Bone-in....beef finger ribs?

[Michael_in_TX]

As I am sure it is with most places, ribs are on sale at our local grocery stores. I went to go pick up two slabs of baby back ribs, but alas, HEB was out of them. However, they had these right next to the pork rib bin. In fact, I picked them up, thinking they were pork ribs!





The only beef ribs with which I am familiar are those dino ribs. These don't look anything like that. Googling, it seems that beef finger ribs are supposed to be the meat between the ribs with no bones, but these have bones and are sold as a full (or mostly full) rack.

Part of me wants to try it.....but at nearly $25 a slab, that's a bit rich for me.

I've never seen this before. I know tri-tips are starting to become more common than just the west coast; is this common elsewhere in the country?

[Jfrosty27]

Those look like beef back ribs to me. Hard to tell from the photo. Beef back ribs have the meat between the bones.

[johnec00]

You're probably wise not to spend $25 on those. They look like the "beef back ribs" sold cryo packed in the big box stores. Here's my post fro some 6 years ago on what you want for beef back ribs.

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/the-pit-mastery-program/beef-steak-brisket-roasts-prime-rib-etc/517622-beef-back-ribs-the-bad-and-the-good

Some time later one of the Publix butchers told me a little "secret". When they have their boneless rib eyes on sale, they'll likely have excess back ribs that they liberate from the rib sub-primal on sale too. So, we watch for their rib eye sale and then go pick up a rack or two of back ribs.

[TripleB]

If they were out here in So. Cal, I’d give ‘‘em a try. Like trying new things. Get kind of bored of the same old proteins.

[Oak Smoke]

Good grief don’t pay that for those. We end up with those every time we butcher a beef. I’ve tried to smoke them twice and been very disappointed both times. Sadly they are on the freezer shelf where we store all the things we’re going to make stock from. I won’t attempt to smoke them again. They are just not worth the time and effort, in your case not worth the price either.

[realdocBBQ]

I've made those a coupla times. Not bad to season, smoke a bit, wrap in foil to tenderize. They're ok.

[theroc]

I agree with everyone else - those are beef back ribs (love the name "finger" ribs....). I love beef backs. Cooked them well seasoned hot and fast, or reverse seared, like a rib-eye. Not surprisingly since they are similar meat.

But I haven't cooked any beef backs for a long time because of the outrgeous prices. That's a lot of money to pay for mostly bones. Sigh.

[Jerod Broussard]

Never doing beef back ribs again. That's what that is.

[Michael_in_TX]

Well, I am glad I didn't chance it! Some of yall have been there, and done that! ~$25 a slab for something that would turn out like chuck roast is a bit much. What gave me pause was that these did not look like the meat that is on those dino ribs.

I'll be going back tomorrow (in hopes of snagging some pork baby backs) and it will be interesting to see if the supply of these beef back ribs has been diminished.

[Uncle Bob]

HEB has sold these for a long time, yes, back ribs trimmed tight to the bone mostly leaving just the fingers of meat between the bone. Like the others, done one and I'm done. I can see a use case for someone who is big on making beef stock at home, squeeze extra value out of the purchase.

[bbqLuv]

Bearded Butchers on YouTube is a great resource for cuts of meat. Hope this helps.

What are Beef Ribs and What are the Different Styles | The Bearded Butchers (youtube.com)

[Henrik]

Yes, beef back ribs for sure. Just like Jerod Broussard I won’t buy and cook them anymore. Way too expensive, way too little meat (when done), such a waste unfortunately. Very strange to try to sell them as “finger ribs”.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

The only reason I buy those is to lightly season with ONLY salt and pepper, smoke while I'm smoking something else, have a little beefy snack then use the bones to make stock.

[realdocBBQ]

This is exactly what I've done. They've got a good little bit of meat between the bones to gnaw on and snack on, but not something I'd make as the centerpiece of a meal. Also wouldn't pay a ton for them.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

realdocBBQ yeah I only buy them on clearance maybe 2x a year max