It’s one of the hottest debates in sous vide cooking short ribs: should they cook for 24 or 48 hours? In this post you’ll learn the difference. Plus, learn a delicious sous vide short ribs recipe, made with red wine, onions, garlic and rosemary.
Jump to the bottom to see a video on cooking sous vide short ribs 24 hours vs 48 hours…
Cooking sous vide short ribs in red wine
The temperature for sous vide short ribs is 180 degrees. This is the same temperature for both 24 and 48 hour cooks.
For the red wine marinade, I prefer Cabernet Sauvignon. A smokey Cab from California is an excellent choice. The red wine marinade includes balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper.
To assemble the sous vide bag, add the short ribs in one layer. Smother the beef ribs with diced onions, add the red wine marinade, and finish with a sprig of fresh rosemary. Vacuum seal the bag and set it in the sous vide bath.
After the short ribs sous vide, they hit the broiler for a few minutes.
This is a great time to make a red wine sauce, which you can find in the recipe directions.
24 hours vs. 48 hours sous vide short ribs
My personal conclusion is that 24 hour and 48 hour short ribs taste VERY similar. As expected, 48 hour sous vide short ribs fall off the bone quite a bit more.
The fat breaks down generously with the additional time in the sous vide bath. But, the 24 hour sous vide short ribs are equally as tender.
If you’re looking for something magical to serve with short ribs, check out this recipe for caramelized red onions in red wine. Or this one for sous vide onions in beer. Or these tasty sauteed mushrooms with thyme and red wine.
While 48 hour sous vide short ribs are delicious, going forward I’ll cook mine for 24 hours.
Simply because I can’t wait and the 24 hour ribs are so delicious that there is no need to hold off another day.
Experiment with 24 vs 48 hour sous vide short ribs
Make two bags of this red wine marinade short ribs recipe with one pound of short ribs each.
Try one bag at the 24 hour mark. Then try the other bag after 48 hours sous vide. And let me know what you think!
This experiment between cooking short ribs sous vide for one or two days could be a fun theme to throw a party. For more ideas on hosting with sous vide recipes, see my favorite sous vide recipes for a crowd.
If you’re into long cooks, check out this recipe for sous vide brisket.
Readers love these sous vide recipes
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What to do with leftover sous vide short ribs?
Use leftover sous vide short ribs to make quesadillas with leftovers.
Share your sous vide cooking
Love ribs? Check out my smoked flanken ribs. If you’ve tried this recipe and made your own sous vide short ribs, don’t eat it it till it’s photographed– you need to share that beauty with the world! Include #sipbitego and tag @sipbitego on Instagram – I’d love to see your pic.
Check out my sous vide cookbook on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.
Sous vide short ribs in red wine sauce (Sip Bite Go)
Ingredients
- 2 LB Short ribs
- 1 red onion
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp garlic
- S&P
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp cilantro optional
Instructions
- Set sous vide machine to 180 degrees. Create a marinade with red wine, balsamic vinegar, garlic and salt and pepper.
- Prepare and vacuum seal the sous vide bag with short ribs, onions, red wine marinade and rosemary.
- Sous vide short ribs at 180 degrees for 24 hours or 48 hours.
- Once sous vide cooking is complete, remove short ribs from the bag and broil them in the oven on high. Retain the red wine marinade to make a red wine sauce. For best results, seperate the red wine marinade from fat by pouring it into a glass and storing it in the freezer until the red wine and fat separates.
- Make the red wine sauce. Pour 1 cup of red wine marinade into a pan. Add butter and continue stirring until it makes a thick red wine sauce.
- Pour red wine sauce on short ribs, sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
Carl J says
Just to double check, 180 degrees for 24 OR 48 hours?
Curious, because I want to do these but am seeing other sites that say around 150 for 48hrs. Last thing I want is leather 🙂
Jenna Passaro says
24 hours, and yes it’s high but they’ll be falling apart. I tested them also at 48 hours but didnt find the extra time necessary.
Also – don’t forget to protect countertops as the high cook time with a pot directly on stone and other materials may crack it.
Let me know how it goes.
MIke M says
I really thought the 24 hours would be way too long. They were just right. I wasn’t sure how long to go in the broiler…but I think I did about 7 minutes. Turned out great! Wonderful wine flavor in the beef!
Shayla Marie says
I have some ribs in the freezer, I’m going to try this with them! This looks wonderful!
Kelly Anthony says
These sous vide short ribs look like they are cooked perfectly. I don’t own a sous vide but after seeing these pictures and reading your recipe I’m adding it to my Christmas wish list!
Jenna @ sipbitego.com says
Check out the two new turkey sous vide posts:
https://sipbitego.com/sous-vide-turkey-legs
https://sipbitego.com/sous-vide-turkey-breast/