Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs Recipe

This Instant Pot beef short ribs recipe is so easy to make. Let short ribs pressure cook to perfection until meat is fall-off-the-bone tender.

Instant pot beef short ribs take one of the world's most popular dishes. These short ribs are tender and juicy and cook up so fast because they're made in the instant pot!

One of the world's most popular dishes is the short rib, They seem to be popular among nearly all cultures, but short ribs stand out particularly as popular Chinese, Korean and Jewish dishes.

Part of the appeal is in the way that they are seasoned and simmered in flavorful sauces.

Although grilling is a very popular method for cooking short ribs, they are also often braised and they make an excellent meal to cook in the Instant Pot. Instant Pot beef short ribs are easy to make.

In short - pun intended - short ribs are an extremely versatile cut of beef that lends itself to so many types of recipes. From Asian flair to Jewish flavors and classic American variations like grilled or braised, short ribs offer tons of flavor that really comes to the forefront when they're cooked to tender perfection.

We usually think of low and slow when we think of cooking a cut like short ribs, but you can set them up and let them pressure cook to perfection until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender in a fraction of the time a slow cooker oven would take.

When you prepare this Instant Pot beef short ribs recipe, follow these helpful tips to make sure you get optimal results along the way. The following guide will show you what short ribs are and how to handle them the whole time you are preparing this dish.

What To Serve With Short Ribs

The Instant Pot is perfect for making a tasty meal out of this dinner classic. Serve them up with a sweet and cleansing vegetable puree such as carrot or cauliflower. These vegetables will also compliment the beef well when roasted.

If you are looking for something a little bit different, try the earthy taste of sautéed mushrooms, a caramelized kimchi or one of these absolutely mouth-watering side dishes!

What Are Short Ribs

Short ribs are ribs from which a shorter portion is cut. They usually come from the plate, a cut of beef between the brisket and the flank. The meat on the bone is from the muscle that extends from the second rim through most of the ribcage.

However, only ribs 2-8 have the thickness of meat that short ribs require. The remaining meat on ribs 9-12 is made into either Royal Short Ribs or ground beef.

Ribs you purchase may come with or without a membrane that you will need to remove prior to cooking.

There is another type of short rib that comes from the chuck. This type of short rib is meatier, yet it also tends to be tougher, therefore better for braising. The plate ribs are more tender but they also have more fat and less lean meat.

There is no right or wrong choice in where your short rib comes from as long as the meat produces the effect you are looking for in the dish.

For Instant Pot beef short ribs, I recommend using ribs from the chuck. A third option also found in the chuck is less meaty and less desirable than the other two cuts of short ribs.

Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs Prep

Short ribs are an incredibly tender, flavorful cut of beef when properly prepared. The key word here is "properly". You need a bit of prep before cooking up the ribs.

The first and most important thing to know is that you'll need to remove the membrane from the ribs. That is an absolute must-do when cooking these ribs.

You'll also need to know how to season and brown the ribs properly. We'll go over all of this to ensure that you prepare the most tender and delicious short ribs possible. Don't worry, it's easy to do, and it makes such a huge change in how your ribs come out.

Remove the Membrane from Beef Short Ribs

Ribs often come with the membrane still attached and you have to remove it before you cook them. The membrane is simply a layer of fat that runs across the underside of the ribs. While a common idea in cooking is that fat adds flavor, this particular kind of fat doesn't offer any flavor to speak of.

This thin canvas that stretches across the ribs turns rubbery while cooking and renders the meat too tough to eat. It's no fun for anyone who dines on these ribs and when you remove the fat it shows that you know what you're doing.

So, one of the first and most important things you can do what you set out to prepare some delicious Instant Pot beef short ribs is to strip the membrane off of the ribs.

To remove the membrane all you need is a dull knife and a paper towel, starting with a thawed rack slide the knife in the flat between the membrane and the bone.

Gently lift to pry the membrane free and shimmy the knife across the rack to separate the membrane. It helps to sort this near one edge of the rack and work toward the outside. using a paper towel for grip.

Take hold of the membrane and peel it back along the rest of the length of the rack. It's a stretchy and slippery substance so the paper towel helps a lot. Once the membrane is removed you can discard it.

How to Properly Season Short Ribs

Before placing the ribs inside the Instant Pot to brown, you should season them well. With the membrane gone, you can season all sides of the meat to ensure the most flavor.

No matter what kind of short rib recipe you look at, you'll always see that the ribs are seasoned liberally with salt and pepper before anything else is done.

Be very generous with your seasoning and make sure you get it on all sides. All you really need is some sea salt and black pepper. These two will give your ribs all the initial flavor boost that they need before placing them inside the Instant Pot.

How to Brown Beef Short Ribs in an Instant Pot

Once you add your short ribs into the pot you want to make sure to brown them on all sides before you continue with the rest of the Instant Pot beef short ribs recipe.

