pork ribs - fall off the bone or leave it with a bite to it?

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bigfish98

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
394
12
Bismarck, ND
I have to say that I like my ribs to be so tender that they fall off the bone. I wonder if I am a minority in this view?
 
i like a little tug on them, but fall off the bone is ok too - but there is a line that shouldn't be crossed. one thing i cannot stand is ribs that are braised to the point where they are mushy.

i understand that people want fall off the bone or braised ribs, depending on what they are trying to do - but i would encourage them to also have the ribs spend a little time over open heat after they are done braising, in order to get rid of the extra moisture and to firm up a little.

as always, this is just personal opinion - your mileage may vary, and that's the way it should be. it would be boring if we all agreed on everything!
 
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   Glad to have you with us!

I have found that everyone around here likes fall off the bone ribs, so that's how I smoke them.

They won't win any BBQ comps., but I'm cooking for my family & friends, and what they want is what they get!
 
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Fll of the bone!!!!  I know that they don't seem to win any of the BBQ competitions (I do not know why) but I am cooking for me, family and friends and we all prefer the FOTB ribs.

Funny thought.......ribs with a bit of a "tug" tend to win competitions but all the BBQ places I have been to (and that is a lot) always have FOTB ribs.  Thank goodness!!!

YMMV
 
Thanks for the welcome! I never understood why fotb ribs can't win competitions. With as many people as I know that like fotb ribs, you would think judging would be the same way. Also nice to see people up north doing good bbq! I recently moved from MO to ND and am feeling a lack of fellow smokers.
 
Thanks for the welcome! I never understood why fotb ribs can't win competitions. With as many people as I know that like fotb ribs, you would think judging would be the same way. Also nice to see people up north doing good bbq! I recently moved from MO to ND and am feeling a lack of fellow smokers.
 
hey, bigfish - where in north dakota? i went to college (and met my wife) in jamestown, and my dad is originally from killdeer. i ahve a lot of family in that area, from killdeer to watford city and a few other places. welcome!
 
I am in Bismarck. I went to college at BSU in Bemidji, MN, but have been in MO for the past five years. So glad to be back in the north country!:yahoo:
 
I am in Bismarck. I went to college at BSU in Bemidji, MN, but have been in MO for the past five years. So glad to be back in the north country!:yahoo:
 
Actually, I like a little tug.  My other half likes fall off the bone.  Soooo....... I eat fall off the bone.  LOL

Good luck and good smoking.
 
  I like mine to come cleanly off the bone, but just barely and with the aforementioned little tug. It's just a texture thing with me, like steak vs. pot roast.(Not saying I'm right, it's just what I like) My opinion is that the meat is pretty tender to start with, so no real reason to braise it. For what it's worth, I've only had ribs in one restaurant that were done the way I like them. Most places they're fotb and doused in sauce.

I think the reason the comp judges look for the tug is that it's tough to get the ribs off at the appropriate temp while keeping them moist AND tender. Foiling for 2 hours with a braising liquid kinda guarantees they'll be moist, unless you overdo it on the last phase without foil. I think it's just a "degree of difficulty" thing.
 
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