There are different kinds of ribs to choose from in the market today. Two different kinds of ribs which are popularly known are the St Louis ribs and the baby back ribs, which are most of the time regarded as loin back ribs. Sometimes, people often have difficulties differentiating between these two ribs.
However, if you have an idea about the two ribs and you only need an explanation on why you might want to choose one over the other, this article would be a benefit to you.
St Louis-Style Ribs
St Louis is a rib brand that has been in existence for over thirty years. This company began as a 15 meatpacking business located in the St. Louis, MO area.
Hence, during this period this company was selling the spare ribs with the rib tips still with it, thereby wasting about 90% of the ribs.
Later, this smaller packers decided to rebrand their packing business by removing the tips, thus, changing the ribs shape to a rectangular one.
St Louis ribs are kind of ribs that get you salivating whenever you think of them. Although they are usually not what you picture when thinking of barbecued ribs, you will surely enjoy delicious pork from them.
When compared with baby back ribs, St Louis ribs have more meat on the bone and are fattier in consumption. If you are a griller in search of ribs that have a more flavorful aroma and look, St Louis ribs are the best choice for you.
These ribs are often extracted from lower-down on the pig closer to the stomach. Since the ribs tips are all bone and cartilage, they are immediately removed from the rib when cutting from lower-down on the pig closer to the stomach.
After cutting off the tips of the St Louis ribs, you get a slice of pork with a rectangular shape with a meatier portion that serves as a slab for you.
Even though the St Louis ribs are tougher pork when compared to baby back ribs, they become tender when they are properly cooked for hours. These ribs are generally regarded as larger pork than the baby back ribs.
With the weigh for a rack between 2 ½ to 3 Ibs, this meat with sufficiently serve a large number of people at a music festival. When compared to baby back ribs, St Louis ribs come at a lower price rate since they are hard to find in the market today.
Baby Back Ribs
Baby back ribs also are known as loin–back ribs are one of the best kinds of ribs in the market today. Loin-back ribs are smaller pork, and they do not have as much meat as compared to St Louis on them. They are the most popular ribs type in the market today.
They are probably what think first when a friend invites you over to grill with him later in the day. Baby back ribs are known for their lean structure, and they tend to contain more of bone than meat when compared to other kinds of ribs, especially the St. Louis.
Unlike other ribs, baby back pork has their bone in a slightly curved shape that makes them unique and delicious.
Another feature that differentiates them is their small size. They are perfect meat you can grill for your son’s birthday if he is inviting over smaller kids since they are tender and can be easily chewed by all age.
These ribs are often extracted from the upper portion of the pig’s back near the spine after the loin is removed. It is from this region that the name loin-back ribs or baby back rib are derived.
If you are in search of a rib type that does not only give you the flavorful aroma and the delicious taste you want but also contains more significant benefits to your health, baby back ribs are the perfect meat for you.
With these ribs, you get about 20 gram of protein and about 248 calories per 3 oz of meat. Whenever you order for a rack of ribs for your family dinner, you are sure to get about eight to thirteen ribs per pack.
Although they have their meat weight between 1 ½ to 2 Ibs, this pork is smaller ribs when compared to St Louis ribs. Before going for a baby back rib, you must be ready to pay a lot of money as this product comes at an expensive price rate when compared to St Louis ribs.
This is because this meat is popular among many grillers in the grilling world today. However, never let the price rate discourage you from getting the ribs to serve an extensive guest list for your upcoming family reunion.
How to choose the perfect ribs
The first thing you should be aware of is that both the St Louis ribs and the baby back ribs are delicious and flavorful meats to consume. Also, none is better or worse than the other. However, the choice you are making solemnly depend on the features you are looking for in a rib.
For instance, if you are a griller looking for pork to serve a large number of guest at a party, both St Louis and baby back ribs are a perfect choice for you.
Nevertheless, you can opt-in for St Louis meats as they have a larger size compared to baby back pork.
Furthermore, if you are in search of a rib that you want to make for your little children who are in a boarding school, then, baby back ribs are an excellent choice to make.
These meats are tender in texture, lean at a look, and small to hold. Also, they contain a lot of calories and protein, which are essential for the growth of the children.
Besides, the price of the two ribs is essential features to consider. As earlier stated, St Louis ribs come at a lower cost compared to baby back ribs, which are expensive as a result of their popularity.