Country-Style Ribs Defined

• Understanding exactly what country-style ribs are will help you determine the best way to cook them. Country-style beef ribs aren't ribs at all, but strips of meat from another cut -- usually chuck roast. As such, they benefit from the same cooking methods you'd use for a pot roast. They have more fat than regular ribs so they cook up moist, juicy and tender.

Slow and Smoky

• For a traditional smoky barbecue flavor, place the ribs on a baking sheet and season them with a rub made from salt, pepper, garlic, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika or any other desired seasonings. Add a bit of broth or apple juice to the pan and cover the ribs with foil. Bake in a low oven --- between 275 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 or 3 hours or until the ribs are falling off the bone. Brush them with a bit of melted butter and liquid smoke for a grilled flavor. Crank up the heat to 500 F and slather on the barbecue sauce if you wish. Broil the ribs for 5 to 10 minutes, or until they become golden-brown. Watch them carefully though, so the sauce doesn't burn.

Oven Baking

• True baking is a dry-heat method, which will toughen and dry out country-style ribs if you're not careful. To roast or bake them, season the ribs and place them on a baking sheet. Bake them uncovered at low heat -- 275 to 300 F for two hours or until tender. Baste them frequently with diluted barbecue sauce. Once they're tender, crank up the heat to 500 F and slather on some sauce. Cook the ribs just until they're golden-brown.

The Braising Pot

• Another oven option is to braise the ribs in a liquid, such as red wine, beef broth or juice. To braise the ribs, brown them first in a heavy Dutch oven or pot. Pour enough liquid over them to partially cover them, along with any desired seasonings or vegetables. Put the lid on the pot and cook them in an oven set at 300 F for 2 to 3 hours or until the ribs are falling off the bone. Remember, country-style ribs aren't really ribs and you can season and flavor them any way you wish. Braise them with white wine, tomato paste and vegetables for an inexpensive but delicious osso buco, or add chilies and chipotle adobe paste for a delicious southwestern stew.