Rib Fail Today


 
Jerry N.

Jerry N.

TVWBB Emerald Member
I did some ribs, baby backs, and invited the daughter and son in law over for dinner. The ribs weren’t bad, but they had the membrane still on. I was a bit embarrassed. Last night when I was prepping the ribs, I could not find the membrane to pull. I figured they must have already been pulled off. Believe me, I looked and poked around with a knife and some paper towels trying to grab hold of anything, but it just didn’t seem to be there. All I kept getting hold of was that thick membrane that holds the ribs together. I never had ribs with the membrane still on. Guess what - I don’t like it. Thankfully, the ribs were still pretty good, but that’s certainly not how I like to offer up my ribs.
 
Membranes can be hard to find. Normally I'll take the tip of a sharp knife and cut along the back of the wider rib bones until I find it. The only things harder to trim are getting silver skin off a tenderloin, or doing a good job on a packer brisket...
 
I've served more than my fair share of ribs with their membrane. But just as you stated, they were still good! I'm sure your family enjoyed the company and food more than you can imagine.
 
I take it off, but commercial smokehouses rarely do, it's really not a problem, certainly not a fail.
 
I like leaving it on, it helps to keep the moisture in and there is 0 meat on the back of the bones. I don't flip ribs when smoking , a lot of the tenderized ribs have been scored and good luck trying to pull off. I would reckon it could be pulled off after cooking though I haven't tried that. There's really no wrong way to cook and don't let folks shame you for your method imo
 
Jerry, I wouldn't be embarrassed at all. I don't think it matters all that much if the membrane is on or off at home. It's your backyard, you can decide. Isn't that how we all ate ribs as kids? With the membrane on?
But if you want it off, then remember there are two membranes. You only need to remove the top one. Leave the bottom one intact.
 
I doubt very many of the commercial ribs that you might get in a restaurant would have the membrane removed
 
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