MEATHEAD'S LAST MEAL RIBS RECIPE
These are the best BBQ pork ribs you will ever eat. They are so good you would ask for them as your "last meal". We're talking classic Southern barbecue ribs here, the barbecue ribs that win barbecue championships. The recipe is a melange of flavors: A complex spice rub, elegant hardwood smoke, tangy sweet sauce, all underpinned and held together by the distinct flavor of pork.
Provided by Kris Coppieters
Categories Dinner Lunch Main Course
Time 6h
Number Of Ingredients 4
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 61 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 1135 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 12 g, ServingSize 1 serving
SMOKED RIB RUB RECIPE
Everyone loves some good barbecue pork ribs. Even for barbecue fanatics, though, it can be tough to get ribs as delicious as the kind you get from a quality restaurant.
Provided by cavetools
Categories Main Course
Number Of Ingredients 12
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.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 3.5 g, Calories 10 kcal
BABY BACK RIBS, SMOKED TO PERFECTION
I like smoked ribs that are buttery and crisp on the outside, moist and tender on the inside, and stay on the bone. This is a variation of the popular 2-2-1 technique for smoking baby back ribs.
Provided by DrewBabe
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Pork Rib Recipes Baby Back Ribs
Time 4h40m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place 3 fist-sized chunks of wood in a smoker and heat to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C).
- While the wood burns down, mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cumin together. Apply the rub to both sides of the ribs.
- Add ribs to the smoker, bone-side down, once a thin blue smoke appears. Smoke for 2 hours. Wrap ribs lightly in aluminum foil to retain juices. Continue smoking for 1 1/2 hours at 225 to 250 degrees F (107 to 121 degrees C).
- Remove foil and continue to smoke until meat is tender but still stays on the bone, about 1 hour more, brushing lightly with barbeque sauce in the last 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1699.7 calories, Carbohydrate 4.1 g, Cholesterol 536.1 mg, Fat 134.7 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 110.7 g, SaturatedFat 50 g, Sodium 1688.4 mg, Sugar 1.8 g
BAKED BBQ BABY BACK RIBS
If you're in the mood for a little virtual trip into summer, give this technique a try. This works with literally any dry rub and barbecue sauce combo.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Pork Rib Recipes Baby Back Ribs
Time 3h20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
- Mix ancho chile powder, white sugar, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, cumin, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, and chipotle pepper in a small bowl until combined.
- Place ribs meat-side down on aluminum foil. Prick back of rib rack several times with a knife.
- Generously apply coating of dry rub to all sides of rib rack.
- With rib rack meat-side down, fold foil around it to create a tight seal. Transfer to sheet pan.
- Bake in preheated oven until tender and cooked through, about 2 hours. Remove and cool 15 minutes.
- Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Open foil, drain and discard any accumulated juices and fat. Brush barbeque sauce on all sides of rack.
- Place rack meat-side up and return to oven, leaving foil open. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven, and brush another layer of barbeque sauce on meat-side only. Repeat baking and brushing with sauce 4 more times, for a total of 50 minutes baking time.
- Cut rack into individual rib segments and serve with more barbeque sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 488.4 calories, Carbohydrate 51.8 g, Cholesterol 87.6 mg, Fat 22.9 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 18.9 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 782.3 mg, Sugar 42.2 g
BAKED BABY BACK RIBS
Even a barbeque purist cannot scoff at these foil-wrapped, baked and glazed baby back ribs. They're satisfyingly sweet, savory, smoky and flavorful. The meat falls off the bones! Baking in foil also reduces the amount of clean up. You'll be busy enjoying these ribs -- who has time for dishes?
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 3h20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chipotle chile powder, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, seafood seasoning and black pepper.
- Place each slab of ribs on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to fold over and seal, then place on a baking sheet. Do not seal the ribs in the foil yet (see Cook's Note). Generously sprinkle the dry rub on both sides of the ribs. Place in the refrigerator, meat-side down and uncovered, for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, combine the apple cider, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Worcestershire and minced garlic. Pour half the liquid over each slab and tightly seal each in the aluminum foil, crimping the edges to make a packet.
- Transfer the foil packets and baking sheet to the oven and bake until the meat is tender and starts to pull away from the bones, about 2 hours.
- Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Carefully open the aluminum packets and pour the braising liquid into a small saucepan. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat until it becomes a thick and syrupy glaze, about 4 minutes.
- While the braising liquid reduces, line a baking sheet with foil and gently transfer the ribs to it. Position a rack on the top level of the oven and preheat the broiler.
- Using a pastry brush, generously brush the ribs with about half the glaze. Place the ribs under the broiler for about 1 minute. Brush with the remaining glaze and return to the broiled until charred in spots, about 1 minute more. Slice each rack between the bones into 2-rib portions and serve.
SMOKED BABY BACK RIBS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 6h45m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
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.
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- Loosen the membrane on the back of each rack of ribs by slipping a small sharp knife between the rib bone and the membrane. Using paper towels for grip, hold the membrane tightly and pull it off (check out the video above to see how I do this, or you can ask your butcher to do it for you). Discard the membrane.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, salt, pepper, chili powder, granulated garlic, granulated onion and smoked paprika. Rub both sides of the ribs with the rub. If you have the time, cover the ribs and refrigerate them overnight (or for up to 2 days).
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- Give the ribs a good rinse to remove bone fragments and anything else that shouldn’t be there. Pat them dry with a paper towel and lay on the cutting board.
- I prefer to remove the membrane but it is certainly not worth a lot of time, effort and frustration. If you have trouble with it, you can skip this step and still have some of the best smoked ribs in town.
- After you have spend minimal time doing a little prep work to the ribs, get that batch of my rib rub that you mixed up earlier and sprinkle a good coating on the top of the ribs. Just enough so that you can no longer see the meat under the rub.
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- Remove the membrane on the back of the ribs and then liberally season both sides of the ribs using the dry rub.
- Prepare your smoker for indirect smoking at 190-200° F. Add the wood chips and then place the seasoned ribs on the smoker and close the lid. Smoke for 3 hours.
- Place a large piece of aluminum foil on a large baking sheet. Remove the ribs from the smoker and place bone side up onto the foil. Sprinkle the bone side with the brown sugar and top with the butter cut into small pads. Pour the apple cider or juice over top.
- Tightly crimp the foil together to create an airtight seal. Carefully return the foil wrapped ribs to the smoker and increase the cooking temperature to 225 degrees. Let the ribs continue to cook for 2 hours in the foil.
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- Peel the membrane off the back of each rack of ribs. Generously rub the BBQ spice rub all over the ribs.
- These are directions to smoke the ribs in a smoker.Set the smoker to 225F and use your wood of choice (I use hickory and apple most often). Place the ribs in the smoker and smoke for 3 hours if they are spareribs and 2 hours if they are back ribs.
- After the ribs have been in the smoker for 3 hours, take them out and wrap each rack with aluminum foil. Pour a 1/4 cup of beer, pop or apple juice with each rack of ribs. Fold over the foil and pinch all the edges to ensure that it is sealed well to allow steaming.
- If your smoker can function as an oven (like Bradley smokers) place the ribs wrapped in foil back in the smoker for another 2 hours. It is also possible to use an oven for this stage. Have it set for 225F and bake them for 2 hours.
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