Saturday ribs a disappointment

lentsboy007

Well I decided randomly yesterday that I wanted ribs.  Too late to go to the butcher shop so had to go to Walmart . Took out of package and were kinda funky , Walmart shrink wrapped pork always seems to smell that way .  Smoked at 225-250 uncovered for 3.5 hours , wrapped in foil with apple cider vinegar mixed with brown sugar , then uncovered after brushing with sauce for about 30 minutes.  Were very tender , but just not very tasty . Has to be the Walmart meat but just no choice. Won’t make that mistake again . 

lkapigian

Looks good from here my friend...not much pull back but if they were tender, sounds done ....

GregW

Sorry for your disappointment.

Please be aware, for future reference, the pork at Walmart generally has a tenderizing solution added. When you see "Tender" on the label, look for the added solution listed on the label.

It certainly makes it tender, but it does nothing for the taste. To me, it adds an unpleasant ham like flavor and texture to the meat.

I have bought ribs at Walmart in the past, and they had the funky smell. Against my better judgment, I went ahead and cooked them.

When they finished cooking, they still had the bad smell. I threw out 3 slabs of St Louis ribs. I may get bad ribs again in the future, but they won't be from Walmart. I'm done with Walmart for meat.

Unless you have a compelling reason to shop for meat at Walmart, you will be well served by shopping elsewhere for your meat.

RRP

Never have had ribs from Wally World, but most times I buy my ribs from Kroger. I hate to admit this on this forum, but my ribs sometimes are great, but others so-so. Seeing that I egg them them practically the same way time after time I have decided it must be the meat itself - you know you can't shine sh*t.

pgprescott

I’m no big fan of Walmart, but they also carry Smithfield ribs which I think are top notch. The Tyson brand are “premartinated”. I have cooked the Tyson brand stl cut before and thought they were ok. With your combination of rub, wrap ingredients and possibly a sauce, you can shine them up a bit. Can’t make real bad good, but can make ok pretty good. I usually have 3-4 times as much liquid in my wrap when done. I toothpick them but also temp them. 203-207 is perfect. 

Try the Smithfield brand next time if you can.  

GregW

RRP said:

Never have had ribs from Wally World, but most times I buy my ribs from Kroger. I hate to admit this on this forum, but my ribs sometimes are great, but others so-so. Seeing that I egg them them practically the same way time after time I have decided it must be the meat itself - you know you can't shine sh*t.

The ribs I have been buying lately are Prairie Fresh Natural. I get the baby backs.

They are outstanding. The trouble is, when the store I buy them from places a order for baby backs, and the warehouse sends whatever they have in stock. Sometimes it's a brand of inferior quality.

https://prairiefresh.seaboardfoods.com/products/Pages/Prairie_Fresh_Products_Overview_Consumer.aspx

The Natural ribs are minimally processed and contain no artificial additives.

They also are certified by the USDA.

https://seaboardfoods.com/About/Pages/USDA_Process_Verified.aspx

If you can find the Prairie Fresh Natural they are worth buying. They are cut very uniformly and tender.

OhioEgger

RRP said:

Never have had ribs from Wally World, but most times I buy my ribs from Kroger. I hate to admit this on this forum, but my ribs sometimes are great, but others so-so.

Same here, and I don't really know why Kroger ribs (normally Smithfield) are so inconsistent. But I've very consistently had great ribs from Aldi, and they are always the first place I go these days. If I can't get them there, I'll look at Kroger.

pgprescott

OhioEgger said:

RRP said:

Never have had ribs from Wally World, but most times I buy my ribs from Kroger. I hate to admit this on this forum, but my ribs sometimes are great, but others so-so.

Same here, and I don't really know why Kroger ribs (normally Smithfield) are so inconsistent. But I've very consistently had great ribs from Aldi, and they are always the first place I go these days. If I can't get them there, I'll look at Kroger.

I don’t think my Kroger carries Smithfield. That’s where we do 90% of our shopping. I did see them at a County Market last week. I guess I’ll keep an eye out. My Kroger has darn good BB’s, but if I want Stl cut I have to buy a slab of spares and cut them. I’m gonna check out the Aldi this week. I keep hearing good things about the Aldi ribs. 

Matt86m

Something is clicking here. I buy ribs from Costco usually and the last package didn't come out like they usually do. Weren't tender even after 6.5 hours of a typical 3,2,1 (that I typically cut down a bit cause i don't like them fall off the bone). 
Haven't tries ribs from Walmart, have a Sams (which is the same thing only different) so Ill look for the Smithfield.

llrickman

this thread has me thinking where should I be buying ribs from in Albuquerque. I have a smiths (Kroger) which hasn't impressed me , Albertsons who thinks they are selling so kind of competition meat from what they charge and Walmart 

I have a few butcher shops around but they are astronomical priced usually 

I have never order any thing from SRF but thinking I need to bite the bullet and give it a shot.  at least I know I'm getting quality there I suppose 

have both Sams and Costco memberships also never tried Costco ribs. Sams usually is about the best I've found here 

MNEggerandStuff

when I first got my egg I purchased some ribs packaged like that at the local grocery store and they came out tasting like ham.  turns out they have a "solution" that is up to like 10 - 15% of it that basically cures the meat when you low and slow cook it.  It was very disappointing.  maybe that is what you ran into.

lentsboy007

MNEggerandStuff said:

when I first got my egg I purchased some ribs packaged like that at the local grocery store and they came out tasting like ham.  turns out they have a "solution" that is up to like 10 - 15% of it that basically cures the meat when you low and slow cook it.  It was very disappointing.  maybe that is what you ran into.

Yes ! Ham like flavor , and when take out of the package they were nasty smelling, which they usually seem to . 

THEBuckeye

You lost them at cryovac.

Elijah

Had a horrible experience with Walmart and chicken wings. I won't go into the details, but I will never buy meat from Walmart again. 

MNEggerandStuff

Anything vacuum packed with solution added has done that for me.  It must say natural juices only or go to a real butcher shop.  U paid a lot for the equipment, don't skimp on the stuff you will actually eat from it.

It won't be your last mistake 😉 I'm always learning and sometimes things just don't work out.  Sometimes you can figure out why, other times it remains a mystery.