The Difference Between Pork Loin Back Ribs And St Louis Style Ribs?

A lot of people don’t know about the difference between pork loin back ribs and St Louis counterpart.
I'm an experienced food writer and passionate cook. My website, Cookindocs.com, features accessible, informative, and engaging content with quality recipes and articles that are thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read. You can trust my expertise with 8 years of experience in the field. Learn more about me and my work on this website, and check out my featured articles on TastingTable, Mashed, and 5-Minute Crafts. Read more about me HERE.
In short, they are both very similar cuts of pork rib, but they also differ in many ways, like their cooking methods and texture.
In this article, you will delve into these two cuts of pork and choose your favorite one after really understanding them.
What are pork loin back ribs?
[amazon fields=”B074Z5JWD3″ value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B074Z5JWD3″ value=”button”]
Pork loin back ribs come from the upper part of the hog’s rib cage.
They are meatier than other types of ribs and have a little amount of fat.
This is a delicious and flavorful cut that provides an excellent balance between meat and fat.
The bone can be removed for convenience in handling, but it does add flavor to the dish.
It has a moderate fat content with plenty of marbling which makes it perfect for grilling or roasting – just make sure you use indirect heat, so they don’t dry out.
What are St Louis-style ribs?
[amazon fields=”B074Z5PRXW” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B074Z5PRXW” value=”button”]
- The Difference Between Pork Sirloin And Pork Loin: It’s Not What You Think
- Vegan Substitutes For Pork Loin: What Is A Good Vegan Substitute For Pork Loin?
- 6 Perfect Side Dishes To Go With Pork Loin Roast
- Pork Loin Vs. Pork Chop: Find Out Which One You Should Be Eating!
- Uncovering The Difference Between Loin And Tenderloin: The Ultimate Guide To Picking The Perfect Pork Cut!
St.Louis-style spare ribs are the meatier ribs cut from the belly of a hog after the belly meat is removed.
These spares come with wide rib bones that have lots of tasty fat to keep them juicy and flavorful when cooked properly.
These deliciously fatty pieces can be made even more savory by cutting off some excess skin before grilling.
It is most commonly used in American BBQ.
What are the differences between pork loin back ribs vs St Louis?
Pork loin back ribs and St Louis-style pork ribs must have had several differences due to the different sections of the pig that they are cut from.
Below are some typical distinctions that are divided into four criteria so that you can easily compare these two rib cuts.
Pork loin back ribs | St Louis ribs | |
Animal’s part | From the loin section of the pig, either on the back or side near the spine | From the belly of the pig |
Fat content and texture | Lean and have more meat | Have more fat and bone More connective tissues so it is chewier |
Flavor | Lean and tender | Juicier because of the higher amount of fat |
Shape and appearance | Smaller | Bigger and flatter so that it will be easier to brown |
Price | Cheaper because smaller and come from a young pig | Higher because come from the older pig |
What are the similarities between pork loin back ribs vs St Louis?
Despite some differences between pork loin back ribs and the St Louis-style spare ribs, there are also several similarities between them:
1. They are both great for BBQ
Although St Louis-style spare ribs are more common in a BBQ, pork loin back ribs can be a great alternative, too.
2. They have similar taste
Basically, pork loin back ribs and St Louis have the same taste despite the fact that there is more meat in the St Louis spare ribs.
Which one is better?
Product Comparison | [amazon fields=”B074Z5JWD3″ value=”title”] | [amazon fields=”B074Z5PRXW” value=”title”] |
Product Image | [amazon fields=”B074Z5JWD3″ value=”thumb”] | [amazon fields=”B074Z5PRXW” value=”thumb”] |
Latest Price | [amazon fields=”B074Z5JWD3″ value=”button”] | [amazon fields=”B074Z5PRXW” value=”button”] |
If you’re looking for a high-quality pork rib that has all the fat removed, then St. Louis-style ribs are probably your best bet.
Alternatively, if you want something with more flavor and less of an expensive price tag, then go with back ribs.
These two cuts have many similarities but also plenty of differences so it’s important to know what they are before making any decisions about which one is better.
We hope this article helped!