What is a Good Rib Rub?

What is a good rib rub? Well, I am glad you asked. A good rib rub is a balance of spices to enhance the flavor of ribs. Let’s talk specifically about dry rub on pork ribs.

What Ingredients are in a Good Rib Rub?

A good rib rub can consist of any combination of the following ingredients:

• Salt
• Pepper
• A Sweetener - Brown Sugar, Honey Powder, or Molasses
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Smoked Paprika
• Cayenne Pepper (optional), for a little heat!

Now these are just a few ingredients for a rib seasoning. However, most dry rubs contain these main ingredients.

When formulating a dry rub for ribs, these ingredients are mixed in different ratios. This will differentiate the flavor profile considerably.

If a rub is a little sweeter, it will have more brown sugar vs a good rib rub that is smokey. The smokey profile will come from more smoked paprika as one of the main ingredients.

If a rub is spicy, it will have a touch of cayenne to add a little head with the sweet!

How to Apply a Dry Rub for Ribs

After removing your ribs from the packaging, rinse, and pat dry with a paper towel. Now, applying a dry rub on pork ribs is a piece of cake.

If you are using a shaker bottle, simply shake evenly across the ribs. Make sure to apply enough to cover the edges of the rib and that is pretty much it! Flip your ribs over and repeat the process.

No shaker bottle, no worries! Pour some of your rib seasoning into a bowl. Now pinch some seasoning out of the bowl, and sprinkle evenly across your ribs. Again, just make sure you distribute the rub evenly.

Using a Binder

Another way to apply a good rib rub is to use a binder. After patting your ribs dry, use a liquid binder and then apply the rub to your ribs. A binder can be olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, or just use some water.

The benefit of using a binder is to help the dry rub stick to the surface of the ribs. This helps to keep the rub from falling off.

How long do you leave a rib rub on your ribs?

We would suggest leaving your rib rub on your ribs for 15-30 minutes. This gives the salt and other seasonings time to penetrate the meat. After about 30 minutes the ribs should be “sweating”, and a paste has formed.

This is only a suggestion as many pitmasters will simply apply the rib rub, then straight to the smoker.

Storing your Rib Rub

A dry rub seasoning for ribs can be stored in a cool dry place for up to six months. However, we recommend using your rib rub within about three months.

In Conclusion

A good rib rub is one that has that meets your flavor profile. Whether you like sweet, smokey, or spicey it all comes down to what are looking for.

We have a pork rib seasoning that is perfect for St. Louis ribs or baby back ribs. It is Butcher BBQ Honey Rub. It is an amazing honey BBQ rub that was voted “Best Rub on the Planet” in 2022.

If a honey rib rub is not on your radar, we have a few other good rib rubs to choose from.

Let us know in the comment section below what you look for in a good rib rub!