Soaking Ribs in Vinegar: Why and How? What Does Marinating Ribs in Parboil ribs before grilling Do? Can You Soak Ribs in White Vinegar?
Can You Soak Your Ribs in Apple Cider Vinegar Overnight? Should You Rinse Ribs After Soaking Them in Vinegar? If you’ve ever used vinegar—or another acidic ingredient—in a marinade, you’re already familiar with the tenderizing qualities it offers. The tangy flavor also serves as a complement to the smoky-sweet taste of the pork. However, it’s important not to soak ribs in vinegar for too long, or the texture will be off. Marinating ribs in vinegar helps to tenderize the meat, which is the primary reason why some chefs swear by the technique.
Another benefit of the vinegar soak is that it can improve the quality of lesser cuts. If you’re worried that the ribs you’ve purchased aren’t as fresh as they could be, the vinegar will work to eliminate any gamey flavor. Won’t that make the meat taste sour? Although that could be an issue if you overdo it, there’s no need to worry otherwise.
The acid in the vinegar may stimulate your taste buds, but as long as you’ve followed the instructions, you shouldn’t detect any sour notes in the meat itself. When the meat is exposed to an acidic ingredient like vinegar, the proteins break down, which promotes tenderness. That works only up to a certain point, however. After a while, the acid will make the proteins seize up and force out the natural moisture. As a result, you could wind up with tough, dry ribs. For best results, leave the ribs in the vinegar marinade for 20-30 minutes. In general, though, less is more when it comes to soaking ribs in vinegar.
This type of vinegar has a clean, direct flavor, but it can be overwhelming in large doses. For this reason, most marinade recipes that call for white vinegar will combine it with several other ingredients, such as beer and Worcestershire sauce. Apple cider vinegar is tart and slightly sweet, making it an excellent partner for smoked ribs. In fact, we’ve included this ingredient in our Tangy Apple Cider Ribs recipe, which can be found below.