NEWB! Hello from Houston!

[wes]

Hello everyone!
I've been perusing the site for a while now and thought it would be proper to introduce myself... I'm Wes, as my user name indicates. I'm from Houston and this Sunday I've decide to have a post-hurricane BBQ and smoke up some spare-ribs. This will be the FIRST time I've ever smoked ribs so I think this will be an adventure, lol.

I have an ECB with a few mods to the firepan, a charcoal grate and drilled holes to increase airflow. I've smoked chickens on this setup and have pleased my guests but ribs, I think, will be a little more difficult.

I'm planning on trying a variation of the 3-2-1 method. I like my ribs tender but not necessarily "falling off the bone", so maybe 3-1.5-1?? I'll prob play it by sight and smell, lol. If anyone has experience with smoking spare-ribs in an ECB and cares to share some useful knowledge, I would definitely appreciate it.

I have gone through not even 10% of the information here and learned a TON that prob would've taken me years to figure out on my own. This forum is GREAT! Thanks!

Wes

p.s. I've done searches for "ecb" and get zilch... any ideas on that?

 

[cowgirl]

Welcome to the forum Wes! Hope the storm didn't do any damage to your place.

 

[wes]

Thanks for the concern...

No damage to my place but the area I live (Pearland) got hit pretty hard and clean-up has been slow. There are still downed power line poles laying across the streets and traffic is just being diverted around them... which is fine during the day, but on my way to work it's still dark outside and you'll be very surprised at just HOW dark a city can get w/ out any power (think deer camp dark)... so if you don't already know that something is there, it's very hard to see, even with your headlights on. But I expect things will be back up and running soon

 

[pineywoods]

Wes welcome to SMF we're glad you joined us. You may want to sign up for Jeff's Day Ecourse it has lots of good info and its free. Good luck on those ribs it sounds like you have a good plan. Don't forget to post some Qview. Have fun and happy smoking

 

[wutang]

Try searches with a little more info. I searched "ecb modifications" and "smoking on ECB" and it did come up with results. Welcome to the forum

 

[richtee]

Welcome Wes! Glad the weather's getting better heh! Enjoy...and all the ECB stuff should be in the Charcoal Smoker forum...and as Wu said...try those searches! Enjoy!

 

[cowgirl]

Sounds bad Wes! Hope things get back to normal for you soon.

 

[richoso1]

Glad to know you're on the list, SMF list that is. Good luck on the ribs my friend, and do post some Q View.

 

[bassman]

Welcome to SMF. You will do just fine with the ribs on the ECB. As was already mentioned, we do like Qview.

 

[waysideranch]

Welcome Wes.

 

[roadrunr]

welcome to SMF wes

 

[supervman]

Welcome Wes.
Glad you and your family came out ok.
Tough deal, that storm.

You'll LOVE this place the folks are good.
Enjoy.
Vman

 

[bbqgoddess]

Hi Wes, Greetings from So Cal..
we shake and bake out here..I am hoping you all get your power and other ammentities working really quicky..
be safe and Happy smokes!

 

[shooterrick]

Hey man keep your head up. We went without power for a week after Gustav and you all got hit harder by Ike. I know it can be frustrating but each day the infrastucture gets alittle better even if you don't always see it. Good Luck and Welcome. Lots of great folks here with all the info you could possibly need.

 

[wes]

OK... well no Q-View, sorry. Girlfriend has the camera and I forget to tell her to bring it.

The ribs came out ok... I wasn't impressed with myself by any means. I left them in for 3 hours before wrapping in foil, spritzing with apple juice every hour. They stayed in foil for 2 hours... then after I removed the foil I was having problems keeping the heat up in the smoker (after 5 hours)... temp dropped down to around 180f-200f from where I had it at ~240f. So to compensate I left the ribs in the smoker after unwrapping the foil for longer than I was planning on. Which in hindsight, is prob why they weren't as juicy as I really wanted them to be (they were dry). I think I should've stuck with my original plan despite the temp drop. Oh well, rack this one up as "experience", right?

 

[white cloud]

Welcome Wes and good luck on them ribs. I know they will turn out great for ya.