Second time w/Baby Backs- MES30

[tumbleweed1]

Well this morning I got started early, as we're looking to have ribs for lunch. It's 35 degrees here in Chicagoland but dry today after a couple of days of cold rain.

First I removed the membranes & got my rub on-

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 1- rubbed.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

Then I got my wood ready. Last time I used hickory (which I had no problem with), but his time I'm trying a combination of apple & cherry. 

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 2- wood.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

Got my smoker up to temp (this time I'm going for 250 degrees, where last time I did 225).

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 4- warming up.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

Cut my two racks in half & popped them in. Notice no water (or anything else) in the bowl other than foil (last time I used water).

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 6- in they go.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

I'm hoping to take them about 3.5-4 hours & giving them the bend/toothpick test. As long as they're close at that point, my plan is to sauce them up with my homemade sauce & try to go another hour. The sauce for today is kind of a Memphis-style. I'm going with no foil wrapping today to compare  taste, tenderness, exterior bark, temperature & time with the foiled, 3-2-1 ribs I did last time. I'm also making some baked beans to go with.

The backyard is starting to smell nice. It's on.

 

[Bearcarver]

Great Start !!

Gonna be an awesome lunch!!

Do you always use the bottom 2 positions?

I find the bottom rack to be too close to the heat,

My rack positions in order of preference are:

#2

#1

#3

#4

This is only my Opinion.

Be back to see your lunch!!

Bear

 

[carbine1koos]

Looks awesome!!  

I'm very interested in how they turn out sir.  Will be watching  

 

[gary s]

Can't wait to see them !!

Gary

 

[tumbleweed1]

 
Great Start !!

Gonna be an awesome lunch!!

Do you always use the bottom 2 positions?

I find the bottom rack to be too close to the heat,

My rack positions in order of preference are:

#2

#1

#3

#4

This is only my Opinion.

Be back to see your lunch!!

Bear

Thanks, BC. I hoping for a good lunch. I have no clue which racks are my favorite, as this is only my second time with this smoker. I DO plan on moving them around to various positions, depending on how they're looking at 1, 2 & then 3 hours, The bottom on will go to the top & the top one (in rack 3 presently) will go to the second one etc. Maybe I should just use the top two for the rest of the smoke?

Carbine & Gary- thanks for the kind words & glad ya'll are around for the ride!

 

[tumbleweed1]

One hour in now & I just moved the bottom rack up to the top & the one that was in the third position up to the second rack. I think I'll try this for another two hours rather than open the door again in 60 minutes. I'm adding wood chips at a rate of about every 25-30 minutes, have the damper half open & am not having any problems hold my temp, so maybe this will be drama-free lol.

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Thanks, BC. I hoping for a good lunch. I have no clue which racks are my favorite, as this is only my second time with this smoker. I DO plan on moving them around to various positions, depending on how they're looking at 1, 2 & then 3 hours, The bottom on will go to the top & the top one (in rack 3 presently) will go to the second one etc. Maybe I should just use the top two for the rest of the smoke?

Carbine & Gary- thanks for the kind words & glad ya'll are around for the ride!

You can certainly experiment for yourself---That's part of the fun of this game we play.

I just found it unusual to see only the bottom 2 being used, and gave you my findings.

If I use one rack, I use #2, because it seems to be the most consistent of the 4.

If I use 2 racks, I use #1 and #2 because they are the closest two to each other in temp during the whole smoke.

If I need to use a 3rd rack, it will always be #3, because I find the bottom rack (#4) to be much hotter than the other 3.

Like I said, these are just my findings.

Bear

 

[tumbleweed1]

Just sauced them up & switched the positions of the two racks.

Just out of the smoker-

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 7.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

Added my homemade sauce-

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 9- sauced.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

And back in-

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 10- last round.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

I'm thinking another 1-1.5 hours or so, but won't know until I check them again.

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Lookin good ! Thumbs Up

 

[carbine1koos]

:thumb1: Lookin mighty fine!

 

[tumbleweed1]

Thanks guys!

Well they turned out pretty good. Good enough that I probably won't tend to wrap my ribs from now on, unless I'm looking to try some new flavors in the foil (which I might at some point).

The bark was way more prevalent & although I used the exact same rub, it REALLY came through this time more than last. The other difference here would be that last time I used mustard to hold the rub & this time I did not. It came through enough that the next time I make this rub I am backing the cayenne down by half.

They did not seem to be any less juicy without the foil & the sweet, smoky flavor of the apple & cherry woods was an excellent compliment to some nice, tender ribs.

The smoker held temp well with nothing in the water bowl & I'd say everything went very well overall.

Coming out-

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 11- coming out.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

In the house-

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 12- done.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

Leftovers for my lunch the next few days-

Smoked Ribs with Zip Sauce 14- leftovers.jpg

• tumbleweed1
• Apr 26, 2015

Even though I was cooking for just the two of us, once again I'm glad I did two racks, as the leftovers will be great. I love nuking'em up at work & making the whole lunchroom smell like a smokehouse lol.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

 

[carbine1koos]

:drool:

Outstanding!

 

[kenafein]

Great looking ribs. Your coworkers are going to be jealous.

 

[Bearcarver]

Nice Job, Tumblweed !!

I know what you mean about the lunchroom Smells.

-------

Better take a lot with you----Not fair to make it smell that good without samples!!

Bear