Smoking Ribs question

[Wasi]

I am going to be smoking 4 slabs of ribs for a picnic I am going to next weekend. I am going to be cooking baby back ribs. I normally just smoke them for about 4 hours and let them rest for a little while before I server with sauce on the side. The question I have is I am going to be smoking them before I leave and then want to wrap them and place them in the cooler to keep them warm. Do you think I should and some type of finishing sauce or flavors before I wrap. Also do you think butcher paper or foil is better. I want them to stay warm but also want to make sure they do not get tough while resting.

 

[ndhall]

If you foil them it will hold in the heat and slightly tenderize as it breaks down connective tissue. They will stay pretty hot for a while inside a cooler. I wouldnt hesitate to sauce them up before the foil also.

 

[bbqbrett]

I have actually sauced then wrapped in foil and coolerized ribs for a few hours. I will say I did pad the cooler with a couple of towels though. They held the heat great and the sauce was still good on them. Think you should be find. Never tried with butcher paper though so I can't speak for how well that would work.

 

[crazymoon]

W, I would foil them also,you could always cool and reheat in foil at the gathering if a grill is available .

 

[oldsmokerdude]

Ditto what the others have said about using foil and really insulating your cooler to keep them warm. But I would leave the sauce off and let the diners sauce as they like at the table.

 

[Wasi]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am going smoke them for 4 hours like a normally do and when done just wrap them tight in foil and then pack the cooler with towels and that is it. I agree with you oldsmokerdude as I normally do no sauce and let them device.