When throwing a BBQ party, it is important to learn how many racks of ribs per person would do.
If you are hosting a party and want to know how much meat to buy, you need to know how many people are coming.
Equally crucial is figuring out what reasonable portions should be.
This is a particularly thorny issue with bone-in meats like ribs.
To what extent does a half rack of ribs differ from a full rack, and how many ribs are in a rack? And of course, how many baby back ribs per person are enough?
You usually need 1-2 servings or half a rack per person of baby back ribs, or 3-4 ribs per person if you opt for spare ribs.
How Many Racks of Ribs Per Person Are Enough?
There are usually ten to thirteen ribs in a full rack of pork ribs, so a half rack has about five or six ribs. It may change slightly
When you have to decide how many people will a rack of ribs feed, you need to consider different factors.
Naturally, the types of ribs are among the most important factors.
Fact: When people are more interested in one another than in the food, like in formal meetings, they eat less and you need fewer ribs per person.
How Many Racks of Pork Ribs Per Person?
Spare ribs are often meatier and more flavorful because they have a higher percentage of fat as compared to baby back ribs.
You get the spare ribs from the belly and back of the pig – you also get the pork belly and bacon from the same area.
Both full slabs and St. Louis Cut portions of spare ribs are available. In the St. Louis Cut, the costal cartilage, sternum, and flap are all surgically removed.
How Many Do You Need?
Common wisdom holds that a single rack of spare pork ribs can feed two to three people.
In general, you should plan on serving 4-5 ribs per person.
It means that if the rack has thirteen ribs and there are three adults at your party, you should be good to go.
How Many Baby Back Ribs Per Person are Enough?
Baby back ribs are cut from the back of the pig, near the junction of the spine and ribs.
They are more delicate and smaller than spare ribs. Because they are essentially loin flesh on a bone, they are more “tender,” hence the name “loin” back ribs.
In general, you should get a couple of extra ribs for each person when serving baby back ribs.
Compared to spare ribs, baby back ribs are not only smaller, but also have less meat per serving—plan on serving six or seven baby back ribs to each adult.
How Many Ribs Do You Find in a Half Rack?
So many times, you notice a choice between a half and a full rack at restaurants. Wondering how many ribs you get when you opt for a half rack?
Because a pig has 15–16 ribs, a half rack typically comprises 7–8, but this can vary in size.
The number may change if the ribs were damaged in any way during butchering, just as with complete racks.
Fact: A "Cheater Rack" is a rib set that has been damaged during butchering and hence has fewer than ten ribs.
How Many Racks of Beef Ribs Per Person are Enough?
Beef ribs are usually quite expensive, which is why most people prefer pork ribs.
But, based on the size, you do not need as many racks of beef ribs as you do with pork ribs.
When working with beef ribs, you can reduce the quantities even further. Estimate two to three ribs of meat per person.
The same procedure holds true if short ribs are on the menu. Ribs are typically offered in three-bone sections, making it simple for you to stick to these guidelines.
The number of ribs you need per person may also depend on the types of beef ribs in question.
For instance:
Beef Chuck Short Rib
You cut these ribs from the chuck primal. Chuck short ribs are the first five ribs of the chuck, removed from the rack of ribs at the top of the beef.
These ribs are usually marketed in four-bone slabs known as Dino beef ribs.
However, a supermarket store is more likely to sell them English sliced into individual bones. Mostly, it only has 1-2 servings.
Fact: The number of ribs per person comes down considerably when you have a lot of kids at the party, and they can also find other distractions.
Beef Short Plate Ribs
You get these from the short plate primal, which is a cut of the brisket. You usually make it from ribs 6, 7, and 8, which are then divided into three bone slabs right below the ribeye.
There is not enough lean meat in ribs 9–12, therefore they are thrown away. As a rule, this cut is used to make ground beef.
Because they come in convenient three-serving slabs of meat, beef short ribs are typically served in packages of three racks.
Beef Back Ribs
The steer’s back region is the source of its back ribs. You get them after the rib roast is cut from the primal.
The meat in these beef ribs is intercostal, which means it is located between the bones and not atop.
It also shrinks while cooking, resulting in a significant decrease in the amount of meat available.
When properly prepared, beef back ribs can yield no more than two servings.
How Many Racks of Lamb Ribs Per Person are Enough?
A lamb rib chop is a thin, long bone that ends in a circular piece of loin muscle. Typically, rib chops are “frenched” at restaurants.
In order to make the loin meat the focal point of the cut, the extra fat and meat are removed, leaving a lollipop-like shape.
You should plan on serving roughly four rib chops per person when preparing a rack of lamb.
The typical serving size is between three and four; however, it is best to err on the side of caution.
The meat on the ribs may appear to be quite substantial in this case, but it typically shrinks somewhat during the cooking process.
Note: Typically, 7 or 8 separate ribs make up an entire rack of lamb. But, the number may change depending on the butcher.
What Else to Consider When Deciding How Many Ribs Per Person?
Ideally, each person should get 4-5 ribs, but a lot depends on many other factors.
Are There Side Dishes As Well?
It is important to plan out your menu well in advance so that you can define how much of everything is enough.
Remember, you can reduce the amount of meat you serve each guest by serving extra sides.
Guests will feel fuller more quickly after eating macaroni and cheese or potato salad than they would after eating coleslaw and green salad.
Are You Serving Deserts as Well?
If you serve dessert, you will need fewer racks of ribs per person. Keep in mind that people will want to leave room for the desserts you are serving.
In order to save room for a particularly decadent dessert, you might want to reduce the amount of meat served to each guest.
Are You Offering Ribs as the Only Meat Option?
If your whole party revolves around ribs, you will obviously need more racks. But, with other meat options available, the numbers will change considerably.
For instance, adding beef brisket or chicken wings to the menu will alleviate some strain on the rub supply and give customers more options.
Fact: People usually feel hungry in the evening so you are probably going to need more racks of ribs per person for a gathering at night.
Takeaway
Learning how many racks of ribs per person can satisfy all your guests allows you to always throw unforgettable BBQ parties.
It is essential to pay attention to other factors, like what else is on the menu.
But still, you should have a rough idea about the racks needed per person.
Always consider the types of ribs as well because ultimately it comes down to how much meat is still available after cooking different types of ribs.