My husband loves pork ribs
But preparing them was never fun
Getting that rib membrane off felt like way more work than it was worth
So, we just left it on
However, there is a great tip that has worked for us every time we have tried it
And all you need is a butter knife!
Can you cook ribs with the membrane on?
Yes, you can cook ribs with the membrane on
We did it for years
But the ribs have better flavor and way better texture when you remove the membrane before cooking them
Step 1: Slide A Butter Knife Under the Second Rib
The first thing you need is a butter knife
It needs to be dull because we don’t want to poke holes in the membrane, But we need the extra leverage
Choose the easier side to work with and find the second rib
Slide the butter knife between the second rib bone and the membrane and loosen it up
Step 2: Pull the Membrane From the Side
Once the membrane is loose, remove it from the side with the single rib
This will give you an easy place to hold the membrane for the next step
Step 3: Hold the Loose Membrane and Pull the Rest of the Membrane Off
Hold the loose membrane (careful not to poke any holes) and pull up and towards the long side of the rib
The membrane will slide right off in one piece
Throw the membrane away and cook your ribs according to your recipe!