First cook! Ribs

[jmhobbs]

Just started my first smoke after seasoning, a lonely rack of St. Louis cut ribs.

Going to hard not to peek, wish me luck!

 

[Grampy]

Good choice! St. Louis spares are one of my favorites!

 

[drains]

Looking good so far. It will be worth the wait.

 

[jmhobbs]

They came out amazing! So happy!

 

[barelfly]

Gotta love some ribs from the SI!!!

 

[SconnieQ]

They look great! You don't need the drip pan on the rack below the ribs. Just cover the top of the wood box with foil. A drip pan on a rack can sometimes interfere with smoke/heat circulation. It looks like there is some space around it, so maybe it's okay. I'm not sure. I don't have a #3. I defer to the other #3 owners here. Unless you are using that as your water pan. A water pan should actually be on the floor of the smoker, snugged up against the side of the wood box. A disposable bread pan works nicely.

 

[NDKoze]

They look great! You don't need the drip pan on the rack below the ribs. Just cover the top of the wood box with foil. A drip pan on a rack can sometimes interfere with smoke/heat circulation. It looks like there is some space around it, so maybe it's okay. I'm not sure. I don't have a #3. I defer to the other #3 owners here. Unless you are using that as your water pan. A water pan should actually be on the floor of the smoker, snugged up against the side of the wood box. A disposable bread pan works nicely.

Kari is right on. Outside of the Smokin-It #4 that has so much vertical space, I would not use a drip pan for anything. Add a disposable mini loaf pan filled with your liquid of choice (preferably prewarmed) and place on the floor of the smoker rested right up against the smoke box at its hottest point.

If you have not discovered your hot/cold spots, it may be worth your while. All smokers have hot and cold spots front to back in their smoke box. I think most find that their hot spot is toward the back of their smoke box and cold spot toward the front with medium temp in the middle. But, I have heard of others that are different.

 

[BedouinBob]

Looks good John! How did they taste? We're into full disclosure here...  8)

 

[ibbones]

Did you peek?  It's really hard not to, isn't it? 8)

 

[jmhobbs]

It was actually my water pan, I didn't have anything disposable that was smaller, I'll definitely pick up some loaf pans for the future.

They tasted great, it was a new rub and glaze for me from "Project Smoke". The glaze had a touch of vanilla which I really liked. The ribs had just enough chew too.

It does seem like the hotter spots are towards the back, got more pull back on that end.

And I successfully didn't peek!

 

[Jumanji]

Man, those look great.  Good catch on noting the hotter areas via the more pullback on the ribs.  For the veteran smokers, is there anything you do about that?  Not sure you would want to open the smoker and swap the rack end-for-end during mid smoke?

 

[TexasSMK]

Had Ribs yesterday--one of my favorites.  Great job!

 

[SconnieQ]

Man, those look great.  Good catch on noting the hotter areas via the more pullback on the ribs.  For the veteran smokers, is there anything you do about that?  Not sure you would want to open the smoker and swap the rack end-for-end during mid smoke?

I don't think there is any reason to rotate racks end-for-end. The temp difference is not that great. Ribs are very forgiving. Position the thicker end of the ribs toward the back. I don't even think there is any reason to rotate racks top to bottom. Even with my #1. I just put the thicker ribs on the rack below the thinner ribs.

 

[NDKoze]

Man, those look great.  Good catch on noting the hotter areas via the more pullback on the ribs.  For the veteran smokers, is there anything you do about that?  Not sure you would want to open the smoker and swap the rack end-for-end during mid smoke?

I don't think there is any reason to rotate racks end-for-end. The temp difference is not that great. Ribs are very forgiving. Position the thicker end of the ribs toward the back. I don't even think there is any reason to rotate racks top to bottom. Even with my #1. I just put the thicker ribs on the rack below the thinner ribs.

+1 Assuming that your hotspot is in the back of your smoker. I know mine is and I think most are, but I have seen some that say that their hot spot is in the front.