Howq to cook spares

[Guest]

Need help. I have every kind of grill and smoker available, looking for the one that will duplicate the ribs i get in the good BBQ restaurants. I have just recently purchased the WSM, and cooked ribs for the first time, they were ok, but not what i am lookin for. What is the secret, i have every BBQ book and i follow the directions to the T , and they are never as described in the book. Is there some secret ingredient or technique that someone can put on me. I need some help.

 

[Bruce Cook]

Personally, I find so-called "good barbecue" restaraunts lacking in quality. Most of use do way better than that.

What are you looking for in the ribs? Tenderness? Taste? Texture? If you want ribs fall of the bone my guess is you need to cook them longer. If your ribs are dry you may be cooking them too high.
You may want a different rub if it is flavor.

Something to consider trying is to cook the meat with a minimal of seasoning and learn the nuances to get tenderness and texture to where you want it. Then begin experimenting with flavors via rubs or sauces.

 

[Jim Minion]

A lot of rib joints will not have their ribs touched by smoke and most are over cooked. So like Bruce asked, what are you looking for?
Jim

 

[Guest]

As Jim and Bruce have stated, most of us do better than the average 'q' joint when cooking ribs. Tell us about you last cook, what kind of ribs, how hot and how long did you cook them?

My best guess is that you are not cooking them long enough, because that seems to be the most common mistake with spares.

Give us a little more info and I bet we can help you out.

 

[Konrad Haskins]

Chicken and Ribs are harder than Butts and Brisket. This is my 3rd year of smoking and I'm getting good at the later only now. Although I did not avail myself of this resource earlier which would have shortened the learning curve. But like the experts say what is it exactly you are doing and what exactly do you want to do. I'll take my ribs over any that I've ever paid for. The only store bought better than mine in my not humble opinion is chopped Pork in Lexington NC.

 

[Rita Y]

Oh, that Lexington Barbecue! I can almost taste it now! It was the perfect lunch stop on our many trips to and from Richmond. I can tell you, we "frogged our sides!"

I wish I knew then what I've since learned here on this exceptional site and I would have appreciated those lunches even more......and would have asked some informed questions too!
Rita