What Are Crock-Pot® Short Ribs?

Crock-pot® short ribs are a type of beef prepared in a Crock-pot®, which is a brand of slow cooker. Short ribs are a cut of beef taken from the underside of the rib cage and the shoulder area of a cow. There are various cooking methods a person can use to prepare short ribs. Often, people choose to cook this type of beef in a Crock-pot® because meat prepared this way often proves to be tender and flavorful. Additionally, some people like this type of cooking because it allows them to perform other tasks without having to pay constant attention to the food preparation.

Short ribs aren't usually as tender as some other cuts of beef. For this reason, many people use slow cooking as a way to prepare them. Slow cooking often helps to soften tough cuts of meat and ensure that they will be tender. This method of cooking is also said to help bring out the flavor of short ribs and successfully blend any seasonings a person chooses to add. Additionally, cooking these ribs in a slow cooker means a person won't have to deal with the heat from a stove or oven.

When a person cooks Crock-pot® short ribs, he won't have to spend a significant amount of time hovering over his stove or checking his oven. This type of cooking is meant to be accomplished over several hours, leaving the cook free to accomplish other things. Often, a person cooks this type of meat for six to eight hours on the lowest setting. In fact, some people even cook Crock-pot® short ribs for more than eight hours and go to work while their meat cooks.

Usually, people brown short ribs before cooking them in a Crock-pot® to get the best flavor. To brown them properly, a person can heat cooking oil in a heavy skillet, season the short ribs, and lightly coat them with flour. Then, he will typically place the meat in the oil and brown it on each side. Browning is said to help improve the flavor of this type of meat.

Moisture is also important when a person is cooking Crock-pot® short ribs. In most cases, an individual will add liquid in the form of broth, cooking wine, or a sauce to the slow cooker; a cook may even use water in some cases. Some people also add vegetables such as carrots, celery, and onions to the slow cooker when preparing Crock-pot® short ribs.