9 racks of Ribs in the 3D

[PNW Smoker]

Am I crazy for attempting to do this in the 3D? I have 6 racks of the baby backs and 3 racks of the St. Louis sitting in the fridge ready to go. I was going to try and do them all in the smoker for a big dinner we are doing tonight. I think I can get 8 rib racks in comfortably without out the ribs touching each other but one shelf will likely have 3 on it.

Has anyone done this many and is there much change to the guidelines posted in the "no-peek" ribs?

Should I just do 8 racks in the 3D and then one wimp out rack in the oven?

 

[Walt]

I have done 9 racks in the #2 with no issues. You should rotate top & bottom racks halfway through

 

[PNW Smoker]

In at 1130. Here we go...

 

[jcboxlot]

Nah it will work!  At least with the 3 you didn't have to cut the slabs!


One thing to consider when upgrading from a 2 to 3

 

[PNW Smoker]

Opened the door at exactly the 5hr mark and kooky what I found... I couldn't resist I had to cut open one of the St. Louis ribs just to see. Then I wrapped them and let them rest for about 30min in the cooler.

 

[gregbooras]

Nice job, they look excellent.

Greg

 

[DivotMaker]

Looks great!  I find 5 hours a little light on time, for spares, but OK for the back ribs.  Were they tender?

 

[Greenenvey]

I was kinda surprised with the 5 hour time as well, I cooked some spareribs last week for 7 hours and thought they could have went a little longer.

 

[NDKoze]

I smoked 3 racks of St Louis on Sunday for Father's Day and mine went 7 hours for the way I like them.

 

[jcboxlot]

Ok, I wasn't the only one thinking that last night!  Each his own, but 5 for spares is....................light for me.

 

[Pork Belly]

They look good, I would have rotated the racks, front to back and top to bottom half way through. That way you insure even cooking.

 

[PNW Smoker]

I let them rest for a little longer than the 30 min more like 1hr15min. Ran the #3D smoker at 235. They didn't fall right off the bone but with just a little pressure the meat came right off. They were definitely tender. I was thinking they were going to need more time but i tried one of the spare ribs as it sat in the smoker and it was delicious and tender and cooked. We had 4 families there and no one complained and of course they all said they were the best .

 

[DivotMaker]

That's what counts, Andrew!  Nice job, Sir! 8)