First time smoking ribs

[jsn1511]

Anyone know of a good recipe for a rub/mop/sauce i can use? Any techniques i should be aware of?

[willkat98]

Thats what we need. A ribs101 document. What you ccoking on? Give a little info and you should get lots of advice. Do a search in this forum on the term "3-2-1" and you should get some technique threads.

[willkat98]

Yep, I just did a search on 3-2-1 and got 17 good Q Talk threads. Check them out, then ask a few more questions.

Tell us the cooker you use, and one of us will have some good tips

[jsn1511]

oh sorry, i have a Bandera. Also i have both mesquite and hickory chunks. which are better for ribs?

[chad]

Either wood will work.

Basic mop (I spray it) is cider vinegar or apple juice. You can add to this as you see fit: cup of vinegar, couple tablespoons brown sugar, some salt, some pepper, a touch of pepper sauce (I use Crystal but any will work depending on your taste). Simmer a bit to get the sugar disolved and spray or mop away.

Just don't rush the ribs 220-250 will do it -- look for the meat to start pulling away from the end of the bone and they're getting close.

Good luck

[willkat98]

Sir, you can start a snot storm with a question like that.

I like hickory, some of our Texas brothers will say mesquite only. Soo whatever your preference.

Try hickory. Next weekend, try mesquite. But both times, post your results and what you learned.

You'll read about the 3-2-1 technique. 3 hours in the smoke chamber (running 230ish) till the meat starts pulling back from the bone, spraying with apple juice if you don't mop (by the way, check recipe section for mops and such), then wrap in foil for 2 hours, then back in smoke unwrapped for an hour and some mopping. Bones will fall off (if thats how you like them, if not, don't wrap.

This is for spares. BBacks will be shorter, maybe 2-2-1 method.

But experimenting is half the fun.

Good luck, and again, post your results!

[jsn1511]

Haha the last thing i want to do is start a snot storm, i will be more careful in asking questions like that in the future :)
If i were to mop the ribs would it be necessary to wrap them in foil?
How often do i apply the mop?

[jsn1511]

oh i forgot, which ribs are better pork or beef? I imagine this might be controversial as well but i am poor and can't buy a whole lot of ribs this weekend.

[racer_81]

P O R K !!!!!!

[brdbbq]

Pork and mop every hour. I always wrap then again I don't get many snot storms either.

[willkat98]

JSN,
Never hesitate to ask.

Snot storms are a good thing.

Pork is a personal favorite for me.

Try and pound them when you see a sale. Hell, I got 4 pork butts couple weeks ago when they hit $.79/lb. 4 butts for me is like a 3 month supply, in the winter at least.

[Solidkick]

Let me add .02 worth here that I learned the hard way.

when you buy your ribs, make sure you check to see if they are packaged with 10% solution. These are generally vacuum sealed or cyropacked. The reason why I bring this up is all of a sudden my ribs were coming out too salty to eat. I thought I had made a big mistake in my rub, miscalculated the amount of salt that I put in it. As it turns out, there was salt already added in the 10% solution in the packaging of the ribs which was causing the ribs to be too salty when I rubbed as usual. Last ones I did I added no salt and they turned out really well.

I'm not a mesquite fan, so i would say use the hickory. Since I'm out of fruit wood, I've been buying 3 apples and 3 pears, cutting them in slices and putting in my water pan. I heat the water on the stove first, then but in the 'dera, then add the fruit. Seems to be working OK, at least no complaints.

Godd luck and keep us posted on the results.

[racer_81]

Jason - pecan wood works well with ribs too. You should have access to pecan
wood in Georgia I'd think.

If you're interested, here's a web site for rib preparation. There's some good
stuff here.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/ribselect1.html

[Saiko]

What's with all these Georgia people all of a sudden? :D
Best place to buy ribs is Costco. Get the vacuum sealed 3 packs, you can't go wrong.
I just tried the 3-2-1 method on babybacks for the superbowl, and they came out great. As long as your temps aren't too high, I don't think 6 hours is too long for babybacks, since the foil will keep them from getting too black. My ribs were just tender enough, didn't seem overcooked at all.

[Heath]

Costco is OK but I get cheaper, and I think better, ribs from Sam's Club.

[chad]

Guys, I got news for ya! The ribs at Costco and Sam's and your local store (other than the high priced Hormels or Smithfields) are probably the same. Most come from IBP and are either blue or green labeled (Excel or some other "brand") so just fight the price war -- it's the same pork. Same rule for beef -- nearly all of it will be from IBP.

[jsn1511]

thanks guys you have been very helpful. I don't know where i can get different flavored woods yet. I'll have to ask around and see if there is any place local.

[Stucue74]

Nice job. Your ribs look better than my first trial smoking. Keep on keeping on. I would try the 3/2/1 method or 2/2/1 depending on which cut, it really works.

[willkat98]

The "1" in that method is if your gonna mop or add sauce.

We like to use different "dipping" sauces at the table, or just plain, since they taste so good.

