smoking pork ribs? any advice?

[1974smokinsal]

i set the temp on the smoker at 250. for two hours then maybe wrap in foil and cook for three more hours at same temp?  

 

[deannc]

You can find a lot of information on here on the topic and it seems the guide for baby backs is 2-2-1 and spares 3-2-1, if you plan to use the foil technique.  I tried the the 3-2-1 last weekend.  Whichever you are cooking, temps should range between 225 and 240 for the first phase, then wrap for 2 hours is the second phase and in the third phase I think it is important to remove the foil and smoke for upwards of 1 hour to firm them back up.  

I adjusted the foil time after reading many post on here and went 1 1/2 hours and the bones were ready to fall off when I unwrapped them. Next time I'm going to reduce the foil time to an hour and give that a try.

IMO, 3 hours in the foil is going to be to long if you want to eat the meat on the bone.  Maybe reduce your foil time to max of 2 hours and then use that last hour to firm the rims and bark back up.

 

[deannc]

Found it, here's some great information by Jeff Phillips on foiling ribs.

http://wyntk.us/3-2-1-rib-method

 

[rbranstner]

I use the 3-2-1 or 2-2-1 method. I wouldn't suggest foiling your ribs for three hours unless you REALLY want them to fall off the bone when you touch them.

 

[1974smokinsal]

that is great advice. i soaked them over night in apple juice. then rubbed mustard and rubb spice. smoked at 250 for three hours and am going to wrap them and let the cook at 225 for two more. then i will try to placed them with out foil for an hour .

 

[deannc]

sal - sounds like a plan!  We'll be awaiting some Qview! Happy smokin!

 

[rbranstner]

The first three hours you take on the great smokey flavor then when you foil them you are making them nice and tender and juicy and the last hour you are putting them back on the smoker to firm them up a bit. The 3-2-1 is just a rough estimate everyone changes it to suite their needs. Some do 3 - 1.5 - 1.5 etc. What ever you like the best is the way you should do it. The nice thing about smoking is there usually isn't a right or wrong way its all a personal preference.

 

[rbranstner]

The best advice I have been give is to try it different ways and see what you like and dislike. Experimentation is the key.

 

[mballi3011]

I agree with most of the folks here and that the 3-2-1 method is just a scale in which to smoke by. Now I also have adjusted my foiling time. Now I'm down to maybe 1 to 1 1/4 of an hour depending on the thickness of the ribs. I like a little tug to my ribs. The fall off the bone as fallen off for me.

 

[1974smokinsal]

thank you all for the help.