How to Cook Short Ribs on the Stove

While people often cook ribs in the oven or a slow cooker, you can cook them on the stove as well. This post will teach you how to cook short ribs on the stovetop the right way. The ribs will cook to a melt-in-your-mouth texture that will make them irresistible.

How Do You Know When Short Ribs Are Cooked?

You will know that the short ribs are perfectly cooked once the internal temperature reaches around 200 to 205 F. An instant-read thermometer is wonderful to check the doneness of all types of meat and prevent overcooking.

Does Cooking Short Ribs Longer Make Them More Tender?

When you cook short ribs for a long time, the ribs will become very tender and fall apart. However, make sure you don't overcook them, because that can cause them to lose their flavor.

How to Boil Beef Ribs on the Stove

To make the short ribs tender, you can boil them on the stove before cooking them in a stew or sauce. By doing so, you will reduce the cooking time. On the stove, fill a deep saucepan with water until half full and boil the short ribs for about 15 minutes. The longer they boil, the more tender they will become. About 15 to 20 minutes is usually sufficient, but don't forget they will continue to cook in a stew or sauce after if you feel they need longer.

Short Ribs Ingredients

•  ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4-pounds beef short ribs
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 8 cups beef stock
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

How to Cook Short Ribs on the Stove

1. Heat the oil in a large pot set over medium-high heat.
2. Sprinkle the ribs with salt and pepper to taste, and then coat them in the flour.
3. In small batches, brown the ribs in the oil, adding more oil as needed.
4. Each batch should take about 2 to 3 minutes to cook.
5. Remove the ribs from the pot and set them aside.
6. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes in the same pot. 
7. Add the celery and carrots and sauté for another minute. Add the garlic, bay leaves, and thyme, and season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Cook for 1 more minute.
8. Add the vinegar, making sure to scrape up all the bits on the bottom of the pan up.
9. Add the stock and allow the mixture to come to a boil.
10. Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer.
11. Add the ribs and simmer for 2 hours, until the sauce thickens and the ribs are very tender.
12. Top with parsley and serve with your favorite side dishes.

How to Store Short Ribs in the Fridge

Short ribs can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. First, you must cool the short ribs to room temperature before storing them. If the short ribs have been cooked in sauce, it is ideal to put the sauce and short ribs into airtight glass containers. However, if you have cooked short ribs on their own, simply cover them with plastic wrap, and store them in the refrigerator.

How to Store Short Ribs in the Freezer

When stored properly, short ribs can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let the short rib sauce cool until it reaches room temperature, and then pour it into freezer bags leaving ½ inch of space to accommodate for expansion. Make sure to freeze the short ribs into medium-size portions for easy reheating.

How to Reheat Short Ribs on the Stove

Reheating short ribs in a skillet on the stove is the most effective method. Place the leftover short rib sauce in a skillet and heat them over medium heat. Then, cook, while stirring occasionally, until the sauce becomes warm, about 5 to 7 minutes. If necessary, you can add broth to the short rib sauce if it is too thick.

How to Reheat Short Ribs in the Oven

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Place the leftover short ribs in a baking pan.
3. Cover the pan with aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out.
4. Reheat them for 15 to 20 minutes or until they reach 165 F.
5. Serve and enjoy.

What to Serve With Short Ribs

Potato salad is a delicious side dish to serve with short ribs. However, other great side dishes are mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, baguette or toast, and roasted veggies. Additionally, short ribs can be served with fresh salads, such as cucumber salad, tomato salad, or avocado salad.

Here are a few tasty sides to serve with short ribs:

• Julienne Salad Recipe
• Corn Salad
• Butternut Squash Salad
• Quinoa Salad
• Cauliflower Rice
• Asparagus and Carrots
• Mozzarella Sticks

Continue to Content

How to Cook Short Ribs on the Stove

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

While people often cook ribs in the oven or a slow cooker, you can cook them on the stove as well. This post will teach you how to cook short ribs on the stovetop the right way. The ribs will cook to a melt-in-your-mouth texture that will make them irresistible.

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Ingredients

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4-pounds beef short ribs
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 2 tablespoon minced garlic
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 8 cups beef stock
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot set over medium-high heat.
2. Sprinkle the ribs with salt and pepper to taste, and then coat them in the flour.
3. In small batches, brown the ribs in the oil, adding more oil as needed.
4. Each batch should take about 2 to 3 minutes to cook.
5. Remove the ribs from the pot and set them aside.
6. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes in the same pot.
7. Add the celery and carrots and sauté for another minute. Add the garlic, bay leaves, and thyme, and season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Cook for 1 more minute.
8. Add the vinegar, making sure to scrape up all the bits on the bottom of the pan up.
9. Add the stock and allow the mixture to come to a boil.
10.  Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer.
11.  Add the ribs and simmer for 2 hours, until the sauce thickens and the ribs are very tender.
12. Top with parsley and serve with your favorite side dishes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 1261Total Fat: 87gSaturated Fat: 33gTrans Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 53gCholesterol: 302mgSodium: 986mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 87g