Your preferred ribs IT?

panupat

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May 28, 2016

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• Aug 28, 2017

• #1

I've been probing my ribs for IT ever since I read Al's Perfect Ribs thread. There was 1 instance that really surprised me - I cut off a small portion of my ribs before I wrapped it in foil to give it a try and my entire family seemed to love it so much. The IT was around 170ish. It gave a really nice tug but not tough. Hard to explain. When doing bend test they feel bouncy. My almost-2 daughter wouldn't stop asking for more. 

So its 170 for me. Big thanks to Al for opening up my eyes - I've been a firm believer of the You-Need-No-IT ribs for a long time.

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• panupat
• Aug 28, 2017

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• panupat
• Aug 28, 2017

Not exactly easy for the little one to bite by herself just yet but she can manage. Perhaps if I push it into the 175-180 range it'd be easier for her. She already likes how it is tho.

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• panupat
• Aug 28, 2017

 

Last edited: Aug 28, 2017

noboundaries

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• Aug 29, 2017

• #2

I've been reading about this lower IT for ribs for months now.  Wife is leaving town for a few days.  Might have to try it while she's gone.  Lower IT could be the key for me to enjoy baby backs.  Not sure I want to mess with my spare ribs. 

 

panupat

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May 28, 2016

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• Aug 29, 2017

• #3

Ah good point, I'm totally with you. I like full spares with the tips untrimmed and that part definitely needs to go a little softer. Something I need to experiment!

 

SmokinAl

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• Aug 29, 2017

• #4

Very interesting, I too have been reading the threads that are cooking ribs to temps in the 150 range.

I guess I'm going to have to give this a try too.

Although it took me years to get my ribs the way everybody around here likes them, and I'm a little reluctant to change anything. I guess I still will have to sacrifice at least one rack. If I don't like them I can just put them back in the smoker & cook them longer.

Al

 

joe black

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• Aug 30, 2017

• #5

C'mon Al, step back on the other side and give the bend another chance. I really respect you brother, but IT for ribs seems like a lot of trouble to me. Folks seem to really like my ribs. :yahoo:

 

chilerelleno

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• Aug 30, 2017

• #6

Sometimes out of curiosity I check IT on ribs when I'm about to pull them out of the smoker, IIRC, I've averaged 175°-195°IT.
That's a pretty wide variance, but racks vary so much with overall thickness, meat/fat ratio, size of bones.

Most of the time I just go by the good'ol 'Pop, Bend and Crack Test'.

I should do some St. Louis ribs this Labor Day weekend. :grilling_smilie:

 

SmokinAl

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• Aug 31, 2017

• #7

Joe Black said:

C'mon Al, step back on the other side and give the bend another chance. I really respect you brother, but IT for ribs seems like a lot of trouble to me. Folks seem to really like my ribs.

Click to expand...

Hey Joe, if the bend test works well for you, then I wouldn't change a thing.

The IT for ribs is for guys who don't have your experience. You have probably done hundreds of racks of ribs & know just how you like them.

I'm not trying to convert anybody to the IT method. All I'm saying is if you are having trouble with consistently producing ribs exactly the way you want them.

Then the IT method works very well for that purpose.

I don't have any trouble at all getting a good reading with my ThermoPop.

Al

 

laziebun

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Mar 27, 2015

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Central Illinois

• Aug 31, 2017

• #8

I'm all about the bend test as well, and seem to have built a list of fans that's love it. The bend test works everytime, I may have to give the IT a try and see if there's a difference in taste...maybe illl get more fans [emoji]128563[/emoji]

Thanks for sharing.