How Long To Let Ribs Rest (Thorough Guide) - Carnivore Style

Home » How Long To Let Ribs Rest » How Long To Let Ribs Rest (Thorough Guide) - Carnivore Style

Maybe your like

Skip to content Search for:
  • Quick Summary
  • How Long Must Ribs Rest After Smoking
  • How Long Should You Rest Pork Ribs After Smoking
    • How To Rest Pork Ribs
  • How Long Should You Rest Beef Ribs After Smoking
    • How To Rest Beef Ribs
  • Why Resting Smoked Ribs Is Important
  • FAQs
OUR POPULAR CATEGORIES! BlogRecipesGuidesGrillsMeat DeliverySmokersMeal DeliveryCooking ToolsGriddlesMeat ThermometersBooks

Trending Now!

featured imageHow Long to Let Ribs Rest (Thorough Guide) Timothy Woods Published by Timothy Woods Last Updated On: May 26, 2025

Whеn it comеs to achiеving pеrfеctly tеndеr and flavorful ribs, allowing thеm to rеst is a crucial stеp in thе cooking procеss.

The art of barbеcuе isn't just about grilling; it's about understanding thе sciеncе bеhind it.

At Carnivore Style, we value both tradition and knowledge to help you get the best results with your meat.

As a sеasonеd grillmastеr with yеars of еxpеriеncе in thе culinary world, I did еxtеnsivе rеsеarch on how long you should lеt ribs rеst.

In this comprеhеnsivе guidе, wе'll lеarn thе rеsting timе of ribs to еnsurе thеy'rе at thе pеak of pеrfеction.

Quick Summary

  • You should rest smoked ribs typically for 15-30 minutes.
  • Pork ribs rest for 10-15 minutes, while beef ribs require a longer rest of about 30 minutes.
  • Resting allows meat juices to redistribute, enhancing juiciness and flavor, and should involve aluminum foil wrapping.
Table of Contents Quick Summary How Long Must Ribs Rest After Smoking How Long Should You Rest Pork Ribs After Smoking How To Rest Pork Ribs How Long Should You Rest Beef Ribs After Smoking How To Rest Beef Ribs Why Resting Smoked Ribs Is Important FAQs

Expand

How Long Must Ribs Rest After Smoking

Top view of ribs resting on a grill

After smoking, ribs should rest for approximately 15 to 30 minutes long to let ribs reabsorb juices within them.

If you watch any chef cocking any cut of meat, there will invariably be a resting period for the meat before it is sliced and served.

This resting period allows the juices within the meat to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful final product.

It's a crucial step in the barbecue process. Resting also helps to lock in the smoky flavor and ensures that the ribs remain juicy.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Elevate Your Meat Game with 3 Exclusive Guides →

Also Read: How Long a Turkey Needs to Rest

How Long Should You Rest Pork Ribs After Smoking

Pork rib on wooden cutting board

You should rest pork ribs in between 10 and 15 minutes after smoking.

Since each rack of ribs is different, rest your perfectly smoked ribs with thick meat for a longer period than when you rest ribs with thinner meat.

If you have a mixed amount of thick and thin meat ribs, rest the ribs with the thinner meat for 10 minutes and slice them up.

Once you have finished slicing the thinner ribs, the thicker ones will be rested enough to be sliced as well.

Rest smoked ribs for a shorter period than beef ribs because the meat on pork ribs is often thinner than beef ribs.

How To Rest Pork Ribs

Pork ribs resting on wooden cutting board with plain white background

Resting your pork ribs requires some know-how to do it correctly.

Here is what you should do: 

  1. After smoking pork ribs to perfection, take them off the grill or out of the oven.
  2. Carefully wrap the ribs in aluminum foil to keep them warm and prevent moisture loss.
  3. Let the meat rest for at least 10-15 minutes.

Alternatively, you can use the “tenting with foil,” method, which do not require foil wrapping. Simply place the hot ribs on a wood cutting board and lightly cover them with aluminum foil.

Use enough foil that you can tuck it under the edge of the ribs all around and leave a peak, like a tent, above the meat.

This provides some airspace above the meat, which heats up from the ribs and helps insulate the ribs, acting as a mini-oven.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Elevate Your Meat Game with 3 Exclusive Guides →

How Long Should You Rest Beef Ribs After Smoking

Close up image of a beef ribs cut on plate

You should rest beef ribs for 30 minutes after cooking.

Beef ribs are typically longer and have thicker meat than pork ribs and pork butt.

This additional thickness of the meat requires a longer rest time for ribs to allow the internal juices to be re-absorbed by the meat fibers and distributed evenly throughout the meat.

