New to CS, questions about first q

Two oz wood may be plenty for a whole cooker full.

One rack,or six,may take 90 mins,or nine hrs.

The top rack could be hottest,as heat rises,the direct heat from the firebox,could make that one spot hot.

Thus,going to page top to FIND,input type of pork ribs,may answer most of your questions.

Anything else,specific,we'll try to help.

Welcome.

I hope you've seasoned it and understand how it works. We always advise doing that during the week in case you need to contact CS Customer Service

For new users, we also recommend a read here:

Lessons for New users

For ribs, there is an entire forum dedicated to ribs, so a read through some of the headings may give you some good topics

You didn't say what type of ribs or how much the racks weigh, there is a BIG variation in ribs so that will matter.

We've covered the topic so many times, don't hate us for suggesting a quick read, we get asked similar questions a lot (check out Ribs 101 if you haven't)

Someone will jump in with the details to help, along with Tom's comments above.

SmokinAZ

I just smoked 3 racks of BB ribs and I will share what I did. I have a SM025 and the BB weighted 2.95#, 2.85# and 2.94#.
at 0730 I prepared ribs by removing membrane and coating ribs with yellow mustard then CS Rib Rub, foiled and placed in refrigerator.

1000: removed ribs, set on counter to "warm" closer to room temperature.

1100: Moved side rack holders in smoker to highest position. Placed two racks of BB's on top grill with meat facing down. Other rack with placed on second (bottom rack) with bones facing down. Set smoker temperature to 225* oven temperature was 90* at start.

1115 Oven temp=141* heavy smoke present
1200 Oven temp=225* heavy smoke present
1300 Oven temp 228* smoke present not as visible
1400 Oven temp 225* smoke present not as visible
1430 Oven temp 225* opened door checked ribs, turned ribs over and changed grill positions in racks, (top grill went to bottom and vice verser) Be careful with hot juice in concave portion of ribs!!!Spritzed with apple juice, meat was pulled back from bone, and "toothpick" test was without a lot of resistance. They were actually ready, but I was in denial, so I put them back in the smoker. Finally talked myself into pulling them 10 minutes later.

I fired up my gas grill and let it warm up. I put brown sugar and honey on one rack, CS Spicy BBQ Sauce on another, and Sweet Baby Ray's on the last rack. Then I briefly placed them on the grill to caramelize the sauces, afterwards I double foiled, wrapped in a towel, and placed in a cooler until 1630.

My 5 year old granddaughter is a picky eater, but she ate 4 ribs non-stop and told everyone that they were juicy and delicious. Children are brutally honest at that age, no better complement than that.

Forgot I used 3 oz of hickory and 1 oz of apple. I get better smoke by cutting chucks of wood into 1oz to 1/2 oz pieces. Long skinny pieces will "ash" better than fat chucks if that is important to you.

Don't know about others, but I find that when I load up my 009, the lower rack is always hotter. If I fill it with baby back ribs (not sure what you are using) I swap the high and low racks about half-way through to keep them evenly cooked. I'm assuming the question about 10-30 lb of meat is for something else unless you plan to cram in more than 3 racks. I have never put in more than 3 oz of wood for baby-backs, cutting the chunks 3 equal pieces - 2 hickory and 1 apple. less wood for 2 or 1 rack. Smaller chunks will deliver more smoke over the shorter cook times of the ribs (vs a brisket or a pork butt) I've never had them done to my liking in 4 hours, but like Tom says you can't really time these things. All I can say is don't worry and practice makes perfect.

for those that replied, rather than give the standard "use the search function", i greatly appreciate it.

i apologize for being a little generic in my first post. the M008 i'm using has been seasoned already as i've inherited it from my father and he's smoked a lot of fish in it. i searched before posting but was unable to locate anything specific to my questions so i posted here rather than spend another hour searching around. the question about 1-30lbs was just in general, certainly not craming 30lbs of BBs in there

i've got 3 racks of BBs, approx 3.2lbs each. membrane has been removed and they've been coated with my rub. got them sitting on the counter to come up to temp for approx 30mins before they go in.

i realize it's not an exact science of time, i was just hoping to get a rough ballpark but i certainly understand "it's done when it's done".

i appreciate the help and i'll be sure to post back once they've been devoured this afternoon.

