Second attempt at ribs...not so good

[scdigger]

Using my Weber Genesis to do my smoking...I know it's what I've got for now. Smoked some spare ribs a couple of weeks using 321 method and they came out fall off the bone, melt in your mouth awesome.

So, did them again this weekend and they came out tough, dry and not fall off the bone.

Here's the only differences in the way I cooked them. First time, cut each slab in half and smoked in a vertical rib rack for first three hours. Second attemp, two slabs left whole and smoked flat on the grill for first three hours. I did notice that the ribs were not as juicy and tender looking coming out of the foil stage on the second batch.

Ok, thats the facts, anybody got any suggestions on diagnosis? I try to keep temp right in the 230 range. And, oh yeah, I'm on the project list for the welding dept at the school I teach at, and will have a real smoker next summer!

Greg

 

[jrod62]

The 3-2-1 is just a guide line to go by,

Did you add any liquid to the foil when you wrap them?

When you took them off did you do the Bend test to make sure they was done?

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/a/the-bend-test-for-ribs

 

[solaryellow]

Sorry to hear that ribs weren't as good the 2nd time Greg. There are many variables that go into smoking meat that makes it an art and not a science. The difference could be as minute as fat content for example. The cool thing though is that we learn a little more each time we don't achieve the results we expect. We learn to make some adjustments or account for something we haven't seen in the past. Keep trying (and failing) and you will without a doubt end up as a master of any situation. :biggrin:

Any pics of this last attempt at ribs?

 

[surber55]

I'm a newbie as well and started last spring.  My first attempts at ribs were inconsistent but I kept reading the advice on this site and developed a routine that works for my little Brinkman.  I am now getting pretty good results.  Hang in there it's worth the work!

 

[flash]

Same type/brand of ribs??

 

[scdigger]

Jrod, I gave it a good spray down of apple juice before wrapping in foil. And no, I didn't do the bend test. Need to do that. If I were to need more cook time, would I do it in the foil, or in the end after removing from foil.

 

[flash]

The longer in the foil, the more fall off the bone you will see. I usually give mine no more than 30 minutes outside foil at the end of 3-2-1. Just enough to firm them up.

 

[jrod62]

Jrod, I gave it a good spray down of apple juice before wrapping in foil. And no, I didn't do the bend test. Need to do that. If I were to need more cook time, would I do it in the foil, or in the end after removing from foil.

Was there still juice in the foil when you unwrap it ? I had a hole in the bottom one time , lucky I seen it before I lost all the juice out of it.

I would add more time in the foil. But I like mine fall of the bone tender . If you want more of a bark to it then add more time unwrap.