How To Rest Beef Ribs

Freshly cooked beef ribs close up image

To rest your beef ribs properly after smoking ribs, here is what you need to do: 

  1. Remove the ribs from the smoker or grill and immediately wrap them completely in aluminum foil.
  2. Place the aluminum foil-wrapped ribs in the cooler and close the lid.
  3. Let the beef ribs rest for the allotted 30 minutes in this environment.
  4. After the 30 minutes have elapsed, take the ribs out of the cooler, unwrap them, and slice.

Why Resting Smoked Ribs Is Important

Smoked ribs on cutting board and leaves vegetable under the meat with fork

Resting smoked ribs is important because it allows the meat to reabsorb its juices, resulting in a tender and flavorful outcome.

The science behind it is simple: when meat is subjected to heat during the cooking process, the moisture and juices in the meat fibers move out of the fibers into the spaces between them.

If the meat is cut immediately after being removed from the smoker, all these juices between the meat fibers escape and run out of the meat [1].

When the meat is allowed to rest, it allows the meat fibers to re-adsorb these juices, distributing them evenly throughout the meat. This increases the juiciness and flavor of the meat.

Resting the ribs also allows them to continue cooking internally after removing them from the heat.

Thus, it is important to take the meat off the heat slightly before it is completely done, and it will reach optimal temperature while resting.

FAQs

Can I Let Ribs Rest for Longer than 20 Minutes?

You can let ribs rest for longer than 20 minutes if needed. However, be cautious not to serve cold meat. To maintain optimal eating temperature, wrap the rested ribs in foil and place them in an insulated cooler to keep them warm for up to 2 hours.

Should I Rest Ribs on or off the Grill or Smoker?

You should rest ribs off the grill or smoker. Placing them on a cutting board or platter, loosely covered with foil, allows them to rest without being exposed to direct heat, ensuring they stay moist and flavorful.

Can I Skip the Resting Step for Ribs?

You should not skip the resting step for ribs. Failing to let them rest may result in the juices spilling out when you cut into them, leaving you with drier ribs. Patience during this step pays off in terms of flavor and tenderness.

Can I Season or Sauce Ribs While They Are Resting?

You season or sauce ribs while they are resting if you desire. This can enhance the flavor, but it's essential to do so with caution, as over-saucing or seasoning can overpower the natural taste of the meat.

Should I Tent the Ribs With Foil While They Rest?

You can tent the ribs with foil while they rest to help keep them warm. However, make sure to tent loosely to avoid trapping steam, which can affect the texture of the crust or bark you've developed during cooking.

At Carnivore Style, we want to help you master every step of cooking meat for maximum flavor and tenderness. Check out our other guides and tips to elevate your carnivore BBQ game.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Elevate Your Meat Game with 3 Exclusive Guides →

References:

  1. https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-have-juicy-meats-steaks-the-food-lab-the-importance-of-resting-grilling
Was this article helpful?YesNo

About the author

Timothy Woods Timothy Woods CEO / Co-Founder [email protected] Certifications: Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC), George Mason University (GMU) Education: Jacksonville University Lives in: Jacksonville, Florida

Timothy is a professional chef and the main man behind Carnivore Style. He’s an advocate of the carnivore diet, an athlete, and a pure health enthusiast.

Timothy believes that a good steak is a great conversation starter, and his love for food eventually brought him to start Carnivore Style, a website designed for meat lovers and all things meat-related.

Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter Follow on linkedin Follow on instagram View All Posts Timothy WoodsTimothy WoodsCEO / Co-Founder Timothy Woods holds a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from Jacksonville University and is CCC & GMU Certified. He's also the main man behind Carnivore Style. This food aficionado combines science and experience to spread the word about the carnivore lifestyle. Learn more about our editorial policy Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment *

Name *

Email *

Website

You may also like

A close up image of raw meat resting on a wooden board By Timothy Woods 9 months ago How Long to Let Meat Rest (Top 5 Guidelines You Should Know) A rested turkey on a white plate By Timothy Woods 9 months ago How Long Should a Turkey Rest? (5 Tips & Its Importance) Raw ribs on wood board By Timothy Woods 1 year ago How Long Should You Boil Ribs Before Grilling? Raw chicken drumsticks on a pan By Timothy Woods 9 months ago How Long Should You Marinate Chicken? Everything You Need to Know A perfectly cooked brisket resting on top of a wooden board By Timothy Woods 6 months ago How to Rest a Brisket? (3 Techniques & Why It’s Important) A delicious pork ribs on a wooden board By Timothy Woods 2 years ago Types of Ribs (7 Different Varieties You Should Know About) Our scoring system is a product of objective testing and expert analysis from a team of culinary and nutrition experts. Key factors are measured and assessed based on a standardized benchmark system. For more information, see our product review guidelines.

ULTIMATE MEAT MASTERY E-BOOK STACK

Master meat in the kitchen with our team of meat masters and our three FREE e-books. Get expert tips and tricks for succulent, perfectly seasoned meat dishes.

Download Ebooks X

Tag » How Long To Let Ribs Rest