Tips on picking the best ribs

[DavidD]

I am having guests over this weekend and want to smoke ribs. I've learned picking the smallest baby backs is usually the best way to go, but i am going to fix Spares and am not sure what to look for when picking.

My experience is, the cryovac pks where i live are 1) usually previously frozen which i do not like b/c they get mushy and the membrane does not come off very well and 2) they are often salt/brine pkgd.

I know there are exceptions but that's my experience. Fortunately, I have a local store who offers fresh spares on a plastic carton with clear wrap on top. They include the flap and need to be trimmed, preferably to St. Louis style for me. They run $1.99/lb and the pkg usually weighs 5 lbs or more.

Anyway, the cooler contains 20-25 pkg and I am wondering what I should be looking for when picking a rack or two. Your advice is appreciated. With guests coming, i want them to be good.

 

[Jerry N.]

I would find a butcher or a warehouse club that would sell you non-brined ribs in cryovac. I can't guarantee they'll be the best ribs, but you'll have good odds at getting some good ribs - the rest is up to you

 

[K Kruger]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I have a local store who offers fresh spares on a plastic carton with clear wrap on top. They include the flap and need to be trimmed, preferably to St. Louis style for me. They run $1.99/lb and the pkg usually weighs 5 lbs or more. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Pick those.

 

[Bryan S]

Try and pick out 2 racks that look the same. In thickness and size. This way they will cook about the same. You don't want one relly thick and meaty slab and one thin slab. You are looking for two racks uniform in size to one another.