Let's Talk BBQ

General => General Discussion & Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: Palmyrasteak on September 11, 2013, 09:19:08 PM

Title: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: Palmyrasteak on September 11, 2013, 09:19:08 PM
Hey yall! I have a question. When smoking ribs, is it best to cook bone side up, or bone side down? I don't care much for the rib racks that holds them up on the side. Thanks for any advice. I KNOW we have some really good cooks on here that know the best way to do it  :)
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: teesquare on September 11, 2013, 09:26:35 PM
I cook mine mostly bone side down...But I do flip them once near the end to get some nice marks on 'em and to crisp the surface just a little bit.
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: dawrecknq on September 11, 2013, 09:31:05 PM
I cook only bone side down.
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: drholly on September 11, 2013, 09:32:23 PM
I cook only bone side down.
X2 Only bone side down - unless I do them bone side up or bone side out or in on the SRG...  ;D
Title: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: Pappymn on September 11, 2013, 09:32:53 PM
Bone down.....upper rack
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: LostArrow on September 11, 2013, 09:45:14 PM
I cook mine mostly bone side down...But I do flip them once near the end to get some nice marks on 'em and to crisp the surface just a little bit.
Me 2
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: pz on September 11, 2013, 10:23:36 PM
I start with a thick rub and bone side down.  Two hours into the smoke on the Traeger, I'll prepare aluminum foil slathered with  brown sugar and butter - then the ribs go on the foil bone up and tightly wrapped.  Into the house oven they go for a couple of hours until they almost fall off the bone.  Now unwrapped, they go back into the Traeger to set the "sauce" that formed while in the oven.

The reason I go into the house oven is because I'm cheap - saves a few pellets, which is way cheaper than electricity in my area.  :P ;D
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: deestafford on September 11, 2013, 10:40:19 PM
I cook with bone side down because I think it helps with the heat.

When I apply my rub I apply it to the bone side first and then turn it over to the meat side up.  That way the rub does not come off on the board because the concave side will be down and not touch the board.  Dee
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: sparky on September 11, 2013, 10:42:06 PM
I cook mine mostly bone side down...But I do flip them once near the end to get some nice marks on 'em and to crisp the surface just a little bit.
Me 2

me 3.   8)
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: veryolddog on September 12, 2013, 12:11:58 AM
I have done this both ways. When I cooked the meat side down, I created a bed of brown sugar and honey for it to lay in. Ribs were very good. The next time that I did this, I switched and cooked the ribs bone side down and sprinkled them with brown sugar and honey. My wife preferred this way better since the meat was falling off of the bone. They were extremely tasty and juicy this way.

So, this is what she likes and that is what we are going to try to achieve.

Ed
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: sliding_billy on September 12, 2013, 04:16:36 AM
Agree with others.  Bone side down, but if wrapping then meat down while wrapped and back to bone down at the end.
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: RAD on September 12, 2013, 06:49:09 AM
Bone down until near the end and I also like to flip a couple of times over direct heat.
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: Sam3 on September 12, 2013, 06:53:25 AM
Down.
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: TentHunteR on September 12, 2013, 08:21:10 AM
Bone side down here, including while in foil.
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: CDN Smoker on September 12, 2013, 08:59:10 AM
Bone down on the upper rack. When foiling I have done both but really not sure i see a difference.

Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: Jaxon on September 12, 2013, 09:37:41 AM
I'd rather not say.
(I'm just a backyard jack)

Just sayin'...
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: Robdnor on September 12, 2013, 09:55:01 AM
First I go bone side down, then wrap in foil with a little apple juice I go bone up, when the foil comes off I do 15min bone down, 30 min bone up, then finish with 15 min bone down, the last hour each time the smoker is open the ribs get basted with sauce... And depending on how the meat is looking, the process may be expidited
Title: Re: Ribs. Up or down?
Post by: Palmyrasteak on September 12, 2013, 05:35:22 PM
Thanks everybody! I knew this was the place to look for some great advice. Bone DOWN it is  ;) I'll let yall know how we do Saturday at the rib cook-off. Just like this site... Yall are awesome  ;D