How to Bake Boneless Pork Southern Style Ribs

Some may be surprised that "Southern-style ribs" actually refers to a cut of pork rather than a recipe. It's a good source of protein and has little fat — just make sure you choose an easy oven baked country-style pork ribs recipe that's just as healthy as it is delicious.

Pork is a popular meat, not only in the U.S. but all over the world. It comes from hogs, or domestic swine, and it's generally produced from young animals. The parts of a hog that are cured become ham, bacon and sausages, while the parts left uncured are called "fresh pork." The meat must be cooked properly to eliminate bacteria and parasites that may cause trichinosis and other foodborne illnesses.

According to the Mayo Clinic, trichinosis is a type of roundworm infection. Roundworm parasites use a host to live and produce offspring. Domestic pigs and humans can acquire an infection by eating raw or undercooked meat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that food poisoning symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the most common being indigestion, nausea, vomiting diarrhea and fever.

The USDA recommends cooking all raw pork steaks, chops and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, as measured with a meat thermometer. For safety and quality purposes, allow the meat to rest for a few minutes after removing it from the oven. When cooking ribs that weigh 2 to 4 pounds, bake them for one hour and a half to two hours or until tender.

Read more: How to Cook Pork Chops in the Oven

If you're looking for a unique variation on an easy oven baked country-style pork ribs recipe, try our Roasted Watermelon Pork Ribs recipe, which has 637 calories and 33 grams of protein per serving. There are also many other simple pork rib recipes you can try, such as the one listed above.

Remove the ribs from the packaging and place them in a large, resealable plastic bag and set aside. You can get a pre-made marinade, use barbecue sauce, or make one of your own. Either way, set aside half of the marinade and add the remaining half to the bag with the ribs. Marinate for four to six hours — the longer you do it, the more flavorful they'll become.

Next, set your oven at 350 F. Place the ribs in a single layer baking dish, cover them in aluminum foil, and place them in the oven. Bake them for one and a half hours to two hours, depending on how well you like your meat done. The internal temperature of the ribs should be at least 145 F.

During the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the rest of the marinade to the ribs. Discard the aluminum foil, turn the meat over using tongs and season the side of the pork that is now facing up.

Remove the pork ribs from the oven and test the internal temperature with a meat thermometer, which should read 145 F or more. Let them rest for about five minutes before serving and enjoy!

Read more: How to Cook Ribs in the Oven and Then Grill Them