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Cooked a couple of racks of loin back ribs last night on my 008 - first time for friends (my wife had been the tester up until then). The ribs were tasty, and the guests loved them and thought they were "perfect". But having been on the Forum, I have a couple of questions as I think I may have slightly undercooked them.

The two racks were cooked at 225* for three hours, at which time I had a look at them, turned them over, and spritzed with apple juice. I checked again after 4.5 hours and actually ate one - and while good I figured I could leave them in a bit longer (the toothpick test indicated the same thing), and this was well before the guests were to arrive. Ultimately, given the time of the guests' arrival and eating - I took them out after about 5.5 hours and foiled them for about another hour.

Here are the questions:

1. Is it correct that a good level of doneness would be when the meat doesn't literally fall off the bone, but when chomped on does fully come off the bone? These were close to that, but small amounts of meat remained on parts of the bone when eating.

2. While everybody like the ribs, to me they seemed slightly drier having been in the foil for an hour. This is the first time I've foiled ribs after cooking - does foiling dry them out a little?

As usual - insights from here are extremely appreciated.

Steve P.
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From what you describe, they sound like they were pretty much where you want them. Maybe a few more minutes but I don't think the toothpick test would have felt much different.

I don't believe foiling dries out the ribs, but actually may help get them a little more tenderr. Next time try spritzing the ribs with apple juice as you foil and see if that provides some moisture.
However you and your guests like them,is correct.

Many feel that if they bite cleanly off the bone-each individual bite-they could be perfect.Falling off the bone is thought to be overcooked.

They sounded close,but slightly undercooked.

Many folks have better luck cooking them at a little higher temp.Was your 225º measured accurately at the cooking spot,or just the setting was 225º?

Did you cook them in the foil,or just rest them?
I cooked them with the 008 set on 225* - no internal thermometer used. They weren't cooked in foil, just foiled for about an hour waiting on the guests.

I'd say the ribs were "tug off the bone", but the bones weren't completely void of meat when done. The guest called this AM to thank my wife, and reiterated that they thought the ribs were great - so pretty close I think. I'll leave them in slightly longer next time around.

Steve P.
Opening the door dries ribs out, even if you spritz,IMO. I will spritz when I do open the door, but I don't use cold juice.

If you cook at 225, I wouldn't open the door before 4 hrs, that is on true LB's(3 lbs and up), then give them more time...but truthfully I like to cook LB's a little hotter temp, like Tom was saying.

Properly cooked ribs, when taking a bite at the bone should have a little tug, but pull clean off the bone,leaving the bone exposed, with the bone drying quickly. It should leave a bite looking mark with no other meat coming with the bite.

Hey it might be just me, but at home I like mine overcooked by 15 minutes.

When I foil to let rest, I will do it in a warmed cooler, if more tendering is needed. I've never had mine dry out,maybe I'm just lucky?

I would say yours needed another 30-45 minutes cooking time, but it is hard to tell for sure from where I'm sitting. The toothpick never lies.

Opening that door costed you another 30 minutes cooking time for each time the door is opened.Just a thought!

Keep good notes and it won't take long to gettem how you like, and feel free to ask more questions.
quote:
Originally posted by cal:
Opening the door dries ribs out, even if you spritz,IMO.


Dry ribs aren't the result of opening the door, there are just too many issues for it to be that simple.

The CS is a HUMID smoker and opening the door will actually improve the outer texture of the ribs.

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