Smoked Ribs Recipes

SMOKED RIB RUB RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix your dry spices together in a small bowl or other container.
• If it hasn't been done already, flip your ribs over and make a small cut into the white membrane cover the back closest to one of the ends.
• Using a paper towel to help grip, slowly and gently pull the membrane down until it separates from the ribs, using a knife to clean up any scraps.
• Liberally coat both sides of your ribs in spices, rubbing into the meat to ensure everything is covered.
• Wrap the rack in plastic wrap and place on a large baking tray in the refrigerator over night and up to a full 24 hours to let the flavors develop.
• Half an hour before cook time, take your ribs from the fridge and let them start to warm up at room temperature.
• This helps them to cook more evenly while they're smoking as the inside and outside will be roughly even in temperature, avoiding overcooking the outside with a raw inside.
• Additionally, soak your wood chips in hot water at this time if you're using them instead of chunks.
• Fill your smoker halfway with charcoal and light it.
• Close the lid and allow it to start heating up.
• If you're using a thermometer, it should read around 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
• When your charcoal has burnt down and your smoker is up to temperature, add more charcoal, toss on your wood, add the grate, fill the water tank, and close the lid once again.
• This gives the wood a chance to start smoking and the new material a chance to burn.
• After another ten minutes or so, you're finally ready to cook.
• Place your ribs meat side up into the center of your smoker and close the lid.
• Depending on the type of rib you use, it'll most likely take around four hours to cook fully (baby backs run shorter, St. Louis run longer).
• You can check this by sight if the meat has begun to pull away from the bones or by temperature when a rib measures 195 degrees Fahrenheit internally.
• As your ribs smoke, make sure to monitor the levels of wood, charcoal, and water in your smoker and add more of each as needed.
• Additionally, keep the temperature consistent by adjusting the air vents, especially when introducing new fuel to the fire.
• Every half hour, spray your ribs down with apple juice or apple cider from a spray bottle.
• This both flavors the meat and helps keep the outside moist during the long cooking process.
• In the last half hour of cooking, paint on a thick layer of barbecue sauce across the meat and allow it to caramelize on the outside, though be careful not to burn it.
• If it appears to be burning, remove the ribs from the heat or tent them in aluminum foil until they're fully cooked.
• After removing your ribs from the smoker, allow them to rest half an hour at minimum while wrapped loosely in aluminum foil.
• This gives the meat a chance to relax after being cooked and lets the juices redistribute throughout, making for a more tender, flavorful, and juicy rib.
• Use this time strategically to finish any side dishes or meal prep you hadn't to gotten yet.
• Once the ribs have rested, it's time to eat.

SLOW SMOKED PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Prepare ribs:.
• Let the ribs come up to room temperature, rinse off in cold water and remove the silver membrane from the back. You don`t have to remove it but I find the membrane blocks the uptake of smoke and creates a barrier to your rubs.
• To remove the membrane, lay the ribs on a flat surface meat side down. Take a sharp knife and begin peeling the membrane from one corner near the bone. Once you have a good piece peeled back, grab it with a paper towel to get a good grip and begin pulling. Once the membrane is removed rinse off the ribs again and pat dry with some paper towels.
• Mustard Rub:.
• Mix rub mixture together.
• Then rub the mustard rub mixture over the entire surface of the ribs.
• Once the pork ribs are seasoned and the smoker is ready then you are set to go. Using a blend of oak, hickory and a little mesquite in the firebox,or what you prefer.
• Place the ribs in the smoker and let it go. You want the good smoking temperature in the area about 200 degrees. You can go lower if you plan on doing a long smoke, but I don't go higher.
• After smoking for 2 hours. Then wrap the ribs in heavy duty foil and keep going for 2 more hours. Creating fall off the bone ribs! Then unwrap for one hour.
• To serve I cut the ribs inIf you want crispy ribs blast the heat on the grill and char them.
• If you want extra sweet, spicy, sticky goodness dip into your favorite BBQ sauce. Apply the sauce when the foil comes off, but for crispy ribs apply after crisping. If you want extra smoke go ahead and add more wood when unwrapping the ribs.
• Let ribs sit for 10 minutes before cutting into servings.