This takes about ten minutes as you frequently turn the ribs to give each side food exposure to the heat. Browning the meat helps to enhance the flavor of the sauce and keeps the ribs from drying out by searing it on all sides.

How to Cook with Wine

Cooking short ribs in an instant pot or making pressure cooker recipes is a very easy and low maintenance process. The whole procedure is incredibly simple and even the few things you need to pay attention to are done simply and without any complications.

Like trimming the membrane and browning the meat, one of these things is the wine you use to cook with. Cooking with wine adds depth of flavor to the meat and this recipe uses wine very well to make the dish Tate more robust and satisfying.

One of the things you should be sure to do is cook out the alcohol content that is in the wine. The ribs should not taste boozy when you are through.

The other important thing to note is that you should never cook with wine you wouldn't drink. Whether you actually drink the wine is up to you, but as a rule of thumb, you should avoid cooking with wines that are made for cooking instead of drinking.

It's also a good idea to serve the same wine with the meal.

Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs Ingredients

Outside of the prep work you need to do before cooking up these ribs, Instant Pot beef short ribs are actually quite easy to make. The Instant Pot does all the work, and you only need a handful of ingredients to create a flavorful tender beef dish that the whole family will love.

• Beef short ribs
• Sea salt
• Garlic
• Tomato puree
• Red wine
• Beef broth or stock
• Olive oil
• Sprigs rosemary
• Fresh parsley
• White pepper
• Pancetta
• Garlic bulb

That's it. It doesn't take many ingredients at all, and you probably already have most of them in your pantry.

If you don't cook with wine, you'll need to get some, and of course, the beef bone in short ribs or boneless ribs, but outside of that, everything else in this recipe is standard fare.

Cooking these beef short ribs is one of my favorite instant pot recipes. It will be one of yours too and I can almost guarantee it. 

You can make beef short ribs in a slow cooker too but the high pressure of an instant pot with the quick release makes AMAZING beef short ribs so much quicker.

Cooking Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs

Cooking these short ribs is as straightforward as the ingredients required to make them. You'll brown the ribs in the Instant Pot, and after that, you cook on high and the Instant Pot does all the work.

Cooking with pressure drastically reduces the cooking time required to make these beef ribs so delicious and fall-off-the-bone tender.

1. Season short ribs generously with salt and pepper. Set instant pot to saute mode. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once heated, place short ribs into the instant pot and brown all sides. If necessary, complete this step in batches.
2. Slice garlic bulb in half and add sliced side down into the instant pot. Stir in tomato paste, pancetta, and red wine. Cook for 2 minutes to cook alcohol out of the wine. Turn off the instant pot.
3. Pour beef stock into the instant pot and deglaze the pan. Add 2 sprigs of rosemary and white pepper. Close the lid and seal the instant pot. Set on manual high pressure for 45 minutes. Allow 15 minutes, so the pressure releases naturally, before opening the instant pot. 
4. Set aside a cup of the broth to use as gravy. Serve short ribs immediately with chopped fresh parsley and enjoy!

Serving the Ribs

Instant Pot beef short ribs are such a classic dish, and they are served in a classic way, as well. When I make them, I love to serve them simply with mashed potatoes and the juice that is made by the cooking process in the Instant Pot.

If you still haven't decided on a tasty side dish, other classic vegetable options, including carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower will go very well with this dish. Simply pair them with the ribs and mashed potatoes for a hearty classic family dish that everyone will love.

Storing the Short Ribs

You can store these short ribs in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in an air-tight container. They are easy to reheat, and they retain their delicious flavor from the first serving to the last.

FAQ

As always, I've included a brief FAQ to ensure that you're familiar with all the important points about making this delicious recipe. Give it a look before diving into making these ribs.

Q: Why do I have to remove the membrane? I thought fat equaled flavor?
A: While fat can and does equal flavor, the fat membrane on ribs is the exception. It's a very collagen-rich type of fat that doesn't break down the way other fat like marbling in a steak does. Instead, it produces a chewy, decidedly unappealing bite that renders the beef, well, gross.

Q: What kind of red wine should I use?
A:Any high-quality red wine will do. This might sound counter-intuitive, but DO NOT buy cooking wine. The better the wine, the better the flavor, and cooking wine is not good. At all. It's low quality and just doesn't taste good. 

Q: What should I serve with these Instant Pot beef short ribs?
A:These ribs are best served simply. I love to pair them with mashed potatoes and classic vegetables like carrot, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, or green beans.

Q: How long will these short ribs last?
A: You can store these ribs for up to 4 days in the fridge in an air-tight container.

Try These Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs Today

These Instant Pot beef short ribs are so full of flavor and so tender, everyone in the family will love them. Because they're made in the Instant Pot, they're also incredibly easy to make.

The Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting, making them an excellent dish to make any time at all, especially on weeknights. They taste like they took hours to make, but they really only take a little over an hour!

Give these instant pot short ribs a try, and I'm sure you and your family will be very satisfied with them. I know you'll be glad you tried them!