5 and UP? Spare Ribs Question.

[Art R]

A local market has a memorial day sale of 5 and Up Spare Ribs for .99 per pound. I bought a few slabs and they look like large meaty spares. I asked the butcher about the difference between these and regular spares and he said they are just larger. He said I might not be as happy with them as with spares. When I said I was going to smoke them, he said they would be fine.

Has anyone ever had 5 and Up spares?

 

[Doug D]

That's just a designation of the average weight per slab-- typically "3-1/2 and down", "3-1/2 to 5", and "5 and up". Smaller are preferred by some just as are "baby back" loinback ribs, the idea being they are from a younger animal, and will be more tender. You should have no problem doing them in the WSM, though.

 

[Art R]

Well that's kind of what I thought. I had read somewhere that in recent times hogs have gotten larger to suit demand and processing requirements. Something about more lean meat per pound of carcass. That was used as an explanation for larger slabs being prevalent.

In any case .99 per pound looked pretty good. It's at Westbrook Market in Westmont, IL here in Chicagoland.

AR

 

[Joe Preiser]

I was at Westbrook this afternoon and saw the rib sale in the flyer but could only find country-style ribs for that price in the meat case. I probably should have asked if they had more in the back.

Regardless, I picked up 4 butts from them at $1.29/#. They're going on the WSM in a little while for an overnight cook.

My sister's coming over tomorrow so she gets first taste then most of it's going to a friend's Memorial Day picnic.