
• Feb 2, 2017

And that is where baby back spareribs come from!

How much meat is left on from the loin is the choice of the meat cutter.