Rib Membrane Removal Issues

Sometimes the membrane is removed for us. You could have purchased the ribs that way. It's happened a couple times to me, and I think they were Costco ribs.

I think of the ribs as having two membranes. One can be removed, and the other holds the bones to the meat. I can't tell by looking at them, but if I can't remove the thin membrane by itself, it's already gone.

Like Pags said, make sure they did not come already removed.

If the membrane is on there, I take the rack and roll it in a circle with the meat side in. This helps to loosen the membrane and makes it easier to remove.

Thanks for the input - much appreciated.

Good tip RibDog.

If it is indeed the top membrane, the colder the ribs are, (not frozen)the easier the membrane will come off.

If you can start to get the membrane off, a dry paper towel works well to get a grip on it.

For BB, try reverese rolling them into a coil, so that the membrane is on the outside of the roll.

Then unroll and pull.

And like they've said, I'd say 50% of the BB I buy have the membrane already off

Just threw three of them in the smoker. No membranes. This is my second time with these and they have had no membranes. I wonder if Costco told them to have them pulled. I wouldn't be suprised. That's Costco for you.

"Not frozen" seems worth noting. I pulled some baby backs out of the freezer and found the membrane didn't behave as it normally does - couldn't really pull it off in a strip and wound up hacking it up a bit. Imagine that the process of freezing and defrosting somehow changed the properties of the membrane. In the smoker now, and hoping for the best.

quote:

Originally posted by Big KT:
If it is indeed the top membrane, the colder the ribs are, (not frozen)the easier the membrane will come off.

I get all our meat at Costco. I believe they remove the membrane on all the ribs. Easier to prepare.

quote:

Originally posted by Camper Bob:
I get all our meat at Costco. I believe they remove the membrane on all the ribs. Easier to prepare.

The Swift Premium Ribs I've bought @ Costco had the membrane mechanically perforated. They shredded when I tried to remove them.

Some cooks prefer to smoke ribs with the membrane attached. The theory is that doing so helps retain moisture. I've tried it and would have to say that they were very flavorful and moist. The skin is easily removed, once done.

I remember the first time I cooked a rack of ribs. I'd done just enough research to understand that ribs "have" a membrane. I had no idea what it actually looked like but whatever it was, I was going to remove it. I worked those ribs over, determined to remove what turned out to be a non-existent membrane. You'd have thought I was trying to remove the bones the way the first one looked.
I suppose that's the problem with reading and trying to figure everything out myself. These days, I find youtube to be the ultimate guide to life, the universe and everything. Right after this forum, that is.
The next batch I do, I'll chill them nicely, then roll them up. I'm looking forward to it.