How many racks on an 18"?

[DAVE IN CINCY]

I just finished 4 baby back racks on my 18" with mixed success. Some of my problem was:

1. I'm my own worst critic.
2. The racks were fatty, part of my problem is finding a good supplier.
3. The racks were too long. None of them would fit. I cut them into halves and used Weber Rib racks. The center racks took longer to cook. I've cooked some uncut racks previously and found the ends dry and the center perfect.

Four racks fed 5 of us. I'd like to fit more on the smoker.

I used Kingsford Competition charcoal, 225* for 5 hours. Yellow mustard with commercial rub.

Any ideas on how others have smoked their ribs?

 

[Lew]

I roll them up and put a skewer through them. I cooked 16 lb of spares on my 18.5 Saturday. I cut them St. Louis style, put the rolled ribs on the top grate, and put the trimmings on the bottom grate. Here's a picture (not mine) from this site:

http://www.virtualweberbullet....b1_photos/britu7.jpg

 

[TravisH]

I modified some Brinkmann Rib Racks in order to stack more ribs vertically on each grate.

The meat closest to the outer edges do tend to cook faster so I try to place any thicker ends towards the outer edges.

Referencing the Cooking Topics on Ribs - http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/rib1.html - if you use the roll method you should be able to stack quite a few racks. I've been thinking about using butcher twine to get a tighter roll and think I should be able to get 5 racks on each grate.

 

[Brett Fields]

Rolled and tied with Butcher's twine yields 6 racks per grate easy. (on the 18) I've never foiled rolled ribs though, so iff you foil....