MEATHEAD'S LAST MEAL RIBS RECIPE

Steps:

• Prep. Rinse the ribs in cool water to remove any bone bits from the butchering.
• If the butcher has not removed the membrane from the under side, do it yourself. It gets leathery and hard to chew, it keeps fat in, and it keeps sauce out. To remove it, insert a butter knife under the membrane, then your fingers, work a section loose, grip it with a paper towel, and peel it off. If you can't get the skin off, with a sharp knife, cut slashes through it every inch so some of the fat will render out during the cooking. Click here to see more photos of how to skin 'n' trim ribs and here's a quickie 1 minute video of the technique.
• Trim the excess fat from both sides of the rack of ribs.
• Next it is time to add the salt. The rule of thumb is 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of meat, but ribs are about 50% bone, so use about 1/4 teaspoon per pound. You can simply eyeball it by sprinkling on the same amount of salt you would sprinkle on the ribs if they were served to you unsalted. If you can, give the salt 1 to 2 hours to be absorbed. The process of salting in advance is called dry brining.
• Before adding a BBQ rub, be aware of double salt jeopardy! Rubs and spice blends are a great way to add flavor to meat, but almost all commercial rubs contain salt so be careful not to pre-salt the ribs if you plan on using one of these rubs otherwise they will be unbearably salty. Also note that some ribs sold in grocery stores are labeled as "enhanced" or "flavor enhanced" or "self-basting" or "basted," meaning that they have been injected with a brine at the packing plant so if you are using these you probably want to use a rub that doesn't include salt like our Meathead's Memphis Dust recipe.Some folks insist on putting the barbecue rub on the night before, but it isn't necessary. The molecules in spices are too large to penetrate more than a tiny fraction of an inch. Read this for the science.
• Before applying the rub, just coat the meat with a thin layer of water. The water helps dissolve the spices. A lot of cooks like to use mustard under the rub as a form of glue. Mustard is water, vinegar, and maybe white wine (all mostly water) with mustard powder mixed in. The amount of mustard powder is so small that by the time the water steams off and drips away, the mustard powder remaining is miniscule. My experience is that using a mustard slather makes little or no difference in the final outcome. If you want a mustard flavor, you will do much better by simply sprinkling it on the meat. Once wet, sprinkle enough Meathead's Memphis Dust to coat all surfaces but not so much that the meat doesn't show through. That is about 2 tablespoons per side depending on the size of the slab. Spread the Memphis Dust on the meat and rub it in.
• Fire up. Pre-heat your barbecue smoker or set up your grill for 2-zone (indirect) cooking. Adjust the dampers on your cooker to bring the temperature to about 225°F and try to keep it there throughout the cook. Cooking at 225°F will allow the meat to roast low and slow, liquefying the collagen in connective tissues and melting fats without getting the proteins knotted in a bunch. It's a magic temp that creates silky texture, adds moisture, and keeps the meat tender. If you can't hit 225°F, get as close as you can. Don't go under 200°F and try not to go over 250°F.When monitoring the cooker temperature you can absolutely positively noway nohow rely on bi-metal dial thermometers. If you are not monitoring your cooker with a good digital oven thermometer, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Using a dial thermometer is like trying to send email with a typewriter. Click here to read my buyer's guide to thermometers.Once you have reached the desired temperature, add about 4 ounces of dry wood, placing it as close to the flame as possible.
• Cook. Put the slabs in the cooker in indirect heat, meaty side up, close the lid, go drink a beer, read a book, or make love.
• When the smoke dwindles after 20 to 30 minutes, add another 4 ounces of wood. After that, DO NOT add any more wood. On your first attempt, resist the temptation. Nothing will ruin a meal faster and waste money better than over-smoked meat. You can always add more the next time you cook, but you cannot take it away if you over-smoke.
• If you have more than one slab on, halfway through the cook you will need to move the ribs closest to the fire away from the heat, and the slabs farthest from the flame in closer. Leave the meat side up. There is no need to flip the slabs. You can peek if you must, but don't leave the lid open for long.
• This next step is known as the Texas Crutch. This optional trick involves wrapping the slab in foil with about an ounce of water for up to an hour to speed cooking and tenderize a bit. Almost all barbecue ribs competition cooks use the Texas Crutch to get an edge. But the improvement is really slight and I never bother for backyard cooking. If you crutch too long you can turn the meat to mush and time in foil can soften the bark and remove a lot of rub. I recommend it only for barbecue competitions when the tiniest improvement can mean thousands of dollars. Skip it and you'll still have killer ribs. But if you've seen it on TV and must try it, click here to learn more about The Texas Crutch. The Texas Crutch is it is baked into a popular technique called the 3-2-1 method which I do not recommend. Two hours in foil or butcher paper is far too long and can make the meat mushy. Try the Texas Crutch after you master the basics.
• For cooking time, allow 5 to 7 hours for St. Louis Cut (SLC) Ribs or Spare Ribs, and 3 to 5 hours for Baby Back Ribs. Thicker, meatier slabs take longer. If you use rib holders so they are crammed close to each other, add another hour.
• When it is time to find out whether or not the ribs are ready, we us the bend test (a.k.a. the bounce test). Although we insist that you buy a good digital meat thermometer for most smoking and grilling, this is one of the few meats on which you cannot use a meat thermometer because the bones have an impact on the meat temp and because the meat is so thin. To conduct the bend test, pick up the slab with tongs and bounce it gently. If the surface cracks as in the picture above, it is ready. Here are some other tricks to tell when ribs are ready.
• Once the ribs are done cooking it is time to add the sauce unless you intend to serve them "dry" like they do in Memphis. The key to saucing ribs is to go easy on it so that the meat can shine through. Simply paint both sides of the rack with your favorite home made barbecue sauce or store-bought barbecue sauce and cook for another 15 minutes or so. Don't put the sauce on earlier than that. It has sugar and there is a risk it can burn. Now here's a trick I like: Sizzle on the sauce. Put the ribs with sauce directly over the hottest part of a grill in order to caramelize and crisp the sauce. On a charcoal grill, just move the slab over the coals. On a gas grill, crank up all the burners. On a water smoker, remove the water pan and move the meat close to the coals. On an offset smoker, put a grate over the coals in the firebox and put the meat there. With the lid open so you don't roast the meat from above, sizzle the sauce on one side and then the other. The sauce will actually sizzle and bubble. Stand by your grill and watch because sweet sauce can go from caramelized to carbonized in less than a minute! One coat of a thick sauce should be enough, but if you need two, go ahead, but don't hide all the fabulous flavors under too much sauce. If you think you'll want more sauce, put some in a bowl on the table.
• Serve. Once sauced, slice the rack between the bones. If you've done all this right, you will notice that there is a thin pink layer beneath the surface of the meat. This does not mean it is undercooked! It is the highly prized smoke ring caused by the combustion gases and the smoke. It is a sign of Amazing Ribs. Now plate, serve to your guests, and take a bow when the applause swells from the audience.

