For an Americue - Laid flat on shelf, hooks, or rib rack ? What's your vote and why ?
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Me, I'm old school, but I know a lot of guys like the hooks and the rib racks.
I lay them flat
I don't like rib hooks because you cut the rack in half and those ribs on the ends a lot of times will cook different. Since the best ribs are in the middle, you've now exposed them to more direct heat
If you have a rib rack that works great, it's okay, but a lot of times the ribs will touch each other and prevent smoke.
Yup I open up the smoke 3/4 way through the smoke, check everything out, loose some heat, and close the door. I like to play with my food a lot so visually checking on them is what I do.
I lay them flat
I don't like rib hooks because you cut the rack in half and those ribs on the ends a lot of times will cook different. Since the best ribs are in the middle, you've now exposed them to more direct heat
If you have a rib rack that works great, it's okay, but a lot of times the ribs will touch each other and prevent smoke.
Yup I open up the smoke 3/4 way through the smoke, check everything out, loose some heat, and close the door. I like to play with my food a lot so visually checking on them is what I do.
Uh Oh.. better kill that last paragraph before The Bouncer sees it.. 
In my AmeriQue I prefer the hooks for ribs. Hang full slabs and do not have to cut slabs in half. I have also laid them out whole on the racks but prefer to hang them. Works good all the time. Good luck on which ever way you choose!
I started by standing them up in racks like the ones Weber sells.. but I had to use toothpicks to hold the ribs apart.. I quit doing that and now simply lay them flat on the racks. Works for me.
Usually start with bone side down and cook most of the way and flip them to finish off bone side up..
Usually start with bone side down and cook most of the way and flip them to finish off bone side up..
I smoke on an FE and usually try to smoke at least a case at a time when I smoke ribs, so I like the rib racks.
Sam's jumped $.62 a pound on case price on loinbacks, so it may be a while before I do that again.
Sam's jumped $.62 a pound on case price on loinbacks, so it may be a while before I do that again.
Yep, ribs are different. Ya gotta check on them so as not to leave too long and get jerky between the bones.
I recently started using the rib hooks from cookshack. I hang the ribs with longest bones on top and the fat running down helps baste the smaller bones at the bottom. Also the exposure to the heat is more even if you're cooking several racks at one time. I have an Amerique,so I don't need to cut the racks in half.The hooks come in packs of twelve for about a buck apiece-well worth the money in my opinion!