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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!