Smoking questions from a complete novice

[1MoreFord]

......................................................For St Louis membranes seem to come off easy, Baby backs tend to be impossible so the membranes stay on.

I find the exact opposite to you.
Are you sure the back ribs you get don't already have the thick membrane pulled off and you are fighting the inner membrane?
Back rib membranes usually come right off in one piece while any style of spare rib is a PITA to get the membrane off. I normally get back rib membranes off in 1 piece while spare membranes come off in pieces and most often some of it won't come off.

 

[02ebz06]

I find the exact opposite to you.
Are you sure the back ribs you get don't already have the thick membrane pulled off and you are fighting the inner membrane?
Back rib membranes usually come right off in one piece while any style of spare rib is a PITA to get the membrane off. I normally get back rib membranes off in 1 piece while spare membranes come off in pieces and most often some of it won't come off.

Agree, I usually find that meat is over the top of the membrane along one edge.
Get very little membrane off.

 

[Robert3750]

Youtube videos I've seen show that people can't really tell the difference between membranes on/off with well-cooked ribs.

 

[JLeonard]

I do 4 hours naked (ribs, not me) at 275.

In this heat, I might be cooking naked before long. Might get the neighbors to finish their fence!

Jim

 

[Robert3750]

In this heat, I might be cooking naked before long. Might get the neighbors to finish their fence!

Jim

Speaking of summer heat, is it easier to maintain cooking temp in the summer than in the winter?

 

[sandyut]

I find the exact opposite to you.
Are you sure the back ribs you get don't already have the thick membrane pulled off and you are fighting the inner membrane?
Back rib membranes usually come right off in one piece while any style of spare rib is a PITA to get the membrane off. I normally get back rib membranes off in 1 piece while spare membranes come off in pieces and most often some of it won't come off.

I have no idea. The BB's are from Costco in a three pack. The package doesnt say anything about membrane, I have never see ribs sold with the membrane removed...

 

[JLeonard]

Speaking of summer heat, is it easier to maintain cooking temp in the summer than in the winter?

usually easier in summer.

Jim

 

[02ebz06]

Speaking of summer heat, is it easier to maintain cooking temp in the summer than in the winter?

Not really sure if I would call it easier from a cooking standpoint, but I know you use a lot less wood in summer.
If looking at it from adding wood, then yes, easier in summer.

I did a brisket in the winter and the LSG went through ~37-38 pounds of pellets.
Glad I had a 40lb hopper.
Would be in 25 pound range in summer.
Had no problem holding temp, just sucked up pellets.

For stick burner, you will most likely be adding wood a lot more often to maintain temp.

 

[sandyut]

Speaking of summer heat, is it easier to maintain cooking temp in the summer than in the winter?

Depends on where you live...

When I lived in SLC it would be 100 degrees with burning sun. I had to buy an umbrella to keep things from overheating in summer.

Winter here and in SLC i use a winter cover/blanket. works great to very cold temps.

 

[Robert3750]

Depends on where you live...

When I lived in SLC it would be 100 degrees with burning sun. I had to buy an umbrella to keep things from overheating in summer.

Winter here and in SLC i use a winter cover/blanket. works great to very cold temps.

Thanks. I live in the Inland Empire in Southern California, which can get well above 100 at times in the summer. It sounds like I would need less fuel to maintain temp under those conditions.

 

[JLeonard]

Thanks. I live in the Inland Empire in Southern California, which can get well above 100 at times in the summer. It sounds like I would need less fuel to maintain temp under those conditions.

lots of folks post up pics of their unit being over a 100 degrees just from sitting in the sun. Will definitely use less fuel in the summer.

Jim

 

[1MoreFord]

I have no idea. The BB's are from Costco in a three pack. The package doesnt say anything about membrane, I have never see ribs sold with the membrane removed...

I don't see it a lot but have run across back ribs with missing membranes. I suffered a lot of frustration and some messed up ribs the first time I did though.

Here's the latest way I've seen to remove membranes. I've started removing them from one of the ends with catfish pliers but this does away with the pliers.

 

[Robert3750]

I don't see it a lot but have run across back ribs with missing membranes. I suffered a lot of frustration and some messed up ribs the first time I did though.

Here's the latest way I've seen to remove membranes. I've started removing them from one of the ends with catfish pliers but this does away with the pliers.

That second video doesn't seem at all realistic to me. I know from experience that the membrane is very slick and pretty much impossible to hold onto with your bare fingers. I haven't tried using a rubber glove. A paper towel helps.

 

[02ebz06]

Paper towel is good.
There is a tool (bought one) that works some of the time.
It's like a pliers but longer and slightly curved to slide under the membrane.
More trouble than it's worth. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Haha
Now I just use a butter knife to slide under and paper towel to grab and pull.