So my wife bought me an MES 40" this week and I couldn't wait to try it out. I have always loved BBQ but never had the guts to try my own hand at it. Well Saturday I took the plunge. I went with a 4 lb Boston Butt and 2 racks of baby backs for my first try. I decided to make my own rub for this one. I went with brown sugar, white sugar, paprika, chili powder, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. I used yellow mustard as the base coat. Smoker at 225 with a 60/40 mix of Hickory/Pecan. Butt was on for 7 1/2 hours. The ribs were on for 2 1/2 hours unwrapped, foiled with Apple juice for 1 hour then back on unwrapped for 2 hours. I was nervous cause I had friends over that routinely smoke 5-10 briskest at a time for parties and such. The ribs were fantastic. In hindsight I would have preferred more heat from the cayenne but it was just right for the others at the table. The Butt was more finicky as it had a hard time getting over the 175 hump after I foiled. I finally decided to bump the temp to 260 and it got there.
Everyone loved the pulled pork and ribs. I couldn't have been happier. Today I am gonna try beef ribs with a 70/30 mix of Oak/Mesquite. The ribs are beef short ribs that have been separated. Any help I can get on these is appreciated as it isn't a slab.
Everyone loved the pulled pork and ribs. I couldn't have been happier. Today I am gonna try beef ribs with a 70/30 mix of Oak/Mesquite. The ribs are beef short ribs that have been separated. Any help I can get on these is appreciated as it isn't a slab.
Last edited: