Will Spare Ribs Ever Be The Same Again?

[thirdeye]

This week Mrs ~t~ picked up some ribs marked 'St Louis Trim', and for the 4th or 5th time in a row the meat cutting was way off. They were almost as wide as an untrimmed slab. One end had about 6" of meat with cartilage pieces only (no bone) and I only got 7 or 8 actual bones on the other end. I trimmed them into a rack of ribs, and some sample pieces. I doubt the whole section would have fit on my smoker.

The rib section cooked up fine and were really good


But I sure wish I got the standard 10 or 11 ribs instead of a cheater rack.

 

[sandyut]

dude thats rough... Haven't seen that issue here...yet..but would not be happy if that was happening alot. Hope they all get they poop in a group and start cutting them correctly.

 

[DanMcG]

Meat cutters aren't what they use to be.

 

[texomakid]

Our Grocery sales Hormel branded St Louis cut pork ribs and they'r always cut correctly and very uniform. Personally, I prefer an untrimmed whole spare rib but I know for multiple reasons others prefer the St Louis cut (smoker size, competition, ect....) Hopefully you have access to other sources for your trimmed Pork ribs?

 

[thirdeye]

Meat cutters aren't what they use to be.

Yeah, but hogs haven't changed. What are they doing with those other ribs?

Our Grocery sales Hormel branded St Louis cut pork ribs and they'r always cut correctly and very uniform. Personally, I prefer an untrimmed whole spare rib but I know for multiple reasons others prefer the St Louis cut (smoker size, competition, ect....) Hopefully you have access to other sources for your trimmed Pork ribs?

It's hit and miss. My choices are either Smithfield or Hormel and one store only carries the un-trimmed slabs.

 

[indaswamp]

If it's Smithfield....I blame the Chinese.

 

[Sowsage]

More the reason to buy full racks. Usually cheaper and then i use the rib tips and trim for other meals like "rib tip carnitas" . but I have the same question as you.....what the heck are they using the rest of the ribs for when they cut them like that??

 

[TNJAKE]

More the reason to buy full racks. Usually cheaper and then i use the rib tips and trim for other meals like "rib tip carnitas" . but I have the same question as you.....what the heck are they using the rest of the ribs for when they cut them like that??

Selling them to McDonald's for the return of the mcrib lol

 

[bregent]

It's hit and miss.

For me, it's mostly miss. I've been seeing the same thing around here for the past few years and it's frustrating. Last time I bought full spares to avoid the problem.
There have been several posts about the problem: https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/st-louis-rib-question.281319/#post-1893584