Ribs should be cooked slowly to obtain the optimum tenderness. Often ribs are boiled or oven-steamed before grilling to help tenderize the meat. To oven-steam ribs, place ribs in a large baking pan, fill with about 1 inch of water, cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 50 minutes in a 350-degree oven.The recipe here includes instructions on how to boil ribs before grilling.educe heat and simmer 25 minutes. To make ribs: Place ribs in large Dutch oven or stockpot. Cover ribs with salted water; cover pot and heat to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 50 minutes or until almost tender.