Wondering the best time and temp for ribs in an air fryer? Here’s your guide!

Have you ever seen others cook golden, crispy ribs in an air fryer but ended up with a failed attempt yourself? Don’t worry, today we’ll share the ideal time and temperature for cooking ribs in an air fryer!

How Long and What Temp for Ribs in Air Fryer?

When using an air fryer to cook ribs, the time and temperature settings are crucial. Normally, I preheat the air fryer to 180°C–200°C (350°F–400°F) first, then adjust the cooking time based on the size and thickness of the ribs.

For thinly sliced ribs, set the temperature to 180°C and cook for 15 minutes, flipping once, then cook for another 10 minutes.

For thicker ribs, extend the cooking time to about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can cook for 10 minutes at 180°C, then increase to 200°C for 5 minutes, and finally flip the ribs and cook for another 10 minutes.

Tips:

To enhance the flavor of the ribs, marinate them for 30-60 minutes before cooking with ingredients like light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, minced garlic, and ginger slices.

How long do you cook ribs at 350 degrees?

Air Fryer When using an air fryer, cooking at 350°F will take about 20-40 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the ribs. Air Fryer Cooking Suggestions:

Temperature Setting: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.

Time Adjustment: For smaller ribs, cook for 10-15 minutes, flip, then cook for another 10-15 minutes. For thicker ribs, it may take 30-40 minutes.

Marination: Marinating the ribs helps them absorb more flavor, reduces cooking time, and keeps them tender and juicy.

Oven For smaller ribs, you’ll generally need about 25-30 minutes in the oven. Flip them after 15-20 minutes to ensure even cooking on both sides. For larger ribs, it may take around 35-40 minutes.

Be sure to flip them during cooking to ensure the heat fully penetrates, preventing a situation where the outside is charred while the inside remains uncooked.

How long to cook spare ribs in air fryer at 400?

For thinly sliced ribs, cook at 200°C (400°F) for 15-20 minutes. For thicker ribs, extend the cooking time to 25-30 minutes. Specific Steps and Suggestions:

Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F).

Marinate: Marinate the ribs with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, minced garlic, pepper, and other seasonings.

Cooking Process: Place the ribs in the air fryer, cook for 15 minutes, flip, and cook for another 10-15 minutes.

Monitor: During the last 5 minutes, keep an eye on the ribs to avoid overcooking and burning.

Easy BBQ Air Fryer Ribs (Quick & Tender )

When choosing ribs, prioritize spare ribs or back ribs. Spare ribs have more meat, with smaller bones that make them extra satisfying, while back ribs are tender and evenly textured, perfect for grilling. Choose fresh ribs with a red, shiny color, and a firm texture that bounces back when pressed.

Preparation Tips

When purchasing, ask the butcher to cut the ribs into approximately 5 cm (2 inches) segments. Uniform sizes make for more even cooking. Soak the cut ribs in water for 30 minutes, changing the water periodically to remove excess blood.

Marination Tips

Marination is key not only to enhance flavor but also to shorten cooking time. Use light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, cooking wine, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt to marinate the ribs. Marinate for 30-60 minutes; for the best results, marinate for a full 60 minutes if you have the time.

Temperature & Time Settings

For air fryer ribs, set the temperature to 180°C (350°F), which allows the ribs to cook evenly. Set the cooking time to 15-20 minutes; flip after 10 minutes, then cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. If you want the ribs extra crispy, increase the temperature to 200°C for the last 5 minutes.

Flipping the Ribs

Flipping the ribs during cooking is important to ensure even heat distribution on both sides, and it also gives the ribs a nice appearance. When flipping, press gently on the ribs with tongs to make them firmer for a better texture.

Important Notes

Check Doneness: Use chopsticks or a fork to gently pierce the thickest part of the ribs. If no blood flows out, they’re done.

Avoid Overcrowding: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket when placing the ribs. Make sure there is space between each rib for even heat distribution.

Are ribs better in the oven or air fryer?

Both methods have their pros and cons, so choose based on your needs:

Air Fryer:

Advantages:

Healthier with Less Oil: It uses little to no oil, yet still gives a crispy texture, reducing fat intake for healthier ribs.

Simple Operation: Just prepare the ribs, set the time and temperature, and wait.

Faster Cooking: The cooking time is faster, typically around 15-20 minutes.

Disadvantages:

Smaller Capacity: It has a smaller capacity, typically enough for 2-3 servings.

Texture Differences: The ribs may not be as crispy as deep-fried ones, and they might be slightly drier inside.

Cleaning Required: After cooking, thorough cleaning is needed, especially for the filter part, which can accumulate grease and affect future use.

Oven:

Advantages:

Larger Capacity: It can cook more food at once, perfect for family meals or gatherings.

Better Texture: The ribs come out crispier on the outside and juicy on the inside due to more consistent heat distribution.

Versatility: In addition to ribs, it can also bake bread, cakes, cookies, and more, making it a versatile kitchen appliance.

Disadvantages:

Longer Preheating Time: The oven takes about 10 minutes to preheat to the set temperature.

Takes Up Space: The oven is large, requiring significant kitchen space, which may be an issue in smaller kitchens.

Harder to Clean: Cleaning can be difficult, especially when cooking fatty foods like ribs.

How to check if ribs are done?

Here are several methods to check if the ribs are done:

Using a Thermometer: This is the most accurate method. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the ribs. When the temperature reaches around 74°C (165°F), the ribs are done.

Using Chopsticks: If you can easily insert chopsticks into the meat without resistance, the ribs are done.

Checking the Meat Color: Fully cooked ribs should have an even white color with no pink spots.

Checking the Broth Color: Undercooked ribs will leave a reddish broth. When cooked through, the broth should be clear.

Checking the Bone Marrow: When the ribs are cooked, the marrow in the bone will appear white.

Taste Test: Cut a small piece and taste it. If it’s tender and doesn’t have a raw flavor, the ribs are ready to serve.