Let's Talk BBQ

Tips, Tricks & Just Good Advice! => Good to Know! - A collection of How-To's & Sage Advice => Ask A Butcher! => Topic started by: Patio Cook#1 on June 03, 2013, 08:33:44 PM

Title: St Louis Cut
Post by: Patio Cook#1 on June 03, 2013, 08:33:44 PM
I usually purchase the large spare rib sections (brisket bone off) and proceed to pretty much hack them up from there.

I cut the flap off and remove the membrane. Then I flop the ribs over and from there I'm never quite certain where to cut for St.Louis cut.
Let's say I locate the longest rib and beging cutting the rack that length. Because the ribs get shorter as I go across, I would be cutting througe the rib tips. Or, I can work the knife along, cutting the ribs at the ends of the bone, removing all of the rib tips. EH? And winding up with a wide-to-narrow rack.
What do competition cook do as they prepare their ribs? Keep them more even in length, with partial rib tips on the ends of some of the bone?
As usual, I hope this makes some sense.
Title: Re: St Louis Cut
Post by: CDN Smoker on June 03, 2013, 08:42:52 PM
Good question, will be watching this very closely as I am having the same problems.
Title: Re: St Louis Cut
Post by: Rummm on June 03, 2013, 09:15:54 PM
I usually purchase the large spare rib sections (brisket bone off) and proceed to pretty much hack them up from there.

I cut the flap off and remove the membrane. Then I flop the ribs over and from there I'm never quite certain where to cut for St.Louis cut.
Let's say I locate the longest rib and beging cutting the rack that length. Because the ribs get shorter as I go across, I would be cutting througe the rib tips. Or, I can work the knife along, cutting the ribs at the ends of the bone, removing all of the rib tips. EH? And winding up with a wide-to-narrow rack.
What do competition cook do as they prepare their ribs? Keep them more even in length, with partial rib tips on the ends of some of the bone?
As usual, I hope this makes some sense.

OK, I did have a video on this, but per the explanation in the sticky, it's GONE :(

I start at the short end of the ribs, bend them with your hands and you'll see where you have to go. Even with a dull knife you'll make it from one end to the other. They will end up somewhat even. You are basically removing the brisket bones.  After that, you can trim them to your specs. Keep the trimmings for "cooks tasting".

Competition ribs??? To each their own......seems like every KCBS judge has his own standards.
Title: Re: St Louis Cut
Post by: Rummm on June 04, 2013, 06:56:15 AM
At one time I had a tutorial on St. Louis Ribs at the old Primo web site

www.primogrill.com/food/st-louisribs.html (http://www.primogrill.com/food/st-louisribs.html)

But, as you can see, it's now a dead link and I'm going thru my stack of CD's and DVD's to try and recover the photo's. It may take a while  :(
Title: Re: St Louis Cut
Post by: Rummm on June 04, 2013, 07:26:41 AM
Not mine, but a good TUTORIAL (http://www.meatwave.com/blog/how-to-trim-a-rack-of-spare-ribs-to-a-st-louis-style-cut) on cutting St. Louis Spares
Title: Re: St Louis Cut
Post by: deestafford on June 04, 2013, 09:36:05 AM
Rummm, Thanks for that post.  Is it not sort of a rule of thumb that outside fat is ungood and inside fat is good?  Dee
Title: Re: St Louis Cut
Post by: drholly on June 04, 2013, 01:01:52 PM
Thanks Rummm - I am sure your video was better, but this helps a bunch!
Title: Re: St Louis Cut
Post by: Rummm on June 04, 2013, 03:01:45 PM
Rummm, Thanks for that post.  Is it not sort of a rule of thumb that outside fat is ungood and inside fat is good?  Dee

Dee, I'm not sure I understand your question, sorry.