How do you keep large quantities of ribs warm?

check this link. hope it works. dave
http://www.acemart.com/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Co...M&Category_Code=B4-1

That's a good link to commercial holding bins above. Fact is, I have cooked up dozens of racks, and tend to foil them up tight, 2 or 3 racks to a set, doubled wrapped in heavy foil, and then place them tightly stacked into a plain beach cooler. Big... high performance.. but a normal cooler none-the-less. They will stay hot -- real hot -- for hours. I keep a Polder probe int he box and I mean it loses very little temp over a period of hours. You can then pull them out one or two pouches at a time, to serve as needed. Of course, you also could go with a holding cabinet, if you have electric in the shack. I would still wrap tightly to keep moisture in, then keep in a cabinet set at at 150.

How are you setting up on the road? Truck? Shack? a real building? I'm actively looking for a property where I am to start a small joint.

Thanks you guys so much! My husband has built a stage coach out of an old trailer mainly as an attraction to draw people in. We will need to invest in a grill too. We have a friend that has an esprsso booth out on hwy 101 and has lots of property there. We wil be putting the stand out there. Wish us luck. I think we may need it =)

You mention a grill....If you're going to be doing a quantity of ribs, I'd highly recommend a smoker, not a grill.

Ok I'm confused. I have always grilled my ribs. That's the only way I know how to cook them. I have never ever used any kind of wood either. I'm not sure about the smoking thing. What is the difference between to two? I know no other way of going about it and my ribs turn out great. I had a neighborhood block party last summer and everybody raved about the ribs. So I guess I don't really know what I'm doing. =(

There's no doubt you do know what you're doing, as evidenced by your friends.

Sorry to confuse you, but you probably didn't realize what this forum was "mostly" used for -- smoking. So most of the expertise here doesn't lie with makeing ribs on grills. Although a few of us are pretty good with our grills also, it's just not the common topic.

Didn't mean to confuse.

I've had great grilled ribs and great smoked ribs and to me there is a difference.

You asked about investing in a grill to cook on, and I understood that to mean cook large quantities.

So, we're here to help, are you looking for a grill, that you can cook large quantities of ribs on? How many ribs are you wanting to cook and serve in a day. I know of some very large grills that will serve your purpose.

Howdy,maree.

Like Smokin'says,we usually discuss indirect heat cooking.

Much of the old south would maybe be considered grilling,as the heat source is directly below the meat-where the fat can drip on the coals.

The meat is usually anywhere from 18 inches to four feet above the coals,though.

Many of us,tend to think of our grills as higher heat/quicker finishing for steaks,chops,chicken pieces,burgers,hotdogs,etc.

Like Smokin'said,some of the pros are bound to have a plan for you.

tom,

The kind of grill I'm thinking would work are the large ones that in CA are used for Tri-tip or in the south, for chicken.

The have the large, flat surfaces and the crank to raise/lower the grid.

But I can't seem to find any right off hand.

Anyone have a link?

Hey,Smokin'.

Hastybake out in your neck o' the woods can work like a Santa Maria grill.

It depends on her volume.

We see Kingfishers, around the South, that go up to a pretty good size.

maree has Traeger out in her neck o' the woods and it will go both ways.


Kingfisher Smoker/Grills

Hey you guy's, thanks for all of your help. I'm going to check out the link that was posted. I would be looking at probably 40 lb. at a time. I found a guy in our area that will order the ribs for me at a 1.67 a pound. That sounds like a good deal to me. I've looked other places and they want over 2.00 a pound! He can also get my chicken for . 43 a pound. I would definitely need a grill since I wouldn't know how to operate a smoker and I'm not familiar with it at all. It would be nice to try it out though. I'll have to consider it. Thanks again =)Maree

Thanks, Tom,

But I'm looking for the flat grills, where there is a crank to raise and lower the surface. Sound familiar?

Hasty Bake is just too small, and my read, too expensive.

Smokin'

Yep,Smokin'.

