[header] How to buy beef ribs [title] Understand what beef back ribs are. [substeps] The back ribs are cut from the top section of the rib and contain some of the flavorful and fatty rib roast meat. There are 13 ribs to each side of the steer and they can be cut from the rib roast or loin portion of the steer. 
The ribs cut from closer to the rib roast are often trimmed close to the bone with little meat on them except for what is between the bones. Ribs cut from the loin section are often slightly meatier, though they are slightly less flavorful.