Smoked Ribs Recipes

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.

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.

SMOKED PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Mix to combine all the rub ingredients. Moisten the ribs with lemon juice and then coat all sides with the rub, making sure to distribute evenly.
• Arrange the grill or smoker for indirect heating so the ribs will not be directly over the heat source. Using low heat and applewood chips (about half a pound), place ribs on cool part of the grill, wrap in foil, make a few incisions in the foil and smoke for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, whisk together all glaze ingredients.
• After 1 hour, pour a third of the glaze on top of the ribs and seal tightly in the foil, being careful not to tear it. Do the same with remaining racks. Return ribs to the grill and cook meat-side down for 30 minutes, maintaining low heat. Occasionally check the grill to make sure it remains low. After 30 minutes, flip the foil bundles and continue cooking.
• After 1 hour of cooking, remove the ribs from the grill and let rest in the foil for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, raise grill heat to medium-high. Cut the lemon in half and grill flesh-side down until nicely marked and slightly soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
• When done resting, remove the ribs from the foil and place on the grill meat-side down and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove the ribs from the grill and garnish with the grilled lemon, sea salt, oregano and extra virgin olive oil and a little drizzle of honey.

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.

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.