Baby Back Ribs or Spare Ribs?

NCGrimbo · 11-20-2005, 05:19 PM

In the contest you all have gone to, do they require you to cook spare ribs or can you choose to cook baby backs?

Thanks,
NC Grimbo

dxesmkr · 11-20-2005, 05:35 PM

you can cook either in KCBS.

Willy T.

rookiedad · 11-20-2005, 07:29 PM

what is usually favored by the judges?
phil

BrooklynQ · 11-20-2005, 07:44 PM

Which ever one tastes better. Not to be flip about it, but it's a cook's personal preference and experience that judges will taste. BBs and Spares are both submitted. If you are better at spares than bbs do spares.

MilitantSquatter · 11-20-2005, 07:52 PM

I agree with BrooklynQ. Go with what you do best. We do babyback's better and if we're going to practice ribs, I want to enjoy it the best if I'm spending money on the meat.

All I read about is how spares are tastier, moister and more forgiving etc.. That may be true.

However in my cooking experience the loin backs always seem to come out better, have more flavor, don't fall off the bone excessively etc. I definitely feel more in control of the baby backs. My butchering skills trying to trim spares into St. Louis style also still need work which makes it easier for me to go with babys at this point.

Smoker · 11-20-2005, 08:23 PM

I prefer bbb ribs. I would assume that if i was judging i would tend to favor bbb ribs.

Jeff_in_KC · 11-20-2005, 08:26 PM

I only do BBs too. I'm not a huge fan of spares anyway and I've only cooked them once. Did pretty good but the ones I got were WAY less than what I'd call meaty!

wsm · 11-20-2005, 08:52 PM

I cook spares, I like spares - if you submit GOOD babybacks to me, you will do well. Both are good and both score well if they are good.

slat · 11-23-2005, 08:55 AM

It doesn't matter what you cook, it's how you cook it. As a judge I don't look at bb ribs any different than slab ribs. It's in the taste and tenderness. I have had really good bb ribs and I've had good slab ribs.
I agree that you do what you do best and stick with it. Type doesn't matter to the judges, but the end product does. Stick with what you are comfortable doing.

nmayeux · 11-23-2005, 11:38 PM

My butcher has BBs already cut in the case, but will prep St. Louis style if I give them a days warning. I have been cooking both, but I think that my BBs taste better. Will be next year before I make a decision.

11-20-2005, 05:19 PM	#1
NCGrimbo is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-08-05 Location: Clayton, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Baby Back Ribs or Spare Ribs? In the contest you all have gone to, do they require you to cook spare ribs or can you choose to cook baby backs? Thanks, NC Grimbo __________________ "At what point did we forget that the Space Shuttle was, essentially, a program that strapped human beings to an explosion and tried to stab through the sky with fire and math? How jaded do we have to be to lose collective interest in that?" - Robert Brockway

11-20-2005, 05:35 PM	#2
dxesmkr On the road to being a farker Join Date: 10-29-03 Location: Upstate SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	you can cook either in KCBS. Willy T. __________________ Willy T's Dixie Smokers [url]www.willytsbbq.com[/url] Smoked Up & Sauced Carolina Style!!!! "Its better to give someone a hand than just a finger."

11-20-2005, 07:52 PM	#5
MilitantSquatter Moderator Join Date: 09-17-05 Location: soon to be in Mooresville, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I agree with BrooklynQ. Go with what you do best. We do babyback's better and if we're going to practice ribs, I want to enjoy it the best if I'm spending money on the meat. All I read about is how spares are tastier, moister and more forgiving etc.. That may be true. However in my cooking experience the loin backs always seem to come out better, have more flavor, don't fall off the bone excessively etc. I definitely feel more in control of the baby backs. My butchering skills trying to trim spares into St. Louis style also still need work which makes it easier for me to go with babys at this point. __________________ Vinny 22" WSM & Kettle Former owner: Jambo, Klose BYC, Med. Spicewine, Pitts & Spitts, XL & (2) Med. BGE's, (2) 18" WSM's

11-20-2005, 08:26 PM	#7
Jeff_in_KC somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-04-05 Location: Pleasant Hill, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I only do BBs too. I'm not a huge fan of spares anyway and I've only cooked them once. Did pretty good but the ones I got were WAY less than what I'd call meaty! __________________ Big Creek BBQ Competition Team KCBS Member and CBJ #14287 Contest Organizer - Smokin' on Big Creek Co-Founder and Executive Director Operation BBQ Relief, Inc. Visit us at Operation BBQ Relief dot org

11-20-2005, 08:52 PM	#8
wsm Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-27-05 Location: st louis, mo Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I cook spares, I like spares - if you submit GOOD babybacks to me, you will do well. Both are good and both score well if they are good. __________________ rich the judge collecting piggy suspenders St Louis, MO Eastern Area MOFO KCBS CBJ WSM slightly modded, Weber Performer, Smokey Joe Gold, Whatever is handy

11-20-2005, 07:29 PM	#3
rookiedad is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-21-05 Location: patchogue, n.y. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	what is usually favored by the judges? phil

11-20-2005, 07:44 PM	#4
BrooklynQ Banned Join Date: 07-18-04 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Which ever one tastes better. Not to be flip about it, but it's a cook's personal preference and experience that judges will taste. BBs and Spares are both submitted. If you are better at spares than bbs do spares.

11-20-2005, 08:23 PM	#6
Smoker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-19-05 Location: Long Island NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I prefer bbb ribs. I would assume that if i was judging i would tend to favor bbb ribs.

11-23-2005, 08:55 AM	#9
slat is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 10-10-03 Location: Marble Hill, Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It doesn't matter what you cook, it's how you cook it. As a judge I don't look at bb ribs any different than slab ribs. It's in the taste and tenderness. I have had really good bb ribs and I've had good slab ribs. I agree that you do what you do best and stick with it. Type doesn't matter to the judges, but the end product does. Stick with what you are comfortable doing. __________________ Cell 573-979-2426 Proud member of the MOFO chapter. Bandera Turkey Fryer Rusting and corroding Gas Grill

11-23-2005, 11:38 PM	#10
nmayeux Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-05 Location: Marietta, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My butcher has BBs already cut in the case, but will prep St. Louis style if I give them a days warning. I have been cooking both, but I think that my BBs taste better. Will be next year before I make a decision. __________________ Noah \#/ Nauti-Que BBQ Team Pitmaster and KCBS CBJ & CTC

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Baby Back vs.Spare Ribs	Chefy	Q-talk	71	12-01-2011 06:23 PM
Spare Ribs and Loin Back	hankll	Q-talk	2	09-20-2011 09:42 AM
Baby Back or Spare Ribs?	gbh52	Q-talk	38	06-18-2010 09:03 PM
Baby Backs or Spare Ribs?	sigmasmokers	Competition BBQ	7	04-07-2005 05:03 PM
Beef Ribs vs. Pork Ribs (Baby Back or Spare)	Bigmofo300lbs	Q-talk	22	01-12-2005 03:57 PM