Rib membrane help

[mike11891]

So, can someone tell me an easy way to get the membrane off of Baby Back? For now I just scrape the rib and call it good.

 

[TNJAKE]

Just start at the narrow end. Slide a knife under membrane. Pry it up. Grab with paper towels and pull towards the end

 

[Displaced Texan]

Or just buy St. Louis ribs at Costco and they do it for you lol.

 

[Coreymacc]

Or just buy St. Louis ribs at Costco and they do it for you lol.

Exactly, just make sure there is a membrane, hard lesson back in the day. Spent almost an hr trying to find a membrane that wasn't there.

I've been leaving it on lately, it's got a nice smokey flavor.

Corey

 

[yankee2bbq]

So, can someone tell me an easy way to get the membrane off of Baby Back? For now I just scrape the rib and call it good.

Just start at the narrow end. Slide a knife under membrane. Pry it up. Grab with paper towels and pull towards the end

I agree with TNJAKE. Follow his post.

 

[tanglefoot]

I've become a firm believer in leaving it on through the cook. Because...
1) Especially baby backs, to hold in the juices in longer.
2) It's much easier to remove after smoking.
With spares it's a horse apiece. With a bit more fat and gristle, they are a bit more forgiving (moisture wise). MY $0.02.

 

[MJB05615]

I leave it on. I got the membrane off 1 time, made the Ribs, and felt they were a little dry. Flavor, tenderness, etc al the same, just dry, compared to the usual without removing. So I almost always leave it on.
Happy New Year!

 

[chopsaw]

When I pulled it off , I did it like Jake . I just leave it on most of the time now days . I think they cook better with it on .

 

[chef jimmyj]

Me too! I just leave it on. None of my Picky Crew, has mentioned that they see a difference or noticed I'm not removing the membrane...JJ

 

[whistlepig]

The secret of removing the membrane is using the paper towel to grip it. I pull the membrane off. I have found the flavor of the rub penetrates the bottoms of the ribs better with the membrane off. I use spritz to keep them moist.

 

[bregent]

I leave them on too - ribs turn out more moist. If you want, you can remove them after the cook. Some folks will burn them off on over high heat on the grill.

 

[smokin peachey]

I typically just use my finger get it under the membrane and pull it off. I dislike ribs with the membrane on personally. I’ve had the best success with Aldi’s ribs.

 

[whistlepig]

You can flavor the bottom of your ribs by membrane or by a rub. No wrong decision. For me a layer of good rub to the bottom of the ribs contributes a lot more to the flavor of the ribs than a membrane. But if you think the flavor of a a membrane gives you far better flavor than a good rub go for it

 

[daveomak]

Now I leave it on.... Ribs end up more juicy....
I did learn how to remove it... the easy way,,,
Run hot tap water ON THE MEMBRANE ONLY !!!! not on the meat.....
It softens the "glue" that holds it on and using a paper towel, peel it off....
but IMO, the ribs come out dry without it...

 

[mike243]

If you don't foil leaving it on will help keep moisture in, I don't find any meat on the bottom of the ribs that I need to season unless its beef, the pork ribs are thin enuff that the 1 side seasoning does fine for me. A lot of times you will see needle marks from where they have been tenderized with something but I haven't noticed the holes leak moisture out more than the ones not injected. Now I am wanting some ribs lol, paper towels will let you grab the membrane if you want it off

 

[TuckersBarbeque]

Interesting to hear people feel that it holds in more moisture. I have observed that it doesn't matter. The meat will squeeze out the water as the proteins constrict regardless of membrane or not.
I like to take the membrane off because I don't like the texture it gives.

 

[SmokinAl]

I leave it on while smoking the ribs, and when they are done it will pull right off. Or sometimes I finish the ribs on a hot grill & that burns it off. You can actually see how much juice collects under the membrane when you take it off after smoking.
Al

 

[chopsaw]

You can actually see how much juice collects under the membrane when you take it off after smoking.

Yup . More than you think too .