Apple Smoke, Apple/RBP Rub & Pre-Smoke Misted Loin Backs: Q-View & Recipe

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

forluvofsmoke

Smoking Guru
Original poster
OTBS Member
Aug 27, 2008
5,170
409
Hey, smoke lovers!

I had time for a quicky q-view this evening...well, quick for me, anyway (12 pics).

I had a very pleasant surprise this morning when I opened up my first package of loin backs from a recent case purchase at Sam's Club. There are 3 slabs instead of 2 per pack, which means I have 15 slabs instead of 10 (I packed these into my outdoor freezer in low light after the wife brought them home for me, so I had no idea)...what a bonus! Well, not knowing at first makes it a bonus, anyway.

I decided to try something a bit different than I've done before when preparing ribs (or anything else, for that matter), as my oldest boy is home from college classes just for today and is spending the night...he likes a very tender rib like my wife, only with a pretty heavy bark, while I like a tender rib and lighter bark. My 4 younger kids haven't mentioned just yet which style they like best...I think they're just happy to have ribs when I'm around to smoke 'em up and haven't yet discovered their personal preference for ribs.

For today's rib-fest, I applied a moderately heavy dose of rub on the bone-sides, rested them in the pan for about 10 minutes, flipped and applied a very heavy dose (about quadruple what I normally would use) and gently misted all 3 slabs with about 1.5oz water for what I hope will be a really good retention of the dry rub for a great bark. I've never sprayed my meats once they go into the smoker, and to spray the rubbed meat with water just seemed to make more sense for holding the rub in place and getting it started setting up a bark early on. Lots of folks spray apple juice every hour for flavor, added moisture and probably to help build the sugars for the bark...I say put the apple in the rub and get it on! LOL!!!

Smoke provided by a mix of very small to medium sized apple chunks @ 225*, a full water pan, 5,000 ft elevation, 33* ambient, light snowfall off & on all day,  light winds and 4.0-1.5-0.5 method.

APPLE & RED BELL PEPPER PORK RIB RUB

4 Tbls ground dried apple

3 Tbls ground red bell pepper

1 Tbls ground rosemary

1.5 Tbls ground black peppercorn

1 Tbls garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

1/2 Tbls oregano

1 Tbls paprika

1/2 Tbls chili powder

2 Tbls kosher salt

Rubbed and misted:

3d789c58_1.jpg


c2ceb2c3_2.jpg


431783af_3.jpg


4 hours and it's time for a tented pan with a couple dashes of water...that rub looks good already, but man, wait 'til it's steamed a bit...it'll look even better:

d2e7110e_4.jpg


b513ada9_5.jpg


0071cb16_6.jpg


Steamed and ready to firm up...there's that darker color I built into the rub with the paprika and chili powder...lack of those 2 ingredients will yeild a much lighter colored bark:

477d00d2_7.jpg


And, after a 30-min open grate ride...:

9c931703_8.jpg


f5807fb9_9.jpg


e2f63087_10.jpg


e404f668_11.jpg


0a1c1498_12.jpg


The pre-smoke misting of the heavy dose of dry rub was a neat trick...didn't lose any rub during handling at all, and it helped alot in forming this heavy bark. The bark wasn't hard, but firm, just like I was shooting for...a nice chew on the outside of some juicy, tender and meaty ribs. Oh, the dry rub flavor is another hit here, as well. Natural sweetness, a fruity and peppery profile, while keeping everything mild and nicely balanced. Of course the apple smoke was a nice way to bring all that goodness home. Give it a try if you're up for something different...and leave the spray bottle for dusting house plants...LOL!!! I know, I know, to each his own. I just don't like opening the smoke chamber and losing heat and smoke.

Thaks for peekin' at my lil' rib rub experiment! Enjoy!

Great smokes, everyone!

