Decided to try a run at ribs tonight, preparing for competition. I found somethings that do not work (really did not work) and things that actually surprised me.
Things that did not work:
1) Lump charcoal is not good for low and slow - 2 full stacks and I barely got it up over 212. Most of the 2 hours I spent constant time trying to get it over 200. I was being cheap and waiting for charcoal to go on sale and did not think I had any left. I found some 1/2 way through my bucket. After getting them fired up, it hit 275 and was pegged at that temp for the rest of the cook.
2) Trying to catch up on yard work... I needed to focus on the cook.
3) I tried to compensate with the lack of heat and hitting a time that I pulled 2 racks and tented them in foil and in the oven for the last 2 hours. I ended up over cooking them and they were too tender (the bones barely stayed in.)
4) Not tenting the 3rd rack sooner. They were at the bottom of the smoker, closest to the water pan. They were pretty moist, but I should have spritzed them sooner. They were almost tender enough- another 15 minutes would have done it. The bone came off clean, but not all of them did.
5) Need to mess with the seasoning - my family loved it (mopped it with Sweet Baby Rays), but no real punch.
Worked items:
Not many:
1) I added Fisheye Chardonnay to the water pan along with Apple Juice. Gave it some good flavor.
Seasoned up...
2 racks, non smoked, after tenting
The final rack- smoked and getting the final grill marks and caramelizing the sauce.
