Poll do you foil your ribs & butts???

[rbranstner]

Well there were a few of us talking on one of the rib posts and we are wondering how many people foil vs not foil their ribs and butts. Hopefully this hasn't already been done if so sorry. I tried to search for one but didn't find anything. I'm not trying to debate which is better as there is no right or wrong way its all up to your personal preference.

 

[fire it up]

Couldn't really vote proper because I almost always foil my butts and with ribs I only foil 50% of the time because I like how they come out both ways.
With a butt though I really like the juices that collect when foiled and they are wonderful to add back into the meat.

 

[chisoxjim]

thanks for posting the poll, I wasnt sure if it had been done before.

For ribs I started doing them with no foil, then tried foiling, and am now back to not foiling to stay. I prefer to leave the ribs in the smoke the whole time. Makes for a firmer rib with a better bark, and more tug to the meat imho.

For butts I foil once the butt has reached around 200 degrees & I take it off the WSM, & then toss it in a cooler foiled. I have never tried foiling a butt, and most likely wont. I have heard it speeds up the stall, and makes them get done faster. I am not interested in either of these things, whats a couple more hours in the smoke imho.

With the above said, there is no right or wrong answer or method in regards to this. Different strokes imho..

 

[rbranstner]

I have tried my ribs with foil and without and I really prefer the foiled ones. They are nice and tender yet still have that nice little tug on them. Now as for my butts I have only ever done them in foiled after 160 and take them to 200-205. But the last couple of gotten a little bit mushy inside so I plan on trying one without foil the next time I make some pulled pork so I can see what it is like both ways. I will also try and pull it out around 195 to see if that cuts down on the mushy part.

 

[rbranstner]

Can I edit the poll and add more option?

 

[Dutch]

I used to use foil when I first started out but now I don't.

 

[timtimmay]

I didn't notice a difference on butts so i stopped doing it. I do notice a difference with ribs.

 

[rp ribking]

I started out foiling spares and butts on a char-griller w/sfb, to many holes where temperature would be lost. It is For Sale. cheap.

Upgraded to 22.5 WSM, from here on I use no foil on spares and butt's, I do spritz every couple of hours.

 

[dirt guy]

I'm a foiler.

 

[morkdach]

I'm a non foiler

 

[dirt guy]

You're still okay in my books!

 

[acemakr]

Yes to both - IMHO, results are more predictable.

 

[irishteabear]

Need an option for some times I do and some times I don't.

 

[scarbelly]

What she said

 

[chefrob]

i'm in this camp............

 

[meateater]

I foil both, just at different temps for an experiment.

 

[jirodriguez]

I foil my butts at 165, but I don't foil ribs in the traditional sense. I foil my ribs at the very end when I rest them in the cooler for 30-60 minutes, but they are not foiled in the smoker.

 

[miamirick]

not a pro like you guys, bot i always foil and add juice and spice at that time to keep it moist and add a little more flavor. it also seems to me that most of the smoke absorbsion occurs during the first couple hours of the smoke before the crust starts to form. so why not foil and get some more juice?

 

[tom in nc]

Same here with butts. Still experimenting with ribs.

 

[jlb]

I have done ribs both ways, and I no longer foil ribs.

I guess it is a matter of personal preference.

Someone in an another reply mentioned, firm meat!

That is what I like!! I like the rib to be tender, but have some firmness to it!!

I want to take a firm/tender bite, and have the meat stay on the bone!!

To me, ribs that have been foiled are tender, but the meat is just kinda mushy so to speak!!

Again, I want them tender, but want to have to chew just a little!!!

I dont want them to melt in my mouth!!!