First try at Baby Backs

[Smokerjunky]

What a great day!  Then again any day spent on the smoker is a great day!  My Daughter came home from college for the weekend and wanted baby back ribs.  I fired up the smoker at 11:30 this morning and started prepping.  Normally I would have put the rub on the night before but this was a last minute request.  Anyway I washed them, peeled the membrane and rubbed 'em down.  I smoked with Mesquite pellets for 3 hours at 180 and then cranked up to 235 for the remainder of the cook.  8 hours total cook time.  The cook was perfect, they were tender and not dried out (I mopped them twice with a North Carolina Vinegar Sauce recipe courtesy of Steven Raichlin).  My only complaint is that I bought a new pork rub from Costco and it was super salty.  I read the ingredient list AFTER dinner and the number one ingredient was salt.  Other than the salt content they were great.  Next time I will go back to my own rub and use less of it.  I certainly went overboard with the rub.

All-in-all I learned a ton today and am positive the next rib cook will be much better.  The good news is the overall cook and smokiness was perfect.

Also need to stop taking photos with the iPhone - not great shots but you'll get the idea.

[sparky]

your 1st try at ribs on you new grill looks great.  8 hours to cook your ribs?  try 275° next time for 3 1/2 - 4 hours.  mesquite it really strong.  i only use it for beef.  do you have some apple.  ribs love apple wood.  great cook partner.   

[Smokin Don]

Great looking ribs SJ!!! You did good on the ribs and the photos aren't too shabby either! Don

[Smokerjunky]

your 1st try at ribs on you new grill look great.  8 hours to cook your ribs?  try 275° next time for 3 1/2 - 4 hours.  mesquite it really strong.  i only use it for beef.  do you have some apple.  ribs love apple wood.  great cook partner.   

Hi Sparky!  I do have apple but I am saving it for the 21 pounds of pork butt tomorrow so I used the Mesquite tonight.    We will see how the butts turn out tomorrow.  I liked the smoke flavor in them but would move to apple for the next try and lighten up on the rub.

Thanks for the tips and feedback!   

[Las Vegan Cajun]

Those ribs look great.   

[drholly]

your 1st try at ribs on you new grill look great.  8 hours to cook your ribs?  try 275° next time for 3 1/2 - 4 hours.  mesquite it really strong.  i only use it for beef.  do you have some apple.  ribs love apple wood.  great cook partner.   

Hi Sparky!  I do have apple but I am saving it for the 21 pounds of pork butt tomorrow so I used the Mesquite tonight.    We will see how the butts turn out tomorrow.  I liked the smoke flavor in them but would move to apple for the next try and lighten up on the rub.

Thanks for the tips and feedback!   

Nice looking ribs. Sparky is the rib whisperer - I always try his suggestions and tips.

[muebe]

Most commercially made rubs are heavy on the salt! I just used some rub from a major restaurant chain out here in California and it has more salt than seasoned salt

You ribs look really good!

But if your ribs took 8 hours how long are your pork butts going to take?

Listen to Sparky he is very "rib wise"

[Pappymn]

Nice looking bones!

I saw that rub at Costco too. Passed on it when I saw the first ingredient. Pretty sure I learned that tip hanging around here with the other delinquents.

8 hours?

[Smokerjunky]

I hear Y'all on the 8 hour part    it was really by design that it took that long. I did the first 3 at 180 degrees hoping to get some good smoke flavor then ran them at 235. I put the sauce on when they hit 195 internal temp and left for 10 mins (I don't like caramelized BBQ sauce).  They were super tender and we're not dry and had not shrunk off the bone.

Next time I will try the 275 and shorter cooking time for sure.

Just one of the things I love about this forum is the feedback!

Thanks everyone

[sliding_billy]

Nice work on those bones.

[RAD]

I don't care how long they took, just call me when they are done. 

[Las Vegan Cajun]

I don't care how long they took, just call me when they are done. 

X2 

[spuds]

Those ribs look great.   

Agreed,very nice job.

[CDN Smoker]

Good looking ribs