Rib Quality question - Baby backs vs St Louis

jtrainor56 · Jun 10, 2013

I normally smoke baby backs that I only buy from BJ's, they come three racks to a cryopak and I have yet to get a bad pack. I decided to go to the local supermarket and bought two racks of St Louis since I didn't like the baby backs they had and if I had gone to BJ's I would have spent close to $200 extra buying extra meat and chicken to fill my freezer.

Anyway, I didn't trim them before cooking and used the same rub I always use. I smoked them for 5 hours and they were tender but they seemed to be fattier then the baby backs and my wife and kids were not really crazy about them. I was just wondering, if this is the norm or did I just get a lousy pair of ribs. Thanks ~ Joe.

bigtrain74 · Jun 10, 2013

They are much more fattier than a baby back. Baby back are coming from the most tender part of the hog. I never tell people how to prep their food but rather make suggestions. I prefer to trim my ribs so there is just a little bit of fat on them. I always pull the silver skin off as well. I like the spares because you get a lot more meat to them even though you have to spend the time to prep them.

Hope this helps.

~Tony

so ms smoker · Jun 10, 2013

Hi Joe. St. Lois ribs do have more fat and need to be trimmed. Also, did you pull off the membrane on the bone side? And take off the flap on the back, rub it the same and put on with the ribs. It will be done early and makes a great 'chef snack' ! I would try once more just to see the difference.

Mike

roller · Jun 10, 2013

I always cook Baby Backs because of all the meat on them and the temderness..

jtrainor56 · Jun 10, 2013

Thanks to all, yes I always pull the membrane from my ribs. A few years back I attended a class on smoking rib and have been doing it ever since. I also didn't remove the flap but did trim off some fat that I thought was excessive. I'll have to try them again and see how I do.

Again thanks for all of your responses... ~ Joe

grillin_all_day · Jun 10, 2013

The flap is also good for frying up (or smoking) and throwing it into beans. The last batch of my smoked bbq beans I made, I chopped, seasoned and fried that instead of bacon (which I normally use). They still turned out great without the magical ingredient of bacon.

sqwib · Jun 10, 2013

I must be the odd man out, I prefer spare ribs trimmed St. Louis over baby backs as well as my family.

rdknb · Jun 10, 2013

SQWIB said:
I must be the odd man out, I prefer spare ribs trimmed St. Louis over baby backs as well as my family.

Both myself and my Wife agree with you on that.

papacurtis · Jun 10, 2013

I like St. Louis too. For me fat equals flavor! To each his own. I use the flap in my meat sauce for pasta. Or i braise it in my dutch oven, and put it over rice and black beans, latin style.

jp61 · Jun 10, 2013

I'm not picky, I like them all.... spares, baby backs, fall off the bone or not...... it's all good!

bigtrain74 · Jun 10, 2013

SQWIB said:
I must be the odd man out, I prefer spare ribs trimmed St. Louis over baby backs as well as my family.

I agree! A much better rib, hands down.

smokinhusker · Jun 10, 2013

PapaCurtis said:
I like St. Louis too. For me fat equals flavor! To each his own. I use the flap in my meat sauce for pasta. Or i braise it in my dutch oven, and put it over rice and black beans, latin style.

RdKnB said:
SQWIB said:

I must be the odd man out, I prefer spare ribs trimmed St. Louis over baby backs as well as my family.

Click to expand...

Both myself and my Wife agree with you on that.

SQWIB said:
I must be the odd man out, I prefer spare ribs trimmed St. Louis over baby backs as well as my family.

Yep with these guys!

redwood carlos · Jun 11, 2013

Another vote for Spares any style.

Biting into one of the ribs on the left side that were not trimmed can turn someone off of spares very quickly. That is one big gelatinous blob under a thin layer of meat. My friend did not like them for a while because of this exact reason, 'til I showed him how to trim them up.

spare rib fat2.png

redwood carlos
Jun 11, 2013

sqwib · Jun 11, 2013

REDWOOD CARLOS said:
Another vote for Spares any style.

Biting into one of the ribs on the left side that were not trimmed can turn someone off of spares very quickly. That is one big gelatinous blob under a thin layer of meat. My friend did not like them for a while because of this exact reason, 'til I showed him how to trim them up.

spare rib fat2.png

redwood carlos

Jun 11, 2013

Dude, that is the famous, "Button" that needs to be trimmed and is for the cook ONLY!

oldschoolbbq · Jun 11, 2013

Yes , on all. I love my Spares, a BB now and then , but Spares are just tastier......

zimq · Jun 12, 2013

Spares for the win!

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Rib Quality question - Baby backs vs St Louis

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