2-2-1 Variations

gaga

Fire Starter

Original poster

Apr 13, 2009

55

10

• Jul 4, 2009

• #1

I've got 4 racks of babys on the smoker + a butt.

I'm rolling with the 2-2-1. I understand some of you like to modify this approach. I read somewhere here that if you foil babys for 2 hours, that's too long. What are the negative results of foiling for too long?

Thanks

 

forluvofsmoke

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Aug 27, 2008

5,170

409

• Jul 4, 2009

• #2

Depending on what you use for a brasing liquid, they can literally fall apart when you try to place them back onto the grates to firm up the bark. I use an acidic juice such as OJ/Lime/Lemon blends, or Pineapple (natural & effective tenderizers). This will require a reduction in brasing time, which is a nice thing. I cut it back to an hour or less at times.

If you use less acidic liquids, for BBs, I would still go with 75-90 minutes brasing. Spares, 90-120 minutes.

I'm doing 6 large slabs of untrimmed spares today, and plann on 75 minutes brase with OJ/Lime blend.

The main thing to consider with foiling ribs is the pull-back of meat from the rib bone ends. A quarter inch is a good baseline for the majority of the rib slab, then foil. You will notice that with most smokes, the rib meat won't pull-back the same all the way across the slab, depending on actual grate temps and thickness of the slab...I just look a good pull on most of the slab.

Good luck with your smoke!

Eric

 

gaga

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 13, 2009

55

10

• Jul 4, 2009

• #3

Thanks. I just poured a little Miller High Life in there. I guess I'll leave em foiled for 90 minutes.

 

psychii

Newbie

Jun 28, 2009

13

10

• Jul 5, 2009

• #4

sorry, meant to start a new thread...

 

tn_bbq

Smoking Fanatic

Jun 2, 2008

599

11

East Tennessee

• Jul 5, 2009

• #5

They fall apart.

 

gaga

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 13, 2009

55

10

• Jul 6, 2009

• #6

Thanks for the advice, yall. I foiled for 90 minutes. They fell apart a little bit.

So I guess, for me at least, it should be 2.5-1-1.5?

 

navyjeremy

Meat Mopper

Jun 27, 2008

216

10

Goose Creek, SC

• Jul 10, 2009

• #7

My last rack of BB's I did for 90-90-45 and they came out near perfect. The first time that I did them I went with the 2-2-1 and they came out way, way overcooked, hence why I changed my method.

Hope that Helps

 

chisoxjim

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jul 25, 2007

2,761

17

• Jul 10, 2009

• #8

I do a modified foiling method myself. I smoke the ribs without foil, (spares, or BB's) until they pass the "tong test", then I pull the ribs, & tent, not wrap the ribs in foil.

I law my foil out, lay down some honey, some of the rub, , and 3 tbsp of apple juice. I put the ribs meat side down, sprinkle some more rub on the back of the ribs, and tent the ribs, allowing them to steam. BB's go back on the smoker 20-30 mins, and spares go back on the smoker for about 45 mins.

Turn out great, nice tug, but still tender, I dont like "fall off the bone" ribs, and these dont become that for those short foiling times.

 

tn_bbq

Smoking Fanatic

Jun 2, 2008

599

11

East Tennessee

• Jul 10, 2009

• #9

Not that you want to be opening your smoker every half hour (causes the heat to fluctuate way too much), but remember that these "recipe" guidelines are just guidelines. It still takes some experience to know what a properly cooked rib looks like.

Some days it'll take just over 4 hours and other days it'll take 6 hours.

I find that about 1 to 1.5 hour in the foil suits me (for those days when I decide to foil).

 

smoke freak

StickBurners

Jul 14, 2007

817

46

Kansas

• Jul 10, 2009

• #10

Depending on how meaty the back ribs are...

I usually do 2.5 hours or more in the smoke.
Then into a large foil pan, bone side down. The pan needs to be long enough to hold the ribs with room to spare. I found mine at Super bowl time when they got snack food stuff galore in the stores. Then I add about 1/4 cup of juice. Just enough to steam things up a bit. Foil tightly and back in the smoker for no more than 1.5 hours.
Then back into the smoke for around .5 hours.

Works for me...

 

jirodriguez

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Jun 5, 2009

4,656

143

Portland, OR

• Jul 10, 2009

• #11

Yeah... it seems like you realy just have to pay attention to how your smoker cooks and adjust times accordingly. First time I ever smoke ribs I did 3-2-1, bark was a bit tough and the bones were falling out... lol. Now I go with more of a 2-1-1.5 (ish) I like just a hint of tug before it slides off of the bone

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