Are these even spareribs?

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

Hi there.

I was wondering if anybody could tell me if these are infact spareribs (pic below)
They were sold my grocer as spareribs but in all the photos I have seen of spareribs sold in the US, the bones are not as curved.
I tried to cut them into st Louis style but I dont have a bone saw.
They also didnt have very much meat on them.

Thanks for your insight.

MilitantSquatter · Jan 1, 2012

Those look like very large loinbacks (aka babybacks), not spareribs.

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

Thats what I thought.

Does anybody else agree?

Thanks Vinny.

BigBobBQ · Jan 1, 2012

I am leaning towards baby backs as well, the bone has way to much curve to be spares.

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

arent they kinda long to be babies?

nucornhusker · Jan 1, 2012

The back and spare ribs (not separated) off of a small pig maybe? :noidea:

shares · Jan 1, 2012

Looks like loin backs, not belly spares.

nrok2118 · Jan 1, 2012

yeah theyre lionbacks:thumb:

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

Looks like I will be going to a pork specialist with a printout of where the spareribs are located in a pig to try to teach them here in New Zealand.
I wonder if actual spareribs will be cheaper than the ones I paid for.

Phrasty · Jan 1, 2012

It's both... the curved section is the baby back and the longer section is the spare.

Think of it this way... the bottom of the babyback and the bottom of the spare is where they are connected. OR the top of the babyback is the spine and the top of the spare (cartilage) is the sternum.

So yah... it's both. :thumb:
Cheers

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

Thats a pretty small pig then right?

Phrasty · Jan 1, 2012

Definitely looks that way. :thumb:

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

Thanks Phrasty

Btw, I am reading your massive thread at the moment

Nice BBQ; totally jealous here.

Pappy · Jan 1, 2012

High on the Hog.

thirdeye · Jan 1, 2012

I've seen my fair share of "large" racks of baby backs, with longer than typical bones.... Maybe a chart like this might be handy to show the butcher shop.

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

Thanks guys so much; now I have something I can go to the butcher with to get actual spareribs.

My guess is that I will ask them for spares; they will charge me for spares + babies because nobody in New Zealand knows what to do with Baby Back ribs so in the butchers mind the babybacks will be wasted.

The_Kapn · Jan 1, 2012

scottjess said:
Thanks guys so much; now I have something I can go to the butcher with to get actual spareribs.

My guess is that I will ask them for spares; they will charge me for spares + babies because nobody in New Zealand knows what to do with Baby Back ribs so in the butchers mind the babybacks will be wasted.

Can you ask them to just run the saw down the line shown to seperate the two types of ribs?

Then, you get the whole thing in a more manageable form.

TIM

scottjess · Jan 1, 2012

If all else fails then that is what I will do.

Thanks

---k--- · Jan 1, 2012

Nothing wrong with Baby Backs. My wife and a lot of other people prefer them. :shrug: They are a lot more similar than different if you ask me.

ssbbqguy · Jan 1, 2012

I agree with Tim on cutting down the line to seperate. Wonder what they taste like compared to the US stuff? Good luck. Steve.

Are these even spareribs?

Knows what a fatty is.

Moderator

Knows what a fatty is.

Babbling Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

Babbling Farker

is one Smokin' Farker

Full Fledged Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

Babbling Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

Babbling Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

is One Chatty Farker

somebody shut me the fark up.

Knows what a fatty is.

Moderator Emeritus

Knows what a fatty is.

is One Chatty Farker

is one Smokin' Farker

Similar threads