So if your gonna do this, don't unwrap.

Becomes the 3-3 method or the 2-3 method.

Just a variation on a theme, but try it.

[Saiko]

thanks guys you have been very helpful. I don't know where i can get different flavored woods yet. I'll have to ask around and see if there is any place local.

I live in Kennesaw, Georgia. I have about a half a chord of cherry wood seasoning under my deck. It will probably be ready in a couple of more months. If you just want some chunks for smoking, feel free to grab a log from me whenever you want. If you want more, we can work out a trade for hickory or something. Just lemme know.

[willkat98]

Very Generous Saiko. You'll love Cherry Jsn.

And Saiko, congratulations on 100

[Saiko]

Very Generous Saiko. You'll love Cherry Jsn.

And Saiko, congratulations on 100

Oh wow, just noticed...Thanks!

[jsn1511]

thanks guys you have been very helpful. I don't know where i can get different flavored woods yet. I'll have to ask around and see if there is any place local.

I live in Kennesaw, Georgia. I have about a half a chord of cherry wood seasoning under my deck. It will probably be ready in a couple of more months. If you just want some chunks for smoking, feel free to grab a log from me whenever you want. If you want more, we can work out a trade for hickory or something. Just lemme know.


Wow, thanks. although i don't cut down my own trees i buy the chunks from home depot.

[2Fat]

oh i forgot, which ribs are better pork or beef? I imagine this might be controversial as well but i am poor and can't buy a whole lot of ribs this weekend.

As a rule almost always cook spares---6-7hrs @about 225°--hardly never mop or use foil---but maybe should change something 'cause never made it past the top ten in a KCBS contest with ribs so far.

BUT iffen I'm cooken ribs just for me---will search out soem beef ribs---real hard to find good beef ribs in this country(walmart ribs suck). Uusally get a meat guy to cut some meaty ones special--damn the cost! Cook them at least 6hrs or so and you qwill have heaven on your lips!!! imo of course

Buzz

[2Fat]

[quote="Saiko" I live in Kennesaw, Georgia. I have about a half a chord of cherry wood seasoning under my deck. .[/quote]

love cherry wood although it seems sometimes stuff can get a little "dark" with cherry smoke---
For most all cooking I use a mix of cherry and pecan(which I mail order from texas)

Buzz

[Bigdog]

Buzz,
I am a fan of beef ribs if I can get a good cut of shorts-lots of meat and not too much fat. The cut makes all the difference.

[2Fat]

Buzz,
I am a fan of beef ribs if I can get a good cut of shorts-lots of meat and not too much fat. The cut makes all the difference.just after the holidays the meat dept trim them rib roasts into boneless stuff and usually get a deal on the left over ribs--and the meat guy cuts them thick and themn discounts the packs 'cause I buy them all---uusually about a buck/lb

Buzz

[tommykendall]

BUT iffen I'm cooken ribs just for me---will search out soem beef ribs---real hard to find good beef ribs in this country(walmart ribs suck). Uusally get a meat guy to cut some meaty ones special--damn the cost! Cook them at least 6hrs or so and you qwill have heaven on your lips!!! imo of course


Beef ribs are great. My buddy Mike called Sunday before last and said he picked up a few cryovac racks of beef backs at alocal grocer earlier that morning for like $0.79 or $0.89 lb! Mike hasn't quite learned yet what bad prices, good prices, and great prices are on various meats. So after scolding him that he shoulda bought them all or at least called me from the store, I about broke my farking leg running out the front door. They had 5 racks left. One had been split open, another was nothing but fat and bones, the other 3 looked good, under $10 for all.

[badger]

Since I'm out of fruit wood, I've been buying 3 apples and 3 pears, cutting them in slices and putting in my water pan. I heat the water on the stove first, then but in the 'dera, then add the fruit. Seems to be working OK, at least no complaints.

I was under the impression that anything you put in the water pan (ie. fruit, beer, seasonings) just makes the BBQ area smell good and does not actually impart any flavor into the meat.

If that is not the case then FARK cutting up all this free fruit wood I just got!

[parrothead]

Nice Haul John

[2Fat]

that is a good load of wood---reminds me that its time to load up the chain saw and go wood "shopping"

Buzz

[badger]

Since I'm out of fruit wood, I've been buying 3 apples and 3 pears, cutting them in slices and putting in my water pan. I heat the water on the stove first, then but in the 'dera, then add the fruit. Seems to be working OK, at least no complaints.

I was under the impression that anything you put in the water pan (ie. fruit, beer, seasonings) just makes the BBQ area smell good and does not actually impart any flavor into the meat.

What about my original impression though. I guess I should have made it into a question.

So am I under the correct impression?

[Solidkick]

I'm sure the flavor from the fruit in the water pan does not impart (is that word?) the meat nothing like actual fruit wood burning does. It's not the same type of flavoring. Yes it is aromatic, and it is flavoring the meat some. You got apple wood, by all means burn it. I'm out and am using alternatives with no complaints from the ones eating the Q.