I know the ones, but can't find a name either.

There are lots of homemade ones,as most country welders can whip them out.

Big Gene,a KCBS rep and caterer ,has even taken a couple GCs on one,but he does volume chicken usually.

All across the south ,they just set hawg wire across poles and set them on concrete blocks.

Ya leave the holes in the blocks facin' the pole ends and just move up a set of holes to get more distance from the coals.

Ain't real portable though.

Here's a company that makes Santa Maria style grills.

grills-to-go

Maree -

Don't think you'd find it hard to learn to use a smoker, especially a CookShack. Plus, compared to grilling, it requires less tending and is less time-sensitive, which seems like an advantage if you're running a stand by yourself.

Smokin' and the rest of the folks here can pretty much give you a graduate level course in electric smoking.

Good job,KG,and thanks.

I was trying to figure out how to add a photo to my message here. Umm. I really would like to learn how to smoke. If it mean that I don't have to stand over it all day, all the better. I'm going to attach a picture of our Stage Coach so you can see what we have done to the old trailer. I think is looks great. We aren't totally done with it yet but you will get the idea. Let me know what you think. Maybe we've gone over the top? It's mainly a place for us to get out of the weather while we are waiting for customers and to draw people in. I guess I can't show you. It wont let me insert the picture =(

Oh well. Email me if you'd like to see it. I'd be happy to send you the pictures. Take care.

Hey, maree, got to see that stage coach. Keep trying. Smokin can help you. You can attach the jpg to an email to him, and he'll post it. I think..........

Must see stage coach.

Come on Smokin Okie!!!!!!

Maree
We use a 5 hole steam table to keep our ribs hot. Smoke them in 40 to 60 lb batches,put in walkin.Day we serve,we pull what we need,wrap in foil,and put on the steamline to heat,and serve from there by the order.We also use a big spare,and I wouldn't trade my Cookshack Smokers for anything in the world.We have also used the smokers as holding ovens for large orders.
Do yourself a favor,contact CookShack,you won't be sorry.Less work and worry,and lets you do other things that you will need to do.
Papa Shaka

So now, we are all waiting for the stage coach ... am I at the right stop ?

and then two will appear !

Good luck in your enterprises Maree !
See, your place is already known in France. That's the power of the CS Nation !

Papa Shaka,and Rene. Thank you so much for the information, encouragement and helpful tips! They are all appreciated. Every one of you. I guess we're just waiting for smokin to post the picture. Hope he can. I sure don't know how that works. =)Maree

From maree....

Now you'll have to start a new story and tell all...

Now THAT's a stage coach! My weekend is made. Wow. Dang. Maree rules. Smokin rules.


Good Q'n everybody.

Some stage coach !
Well done and
I want one !

and if anyone got pics of Q places like this Maree's wunderbarBQ, roadside shacks or mobile units, one day they'll be on display in France. Well, after all, is that a good idea ?

Awe Smokin, You came through buddy =) Thank you, thank you, thank you. And, I'm glad you all like it!

Cute.

Looks like you're ready for MIM.
All ya need are the oufits.

Renee, I'm working on Woodburner's "report" from his trip to all the Q places you could imagine.

It's a lot of work, but I'm building some webpages to put his article on line, with photos, of his travels...He's got some great photos.

So ... it is a good idea ...

Maree you have started something even if Woodburner done it !

Same goes for Menus ?

ThanX+X!

Courtesy of Boomer over on the bbqforum,here is a look at a Santa Maria grill in action,if maree is considering one.

Santa Maria Grill

Wow! Now that's a cooker! =)

Maree

I suggest you call it Santa Maree !

Awe,That's cute! I Love It!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have a Kegerator for sale too. I was going to mention that the other day but forgot. It is solid stainless and holds two kegs, comes with compressor, beer tap and all hoses. If you are interested email me at; MLindeen@cs.com. I live in the Olympia Washington area. I am willing to trade for used grill in good shape or inline waterheater for my stage coach. =) Lemeno -Maree