rubs before vacuum packing ribs

[fishingbouchman]

Have you, can you, should you?   Vacuum sealing some ribs and wonder if I can rub them down first or will it hurt them in the long run?   Thx.

[smokeasaurus]

Well, I can't speak for the vacuum sealing part, but I do have some pre-seasoned ribs and poke butts in the freezer just waiting to be thawed out.......they always come out good......

[sliding_billy]

If there is a high salt content in the rub, you may end up with "hammy" tasting ribs (it will be curing them).

[tlg4942]

 I'm with Smoke. I have seasoned and frozen pork and chicken with good results. 
 Coarse now that the salt cure thing has been mentioned my next set of  ribs may come out jerked....

[fishingbouchman]

Well I rubbed one and left the other all natural. Maybe a taste test next rub cook. Thanks.

[Sailor1]

Never vac sealed ribs....however I have rubbed down Butts and vac sealed and put in the fridge for a few days.  To tell the truth I really can't tell any difference in the flavor between meat that is put on the smoker freshly rubbed down and those that have been rubbed  and vac sealed for a few day.  But then again my taste buds may be shot from all of the hot peppers that I eat 

[fishingbouchman]

Never vac sealed ribs....however I have rubbed down Butts and vac sealed and put in the fridge for a few days.  To tell the truth I really can't tell any difference in the flavor between meat that is put on the smoker freshly rubbed down and those that have been rubbed  and vac sealed for a few day.  But then again my taste buds may be shot from all of the hot peppers that I eat 

I have not done many meats that I have rubbed down in advanced  I am usually rub and put it on type of guy.  But I can't tell much difference my self. 

[tlg4942]

Well I rubbed one and left the other all natural. Maybe a taste test next rub cook. Thanks.

Great Idea! KEEP US POSTED..

[HighOnSmoke]

Yes, please let us know how your test goes. I haven't tried that either.

[fishingbouchman]

How long should I freeze before I cook?  If they were in sparky's freezer they would have been cooked already but how long will the average guy freeze before getting to them.  Thinking a month?  Is that too long? 

[tlg4942]

  Maybe sooner since it's not going to do much while frozen. If it does anything I would think its during the sealing and then thawing time.
 We talked a long time ago about freezing in a brine . I think the ice forming breaks the fibers of the meat tenderizing a bit.
 I think the best thing here will be that their ready to go when you thaw them though.
Looking forward to your results.

[muebe]

I have not sealed ribs but I have seasoned, vac sealed, and frozen many other meats. The results are always good. As others stated when the seasoned frozen meat thaws this causes moisture to release into the vac bag. Then the moisture mixes with the seasoning creating a sort of surface brine.