First time spare ribs from buying to serving

steve carpenter

Newbie

Original poster

Apr 26, 2013

23

10

Redford, Michigan

• Aug 16, 2013

• #1

Decided to smoke 3 racks of spare ribs tomorrow for a block party.  I did spare ribs before but I never trimmed them because I didn't know about the benefits and really like didn't digging through the top part to get the soft bones out.  My plan for this time is to trim off the top, skirt (I think that's what it was called) and loose bits on the ends.  I'm going to save the scraps to grill or smoke on another day.

1.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 16, 2013

First slab fresh out the package

2.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 16, 2013

turned over to start trimming

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• steve carpenter
• Aug 16, 2013

Lifting the skirt to cut off

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• steve carpenter
• Aug 16, 2013

All trimmed and ready for seasoning

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• steve carpenter
• Aug 16, 2013

Started with a light coating of this.  I haven't been able to produce a rub from scratch that I like better than this, but still working on it for when I cook stuff for myself to try.

6.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 16, 2013

Now on to a heavy coating of brown sugar.  After that I wrapped tight in plastic wrap and rolled up into large ziplock bags in case of leaking.  Tomorrow I will post pictures of the next steps when I get the smoker going.  I'm going to be using a Smokey Mountain 22.5" with lump, apple wood using the 3-2-1 method.

 

Last edited: Aug 16, 2013

thsmormonsmokes

Smoking Fanatic

Dec 11, 2011

358

51

Lindon, UT

• Aug 16, 2013

• #2

Not to steer the thread off topic, but how do you clean your cutting board after having pork on it?  I've got a really nice maple cutting board that a client gave to me, but I've been nervous about cutting pork and poultry on it because of sanitation issues.

 

steve carpenter

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 26, 2013

23

10

Redford, Michigan

• Aug 16, 2013

• #3

I use some anti-bacterial spray cleaner I put on it, let it sit and then rinse off.  Before I get started though each time I put it in the sink and soak it for a for 5 to 10 minutes with hot water and a little vinegar while getting all my ingredients together.  I also throw my knives and whatever else I'm going to use for trimming in the sink at that time too.  I usually don't use the wooden board, I have several plastic cutting boards I use, but being as these were so large I decided to use the biggest board I had.

 

steve carpenter

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 26, 2013

23

10

Redford, Michigan

• Aug 17, 2013

• #4

7.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 17, 2013

Getting ready to light with the snake method.  I'm using Cowboy lump from Home Depot.  I usually get the lump from Gordon's but I couldn't make it before they closed.  I noticed round branch pieces in this brand that I don't usually see in the Gordon's.

8.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 17, 2013

All lit and apple wood added.  All I had was the small scraps left in the bag and most people coming don't like smoke taste at all.  I'm hoping they don't notice I used it anyways 

10.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 17, 2013

After unwrapping and pouring the juices back onto the ribs, finally getting them on the smoker at 9AM.  Planning on leaving them alone till noon, then wrapping them in foil

9.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 17, 2013

Now to sit back with my partner and finish my coffee

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• steve carpenter
• Aug 17, 2013

Five minutes later and my partner has already decided the TV was calling him

 

steve carpenter

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 26, 2013

23

10

Redford, Michigan

• Aug 18, 2013

• #5

12.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 18, 2013

Right after foiling them I realized I forgot to take a picture, just brushed on a little butter and drizzled some honey and put them back in.  Then I looked around and saw I had a visitor keeping an eye out for scraps

13.jpg

• steve carpenter
• Aug 18, 2013

Last rack off the smoker just before cutting up.

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• steve carpenter
• Aug 18, 2013

Didn't have my best knife so they pulled apart while I was trying to cut them up.  Must have been good because I didn't have any leftovers to take to work the next day

 

seenred

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Feb 9, 2009

10,016

1,776

N.E. Oklahoma

• Aug 18, 2013

• #6

Those look delicious!  Nicely done!  

Red

 

cliffcarter

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Feb 28, 2010

2,277

258

Old Town, Maine

• Aug 18, 2013

• #7

ThsMormonSmokes said:

Not to steer the thread off topic, but how do you clean your cutting board after having pork on it?  I've got a really nice maple cutting board that a client gave to me, but I've been nervous about cutting pork and poultry on it because of sanitation issues.

Click to expand...

All I use are maple cutting boards, I clean them with soap and hot water. I prep pork, chicken and beef on them and have never had any issues. There is info on the net about the benefits of using wood cutting boards, they are much less apt to harbor bacteria than plastic, if you search you should be able to find it. I'd post a link but I don't want to run afoul of the offsite link policy.

 

thsmormonsmokes

Smoking Fanatic

Dec 11, 2011

358

51

Lindon, UT

• Aug 20, 2013

• #8

cliffcarter said:

All I use are maple cutting boards, I clean them with soap and hot water. I prep pork, chicken and beef on them and have never had any issues. There is info on the net about the benefits of using wood cutting boards, they are much less apt to harbor bacteria than plastic, if you search you should be able to find it. I'd post a link but I don't want to run afoul of the offsite link policy.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I've read up on some of that.  I'm sold, but my wife is not as easily persuaded.  She doesn't like me to cut meats on anything that can't go through the dishwasher and there is no way that board is going through the dishwasher.  So if I'm cutting meats, I use a plastic board and don't use my nice knives because plastic is too rough on those.  It's kind of obnoxious, but sometimes you gotta pick your battles and make sure she doesn't see it when I roll my eyes.

 

badmoont2

Meat Mopper

Nov 11, 2012

152

21

North Arkansas Ozarks

• Aug 20, 2013

• #9

I think old time butchers used salt. Google "clean cutting board with salt" some also add something acidic like vinegar or lemon juice.
 

 

disco

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Oct 31, 2012

11,135

5,265

Canadian Rockies

• Aug 20, 2013

• #10

Great looking ribs. I am disappointed you didn't have some leftovers to send me.

Disco

 

mikensuenfl1

Fire Starter

Aug 5, 2013

45

10

LIVE IN NORTH PORT FL

• Aug 20, 2013

• #11

great looking ribs

 

tucson bbq fan

Smoking Fanatic

Jun 30, 2013

332

27

Tucson, Arizona

• Aug 21, 2013

• #12

ThsMormonSmokes said:

Not to steer the thread off topic, but how do you clean your cutting board after having pork on it?  I've got a really nice maple cutting board that a client gave to me, but I've been nervous about cutting pork and poultry on it because of sanitation issues.

Click to expand...

I keep a spray bottle with a mixture of bleach and water that I use to clean all my cutting boards (plastic & wood) after any raw meat has been on them.  Wash withy hot water & soap, spay on, let sit for 5-10 minutes, re-wash with hot water & soap.

 

newbiesmoker

Meat Mopper

Jul 5, 2008

162

102

Huntington, In.

• Aug 21, 2013

• #13

Those ribs looked great.