SWEET SMOKED PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Stir salt, white sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, and cumin together in a small bowl to make the dry rub. Rub the spice mixture into the baby back ribs on all sides. Wrap the ribs well with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking.
• Unwrap baby back ribs and place onto the wire racks of the smoker in a single layer.
• Place the racks into a smoker, fill the smoker pan with apple, grape, pear, or cherry chips, and bring the smoker to 270 degrees F (130 degrees C). Smoke for 1 hour.
• Stir together the apple juice, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and the barbeque sauce. Brush the ribs with the sauce every 30 to 45 minutes after the first hour. Cook the ribs in the smoker until the meat is no longer pink and begins to "shrink" back from the bones, 3 to 4 hours. Brush the sauce onto the ribs one last time 30 minutes before the ribs are ready to be taken out of the smoker.
• Once the ribs are done, wrap them tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the juices to reabsorb into the meat and make the ribs moist.

SMOKED BBQ RIBS - TRAEGER GRILLS

Steps:

• Pat the ribs dry with paper towels and peel the membrane from the back of each rack.
• Apply an even coat of Traeger Pork & Poultry Rub to the front, back and sides of the ribs. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
• When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 225℉ and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. For optimal flavor, use Super Smoke, if available.
• Insert the probe into the center of a rack of ribs, avoiding the bones. Place the ribs, bone-side down, directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and smoke until the internal temperature reaches 201°F, about 4 1/2 hours. Add the apple juice to a spray bottle and spritz the ribs after 1 hour of cooking and every 45 minutes thereafter.
• Brush the ribs on both sides with a light layer of Traeger BBQ sauce. Continue cooking until the sauce sets, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the ribs from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes, then slice between the bones into individual ribs. Serve with more Traeger BBQ Sauce. Enjoy!