Eric
 
you've been smoking up a storm here lately........... Nice work..... thanks for the qveiw and the rub experiment
 
You don't even begin to know how great the RBP is.  Just wait until you try to get some.  Eric orders his from some place special (of course).  Me, I'm too cheap for that, so I go looking for fresh RBP's and discover they were sorta out of season and commanded high prices.  We're talking last summer.  Anyway, found some, ran through my dehydrator and finally got some ground up.  Note, they're more readily available during the winter months.  Go figure.

Eric, Eric, Eric.......this is the Drool warning monitor again.  I'm going to have to deduct points from this very successful smoke.  You neglected the drool advisory again. 
drool.gif


This rub variation is just in time for some spares I gotta do this weekend.  Family outing and I was ASKED/TOLD to bring my version of Dutch's Wicked Baked Beans and I only make them under smoking spares.  Yes, it's a deadly combination, and with this rub......
32.gif
  I'll keep you advised. 

 
looks good....

ya know, ive never even heard of using ground red bell pepper.....lol, bet that gives a unique flavor.
 
Looks Awesome Eric!

I'm always ready for your posts----The Drool warning is permanently built into the "forluvofsmoke" handle.

I always put my bib on, before I open any of your threads!

Thanks,

Bear
 
Looks Awesome Eric!

I'm always ready for your posts----The Drool warning is permanently built into the "forluvofsmoke" handle.

I always put my bib on, before I open any of your threads!

Thanks,

Bear
Ha-ha! The words of an experienced SMF member! Thanks Bear!
 


Looks great Eric!
Thanks Al!
 


looks good....

ya know, ive never even heard of using ground red bell pepper.....lol, bet that gives a unique flavor.
Yea, as NWDave touched on, this is just one of those things you have to experience to really understand and appreciate...and, oh yes, it's that good.

 


Great looking chow Eric!!

  Craig
Thanks Craig!

 


you've been smoking up a storm here lately........... Nice work..... thanks for the qveiw and the rub experiment
I guess I have been keeping my smokers warm & happy lately. Thanks, and you're welcome!
 


You don't even begin to know how great the RBP is.  Just wait until you try to get some.  Eric orders his from some place special (of course).  Me, I'm too cheap for that, so I go looking for fresh RBP's and discover they were sorta out of season and commanded high prices.  We're talking last summer.  Anyway, found some, ran through my dehydrator and finally got some ground up.  Note, they're more readily available during the winter months.  Go figure.

Eric, Eric, Eric.......this is the Drool warning monitor again.  I'm going to have to deduct points from this very successful smoke.  You neglected the drool advisory again. 
drool.gif


This rub variation is just in time for some spares I gotta do this weekend.  Family outing and I was ASKED/TOLD to bring my version of Dutch's Wicked Baked Beans and I only make them under smoking spares.  Yes, it's a deadly combination, and with this rub......
32.gif
  I'll keep you advised. 

 
I remember youself and I discussing sources for dried RBP way back when. Man, if a guy can find a local source like I have ($6 for 1/2lb bag), you're in dry rub heaven, but to order online gets spendy with shipping. If you have to buy the fresh red bells to dehydrate your own, I think it will get even more expensive, especially after you figure in your wear & tear & electricity for the dehydrator, clean-up, etc, but maybe not. I know my wife was complaining about fresh bells at the grocery stores a few years ago already, and they're about twice the price now, if you can find 'em.
 

LMAO!!! As Bear mentioned, it should be natural response to excersize due caution before clicking on my q-view threads, 'cause when my title includes that word, you know I don't mess around, Dave...that's still way too darn funny though!

Oh, man, Dave! Dutch's Beans under spares with this rub? Yea, you can take my word for it, you'll love this rub, 'cause I know you're into the apple, rbp & cherry rubs, so it'll be pork rib & beans heaven for your weekend. Jeez, I'd love to be there, but I'm just coming into weekends off in another week...drat! Definitely give us a heads up on how your smoke goes...oh good grief, I gotta make some more dutch's beans now, too! LOL!!!

Enjoy, Dave! (well, that goes without saying, cuz I know ya will)

Thanks all!

Eric
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky