Instant Pot Short Ribs in Red Wine Recipe by The Redhead Baker (2024)

FAQs

Why is my short ribs tough in the Instant Pot? ›

Why are my short ribs tough in the Instant Pot? If beef short ribs are tough, they simply haven't been cooked long enough. If your short ribs aren't completely tender after 45 minutes, simply pop the lid back on and cook at High Pressure for another 5-10 minutes or until tender.

Because short ribs are high in fat content, they are very forgiving and get more tender as they cook, which is a great stress reliever when you're serving guests.

The tannins will become more concentrated in the heat and pressure and the final dish could end up tasting unpleasantly astringent. A fruitier red wine, such as a Merlot or Zinfandel, will work best. And if you are concerned that the alcohol will not “cook off” or evaporate in the Instant Pot, you are correct.

Because short ribs require long, slow cooking for tenderness and flavor, braising is the perfect technique for cooking them. Most recipes are quite easy—once you've put everything on to simmer, the slow, moist heat does the work.

Nothing that a little sauce can't fix, and it does mean you get more of the pork flavor, but they're not as nuanced. And the winner is: The slow cooker, but just by a hair (by a rib?). If you're pressed for time, pressure cooker is the way to go.

Short ribs that are cooked completely submerged in liquid will come out with a thin, watery sauce, while those cooked in just a thin layer of liquid—enough to provide a moist environment under your Dutch oven's lid—will produce a rich, flavorful sauce.

Short Ribs & Braising:

You don't need any special equipment to braise ribs. First, brown or sear the ribs at a high temperature then cook them in liquid at a lower temperature for a longer period of time. This is an excellent cooking method for tougher cuts of meat that will become tender after prolonged cooking!

If they aren't braised long enough, they can be super tough to eat; if they are cooked too long, the meat will just fall apart. The key to preparing short ribs is to cook them until they reach a point that is just before they would fall apart.

In summary, using red wine in slow-cooked meat dishes in a pressure cooker like an Instant Pot can be safe and delicious if done properly.

Can I use oil instead of water in a pressure cooker? ›

You can safely pan fry with small amounts of oil in the Instant Pot. You can also stir fry. But do not attempt deep frying. You cannot use an Instant Pot in the pressure cooking setting with large amounts of oil.

The alcohol doesn't cook off; it gets trapped in the sealed pressure cooker, and condenses back into the liquid.

Short ribs usually come with quite a bit of fat, and while you can trim some of this off before cooking I prefer not to, since it insulates the meat and keeps it moist and tender while cooking. But all that fat, melted off during cooking, can give a pronounced greasy feel to the meat.

Braising is an ancient means of cooking tough cuts of meat to tenderize them, and is also quite simple. Start with meat, and brown it well. Browning gives the whole braise flavor, especially the meat itself. Those Maillard-browning byproducts are what make everything taste meaty, so don't skimp on the browning stage.

Pretty much every rib recipe out there calls for using a low and slow, indirect grilling method. Grilling them over direct, high heat is a great way to overcook them and have them turn out tough. Indirect, low heat will help create tender meat that will easily tear off of the bone.

If you use the cross rib cuts and let it soak in the marinade, it will become tender. The longer it soaks in marinade, the marinade is breaking down the connective tissue making a more softer and tender product.

Steam method

If you want to lessen the time required in the previous method, you can try steaming. After coating your meat, transfer it to the oven or a steamer and cook it over low until extra tender. The moisture will help pack in flavors and break down tough fibers.