Steve McKibben
TVWBB Super Fan
I finally got a chance to use the WSM with the clay pot yesterday.
I cooked three racks of baby backs, all on the top grate in a rib rack.
I de-membraned and rubbed the ribs with Raichen's all purpose rub (the recipe came from somewhere on this forum, and I still had some on hand) while I started the coals.
I put about 2/3 or so of a fire ring of Kingsford in the base, then added a little less than a half chimney of lit, and four smallish chunks of apple wood.
I placed the assembled middle section, with the pans, grate, and rib rack on the base, put the ribs in the rack, and put the lid on.
Started with all vents open 100%. When the dome temp got near 200, I shut the lower vents all down to around 25%. I probably got a little impatient when I didn't get to my target dome temp of 240 right away, and opened the bottom vents to around 50%.
Before I knew it the dome temp was at 250 and climbing. I shut all of the bottom vents completely, but still had a dome temp in the 260 range for a long time.
In retrospect, I probably should have been more patient letting it come up to temp. I could probably have expected a rise in temps as more of the unlit coals fired up, and it was really too windy to expect optimum temp control.
The ribs went for a little short of five hours before they passed the "pull" test. I took them off and tented them in aluminum foil while the rump roast that I was grilling indirect on the kettle finished, and while I made the side dishes.
My youngest son doesn't like sauce on ribs, so we didn't glaze them, or brush them with sauce after they were done. My oldest son and I had the "preview" pieces that were stuck to the grate and the racks, and they were so good that we decided to just eat them "dry".
We ate one rack, and I foodsavered(?) the other two - one that I froze that will become part of the "care package" I'll be sending my Mom, and the other that went in the fridge that we'll eat in a day or two.
Clean up was very easy using the clay pan mod, and I did notice that the fuel consumption was less.
Next time I'll:
Start with fewer coals, both lit and unlit.
Let the WSM come up to temp before putting the ribs on.
Either pick a day with less wind or find a way to cook out of the wind.
Take pictures!
I cooked three racks of baby backs, all on the top grate in a rib rack.
I de-membraned and rubbed the ribs with Raichen's all purpose rub (the recipe came from somewhere on this forum, and I still had some on hand) while I started the coals.
I put about 2/3 or so of a fire ring of Kingsford in the base, then added a little less than a half chimney of lit, and four smallish chunks of apple wood.
I placed the assembled middle section, with the pans, grate, and rib rack on the base, put the ribs in the rack, and put the lid on.
Started with all vents open 100%. When the dome temp got near 200, I shut the lower vents all down to around 25%. I probably got a little impatient when I didn't get to my target dome temp of 240 right away, and opened the bottom vents to around 50%.
Before I knew it the dome temp was at 250 and climbing. I shut all of the bottom vents completely, but still had a dome temp in the 260 range for a long time.
In retrospect, I probably should have been more patient letting it come up to temp. I could probably have expected a rise in temps as more of the unlit coals fired up, and it was really too windy to expect optimum temp control.
The ribs went for a little short of five hours before they passed the "pull" test. I took them off and tented them in aluminum foil while the rump roast that I was grilling indirect on the kettle finished, and while I made the side dishes.
My youngest son doesn't like sauce on ribs, so we didn't glaze them, or brush them with sauce after they were done. My oldest son and I had the "preview" pieces that were stuck to the grate and the racks, and they were so good that we decided to just eat them "dry".
We ate one rack, and I foodsavered(?) the other two - one that I froze that will become part of the "care package" I'll be sending my Mom, and the other that went in the fridge that we'll eat in a day or two.
Clean up was very easy using the clay pan mod, and I did notice that the fuel consumption was less.
Next time I'll:
Start with fewer coals, both lit and unlit.
Let the WSM come up to temp before putting the ribs on.
Either pick a day with less wind or find a way to cook out of the wind.
Take pictures!
