<P> Baby back ribs ( also back ribs or loin ribs ) are taken from the top of the rib cage between the spine and the spare ribs , below the loin muscle . They have meat between the bones and on top of the bones , and are shorter , curved , and sometimes meatier than spare ribs . The rack is shorter at one end , due to the natural tapering of a pig 's rib cage . The shortest bones are typically only about 3 in ( 7.6 cm ) and the longest is usually about 6 in ( 15 cm ) , depending on the size of the hog . A pig side has 15 to 16 ribs ( depending on the breed ) , but usually two or three are left on the shoulder when it is separated from the loin . So , a rack of back ribs contains a minimum of eight ribs ( some may be trimmed if damaged ) , but can include up to 13 ribs , depending on how it has been prepared by the butcher . A typical commercial rack has 10 -- 13 bones . If fewer than 10 bones are present , butchers call them `` cheater racks '' . </P>
<P> Baby back ribs ( also back ribs or loin ribs ) are taken from the top of the rib cage between the spine and the spare ribs , below the loin muscle . They have meat between the bones and on top of the bones , and are shorter , curved , and sometimes meatier than spare ribs . The rack is shorter at one end , due to the natural tapering of a pig 's rib cage . The shortest bones are typically only about 3 in ( 7.6 cm ) and the longest is usually about 6 in ( 15 cm ) , depending on the size of the hog . A pig side has 15 to 16 ribs ( depending on the breed ) , but usually two or three are left on the shoulder when it is separated from the loin . So , a rack of back ribs contains a minimum of eight ribs ( some may be trimmed if damaged ) , but can include up to 13 ribs , depending on how it has been prepared by the butcher . A typical commercial rack has 10 -- 13 bones . If fewer than 10 bones are present , butchers call them `` cheater racks '' . </P>
how many pieces in a rack of ribs
how many pieces in a rack of ribs
a minimum of eight ribs ( some may be trimmed if damaged ) , but can include up to 13 ribs , depending on how it has been prepared by the butcher
a minimum of eight ribs ( some may be trimmed if damaged ) , but can include up to 13 ribs , depending on how it has been prepared by the butcher