Killer baby backs


 
K

Kimble

New member
I must admit, I have never enjoyed my cook as I did the other night.

Just a simple rack of pork spare ribs, however, this time I removed the back membrane from the ribs - could be a rookie move but have never done this before.

Does everyone on the forum prepare ribs this way?

I cooked them for about 5hrs, foiling after 3. They were fall off the bone which is what I prefer and never had quite perfected it till last night.

db
 
I did not remove the membrane until I read about it on here.... heck, didn't even know there was a membrane on there!!

I have had say one rack out of a bunch that I just couldn't get the membrane off so I just scored it with an X pattern, but there was still quite a difference.

Burt
icon_smile.gif
 
I always remove the membrane before bbq the ribs. Sounds like you did a great job on your spars. Contrats on the cook.
 
I first started out not removing the membrane when cooking ribs. I must say that I turned out some pretty good ribs and still do without the membrane removed when requested by my brother in law when I help with his cooks.

With that said I always try to remove the membrane only because I know what it looks like and when you have a pile of it ..it is the last thing I would want to season and cook then eat.

I think the end result is better when the membrane is removed. However some people will never know the difference and some times I can't tell a difference. IF I am in charge I remove it.
 
I have always removed the membrane with the exception of when I get some ribs that have had it removed already. That hasn't been often but I have had a few.
 
Glad to hear that your ribs came out great for you.
icon_cool.gif
Yes I always remove the membrane from spares and baby Backs. Never bought any yet that they did it for me.
icon_frown.gif
 
Trick is finding a good way to get it off. I bought some stainless pliers that were designed to pull out bones of fish. I got them because they're kitchen quality (easy to clean) and thought they'd help get the little scraps of membrane that always get left behind. They work pretty much like I expected and are great for grabbing slimy bits of membrane.

I usually go at the membrane with a butter knife at a middle bone. When the knife makes it through the other side, I slide a finger in the hole and lift the membrane and pull it off. Its by no means fool proof and I dislike when the knife runs too deeply and leaves a bone exposed.

anybody have a better method or some helpful tips?

spares are a different story because of the flap that diagonally bisects the membrane.
 
Peel a corner of the membrane up and then use a paper towel to grip. It pulls off quite easily and in one piece 99% of the time. Works for me anyway!
icon_smile.gif
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Peel a corner of the membrane up and then use a paper towel to grip. It pulls off quite easily and in one piece 99% of the time. Works for me anyway! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

never had much luck with that method. Thats why I got the pliers to help grip, or go at the middle so grip wasn't an issue.
 
Congrats on your succesful rib cook. I have done both - left the membrane on and remove. I would say I have removed it mostly and pretty much always over the last couple years except on request.

Some folks (my sister) like the snap or bite with the membrane. I actually like it as well, don't find it offensive at all. But - I definitely think they season and cook better with it off.

I use the butter knife in the middle/paper towel grip and find that successful 99%. I have never bought ribs from a store or butcher that ever had them removed.

I have had them removed by the butcher on request though when I remember to ask. That's usually on a pre-order.
 
I just purchased a 3 pack from Costco this past weekend and they already had the membrane removed. It was not the cryopacked ribs but it was packaged in styrofoam tray and wrapped in plastic film.

It took me 10 minutes to realize that there was no membrane.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom A.:
It took me 10 minutes to realize that there was no membrane. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

icon_biggrin.gif
i would have been cussing like a sailor trying to find that thing!
 
I used a flat head screw driver to remove the membrane...worked very well - you need to run it along the bone. I was able to do this on the first bone and remove the entire membrane.

Cheers
db
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top