A pregnant lady is often flooded with the excess of information with respect to the dos and don’ts of food. Food is a specific area where there prevail different schools of thought and a lot of disagreements regarding what a pregnant woman can eat and what she can’t eat. Even among health experts, there may be differences of opinion. In this article, we discuss whether smoked ribs during pregnancy are safe or not.
When it comes to smoked food, numerous studies point out that it may cause fetal development issues if you are not careful about a few things. Let us now see what is smoked food, how safe is its consumption, what is the meaning of smoked ribs, how safe is its consumption what types of ribs are better, the process for storing ribs, the risks it carries when consumed, and the right method to prepare it.
In This Article
- What is Smoked Food?
- Is Smoked Food Safe During Pregnancy?
- What Are Smoked Ribs?
- How Healthy Are Smoked Ribs During Pregnancy?
- Which is Better? Spare Ribs or Baby Back Ribs?
- How Long Does Smoked Rib Last – When Refrigerated or Frozen?
- How Long Can Smoked Rib Last Without Refrigeration?
- What are the Risks of Eating Smoked Ribs During Pregnancy?
- Guidelines to Prepare Smoked Ribs During Pregnancy
- FAQ’s
What is Smoked Food?
Smoking is the technique to either cook, preserve or add flavor to a certain type of food by exposing the same to smoke from a burning material most common being wood. The process of smoking has been going on since olden times. The usual foods smoked foods include fish, meats, and certain types of cheese as well as vegetables.
Is Smoked Food Safe During Pregnancy?
Umpteen hormonal changes happen during pregnancy. The hormonal imbalances can, at times, play havoc with the immunity system. Having smoked food during pregnancy can even lead to severe infection. This can result in stomach pain, fever, loose stools, and dehydration.
Any sort of acute infection can even prove fatal for the mother as well as the baby, leading to miscarriages, premature deliveries, etc. For this reason, you must always consume smoked meats in moderation and ensure you cook them well before eating.
[Read: How To Handle Dehydration During Pregnancy]
What Are Smoked Ribs?
Ribs are the fleshy part of the chops and are mostly cut as a slab. Ribs of lamb, beef, pork, and mutton are commonly eaten. In several parts of the world, people eat the ribs of even goats, ostrich, crocodiles, alligators, buffalo, and kangaroo as well. Roasting, grilling, baking, smoking and braising are some of the common methods of preparing ribs.
How Healthy Are Smoked Ribs During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a critical phase, so you must be mindful of what you are eating. The mother’s nutrition greatly affects the growth and development of the fetus as well. Certain types of meat, especially smoked ones should not be on the list. The reason being they carry a lot of bacterial as well as parasitic infections. As the popular saying goes, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Which is Better? Spare Ribs or Baby Back Ribs?
Spare ribs or side ribs are from the belly part and are less fleshy than the back ribs. They are thicker and juicier than the baby ribs, whereas the baby backs are more curved, thin, and rounder in shape. They are taken from the upper as well as lower areas of the ribs and the spines. Due to their smaller size, they are called baby back ribs. These ribs are quite fleshy. Both are equally good till they are cooked well.
How Long Does Smoked Rib Last – When Refrigerated or Frozen?
Smoked ribs can last from 3-4 days in the refrigerator depending on the cooking and storing methods. If you want to store them for longer, you can cook them well and freeze them in airtight containers or freezer bags. Alternatively, you can also wrap them in aluminum foil before storing them.
[Read: Is It Safe To Consume Ready-To-Eat Or Frozen Meals During Pregnancy?]
How Long Can Smoked Rib Last Without Refrigeration?
Meat can last for about a couple of hours at room temperature or a temperature of around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that you can leave it out without refrigeration for not more than 2 to 3 hours.
What Are the Risks of Eating Smoked Ribs During Pregnancy?
There are certain risks associated with eating smoked ribs during pregnancy. We will now examine the possible risks of consuming smoked ribs while pregnant.
1. Contamination Issues
Smoked ribs can pave the way for bacterial infections like listeria and E.coli. This can cause symptoms such as acute stomach pain, headaches, fever, nausea, muscle pain, and this could be fatal for the baby leading to miscarriage, premature delivery, dehydration, loose stools and even death.
2. Risk of Carcinogens
Grilled or barbecued meats also use smoking wood. The burning of oil, gas, tobacco, etc., releases hydrocarbons which is one of the leading causes of cancer. Consuming smoked meats can also cause cancer. This is because the process of smoking involves burning charcoal, smoke, as well as meat fat. As a result, consuming such meats can be dangerous for health.
3. The Probability of Delivering a Small-Sized Baby
When the mothers eat barbecued meat or smoked ribs during pregnancy, they are prone to have a baby with less weight, short length, smaller head size, even when the duration of the pregnancy is exactly the same as the other pregnant ladies.
4. Toxoplasmosis
Although not common, you can’t ignore the possibility of toxoplasmosis. Taxoplasmosis refers to food poisoning occurring due to a parasite in raw or undercooked meat. It is a very dangerous issue during pregnancy and poses a high risk for the fetus. It can even lead to miscarriage and stillbirth. Therefore, you must ensure to cook the ribs properly.
Guidelines to Prepare Smoked Ribs During Pregnancy
Guidelines to prepare smoked ribs during pregnancy include:
- Select the ribs that are thicker and fleshier.
- Remove the fat hanging from the bone side.
- You can also trim off the tougher skin.
- Always slide the tip of a meat thermometer below the membrane and above the bone.
- Use a paper towel to pick the membrane edge and then peel it off.
- Spike up the ribs very lightly both on the bones as well as the edges.
- Season deeply on the fleshy side.
- Finally, place all ribs on the rack in a manner that all of them face in one direction.
- Make sure to cook the ribs until piping hot.
Thus, it is important to be very selective with respect to the foods consumed during the pregnancy phase. Due to the changes that take place in the body, both the mother-to-be and the fetus are at a higher risk of food poisoning. Having smoked ribs can lead to many infections which could prove dangerous as well as fatal. It is better to ensure to cook the food properly and make it completely safe for the mother as well as the baby. Be extremely careful at every step right from cleaning in preparation for storage and consumption.
[Read: Can Pregnant Women Eat Bacon?]
FAQ’s
1. Are Smoked Ribs Safe During Pregnancy?
No, they are not. While they may not always cause harm, it is important to eat well-cooked foods. This will kill also microbes in it.
2. Can I Eat Frozen Ribs During Pregnancy?
Smoked ribs can last up to 2 days or so when frozen. However, it is safer for a pregnant woman to eat freshly cooked meat. This reduces any risk of food poisoning.
3. Can Smoked Ribs Cause Food Poisoning in a Pregnant Woman?
When cooked over wood fire, they can carry carcinogens. This is not safe for a pregnant woman. Also when not cooked well, they can carry E.coli and listeria.
4. Can Eating Smoked Ribs During Pregnancy Lead to Heartburns?
If you eat spicy ribs they can. Spice can be difficult to digest by a pregnant woman. This can lead to heartburn and digestion issues.
Read Also: Crab During Pregnancy Is It Safe To Eat?