Those are pretty large for baby backs. I think they'll take longer than 4-4.5 hrs it takes for a 2 lb baby back rack. You may have St. Louis ribs there. For planning purposes I'd shoot for roughly 5.5-6.5 hrs, maybe longer. Plan for the longer time, and if done earlier than you want, foil, towel, cooler till eating time.

While they're on, reread Rib 101 and the rib threads.

i.e., I was one response,and I recommended 120* for 12 hrs,or until the ribs reached 180* internal.

Smokin' was another,and he recommended 180*,for nine hrs,or until they reached 200* internal.

Pags,who may never have seen an 008,said,325* for 3hrs,to an internal of 300*.

Which of the prompt responses should the new,and hopeful cook select?

hmm?

Reference above.

One reason to choose the search,rather than a prompt answer,of who happened to be around that day,could be .

The level of experience on your cooker could be in question,as well as the level of expertise on that meat product.

Anyone should always go with you or Smokin. I stayed out of it when I saw your posts. Once SmokinAZ threw out info no one knew, and he was about to put the ribs in the smoker, I felt it would be helpful to offer some guidance since no one else was around.

I still wouldn't have responded if you or Smokin had. Don't get me wrong Tom. No one expects you experienced folks to be on this forum 24/7, and time seemed to be of the essence here. This was SmokinAZ's first ribs, he had a question. Would SmokinAZ be better off hearing from you or Smokin--yes. In the absence of a response, should someone help--I hope so.

quote:

Originally posted by smokieAZ:

i've got 3 racks of BBs, approx 3.2lbs each...

We refer to those as Loin Backs (not baby's anymore at that weight)

They could take twice as long as little 1.5 lb BB's. But at 225, could be 6,7 or even 8 if the door is opened.

That's why I asked, you need to determine the average weight of the racks because it WILL impact the cooktime

Yep Pags,we appreciate all the input we can get,as that is what makes a forum.

Everybody expects Smokin' to be live 24/7,so I chime in to support him,when I can.

You may notice we disappear for a few days,and you guys do fine without us.

We would prefer that the members talk and make it their own forum.

A lot of times,as Smokin' says,folks have specific needs,and aren't aware that their's is not a generic question.

OFTEN,the 101s and search answer most of their questions,as they can get ideas that touch on their own particular narrow needs.

Not that we know it all,but it might take a 30 min phone call,to narrow down the question,and another couple hrs to really get a handle on the problem.

Trust me,everything has been discussed before and it may take the original questioner to notice their particular/specific answer to the question.

Often we are throwing darts at the problem,hoping we get close.

Yep,folks often feel their's is the first emergency,but often the answer is already here,better/more timely than we ALL can guess it.

We do appreciate your input.

Just a couple of thoughts.

I'm starting to get an idea as to how often you, Smokin and a few others may have answered the same questions over the years. Very patient and helpful. Thanks to you and all. Great forum.

Smokin,

Sorry to continue to jack this thread further but I JUST HAD to add my two cents worth!

This is not targeted at anyone in particular but as they say if the shoe fits......

It hasn't been too long ago that I bought my 008 and was clueless (not that I know that much more now) as to how to use it, but It seems like it was so hard to get GOOD REAL information. Clearly as a newbie I didn't know whether a responder to my question really knew from experience, if they were just giving their idea of what might work, or a rehash of something they had heard or read somewhere.

What to do I asked........

I searched, I searched, I searched some more, and I read....... Soon, soon it became clear as to who the knowledgeable responders were and who the others are!!!!!!!!

My advice is SEARCH and read then ask questions and listen to those who know.

BTW
Thanks to all the knowledgeable posters who have responded to my multitude of silly questions.

Thanks guys.

Certainly Tom and I answer the majority of questions, but what we both TRY to do is let others answers. One of the great things about the forum is that its only as good as it's members, so we like to let everyone try to answer.

Of course, if new users read the Lessons for New Users Thread and read the Ten Commandments, don't forget Rule #10

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinOkie:
Thanks guys.



Of course, if new users read the Lessons for New Users Thread and read the Ten Commandments, don't forget Rule #10

That's a great thread even as a brush up for those of us that have read it before.