SMOKED RIBS

Steps:

• Turn the ribs over onto its back and you will see a thin white covering on the bones all along the rack. Starting at one end, use a small knife to slide right under the membrane and gently pull up, but don't cut it. The easiest spot to get under the membrane is right on the bone and not on the meat.
• Grab the membrane with a paper towel. (Paper towel will give you a nice grip so you can hold onto it as you pull.) Gently but firmly pull the membrane off the entire rib.
• You can clean and season the ribs the night before or about an hour before smoking. If you will season the night before, make sure to place them on a metal rimmed tray and cover with plastic wrap air-tight. (Keep in refrigerator if holding them overnight.)(It's good to prepare the ribs the night before if you need to get them on the smoker bright and early the next day. Just take them out of the refrigerator before preparing the smoker.)
• Mix all ingredients for the rub together in a bowl. Pat ribs on all sides with a paper towel.
• Generously sprinkle the rub in an even layer over both sides of the rib so the meat is not showing. Gently pat and even out the seasoning with your hands. Let ribs sit while preparing the smoker.
• Set up your smoker and preheat it to 225°. I highly recommend including a water pan or water/drip pan to the smoker. Use a digital oven thermometer to track the temperature on the grill grate. Don't rely on the thermometer built into the lid of the smoker, they are always at least 20 degrees off.
• (If using wood or charcoal smoker, maintain the temperature right around 225° but don't let it get below 225° or over 250°)
• When the smoker temperature is at 225°, place ribs on the grate and close the lid.
• Smoke ribs for 5-7 hours, depending on their size. (Large, meaty racks could take a little longer and if you stack more than 2 racks in a rib holder, expect to add at least 1 more hour.)
• Use long metal tongues to gently lift the rib rack off the grate but hold it only about 1/3 -1/2 of the way up the rack. Give it a gentle bounce to see how easily the meat cracks. (See picture in the post.)If it cracks easily and right away, the ribs are ready. If the meat is having a bit of a hard time cracking and feels rubbery when bouncing, the ribs need at least another hour.
• If you plan to add the sauce, glaze ribs with BBQ sauce an hour before they are ready. Remember to keep the lid of the smoker open as little as possible so you don't let the heat out. This is especially important for wood and charcoal smokers.

3-2-1 RIBS: PERFECT FALL OFF THE BONE RIBS

Steps:

• Begin by removing the membrane on the back of the ribs
• Liberally season both sides of the ribs using the sweet rub, starting with the bone side.
• Prepare your smoker for indirect smoking. Target temperature is between 180-200 with thin blue smoke. Place the seasoned ribs on the smoker and close the lid. Leave them to smoke for 3 hours.
• Tear off a large piece of aluminum foil and place it on a large working surface. Transfer the ribs to the foil bone side up so the bones don't tear through the foil. Sprinkle with the brown sugar, top with the butter cut into small pads, and then pour over the apple cider.
• Tightly crimp the foil together to create an airtight seal. Return to the grill and increase your cooking temperature to as close to 225 degrees as you can get it. Let the ribs braise for 2 hours in the foil.
• Carefully remove the ribs from the grill and place on a large working surface. Open the foil package (be careful of hot steam) and use tongs to remove the ribs and place them back on the grill, bone side down. Discard the foil and excess cooking liquid,
• Brush the ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce, close the lid of your grill and cook at 225 degrees for an additional hour until the ribs are done to your desired tenderness and the sauce is sticky and set.

SMOKED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Prepare the ribs (see below). Combine the brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin, mustard powder and 2 tablespoons salt in a small bowl. Rub the ribs all over with the cut sides of the lemon and then the spice mixture and place in a large roasting pan or resealable plastic bag. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Meanwhile, soak the wood chips in water 1 hour, then prepare your grill for smoking, filling the smoker box with one-quarter each of the wood chips and apple.
• About 30 minutes before smoking, remove the ribs from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature. Meanwhile, combine the apple juice, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar in a small spray bottle. Shake to mix.
• Once the grill reaches 250 degrees F, lightly brush the grates with vegetable oil and place the ribs on the cooler side of the grill, meat-side up. Spray with the apple juice mixture. Close the grill and let smoke 1 hour.
• Replenish the smoker box with another one-quarter each of the wood chips and apple. Flip the ribs so they're meat-side down with the opposite edge of the racks closer to the smoker box. Spray with the apple juice mixture; close the grill and let smoke 1 more hour. Repeat this process every hour until the ribs are dark brown and tender and the meat starts to shrink away from the bones, about 2 more hours. Remove the ribs from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
• How to prep your ribs:
• Position the ribs meat-side down. Insert a paring knife under the membrane that covers the back of the rack. Loosen the membrane with the knife. Grab the membrane with your fingers and peel off completely.