Rib Rack - why?

Peter Creasey

I got my Raichlen rib rack. Unlike what someone else here wrote, the rib rack seems to fit fine in my large BGE, even with the plate setter.[p]A couple of questions:'[p]1) Should the rib rack normally (always?) be used with the plate setter?[p]2) If so, why is the rib rack approach any better than just having the ribs on the grate set above the plate setter?[p]. . . Pete[p]

mad max beyond eggdome

Peter Creasey,
on a large egg i can only lay two racks of ribs side by side on the grid. ..and two more on a grid extenders. ...with a rib rack i can line up as many racks as that rack will hold (6 or 8 depending on the rack). ..on the grid over inverted plate setter. ..with good airflow between each rack of ribs. ...

Eager Egger

Peter, I have a couple of rib racks, one of them is a Raichlen. These are left over from my days using a large cast iron smoker with an indirect fire box. They work fine on my Large Egg and I can get 6 or 8 slabs of ribs on at one time.
Mike

Peter Creasey

>> I can get 6 or 8 slabs of ribs on at one time. <<[p]EagerEgger, Okay, so the rib rack is handy because it allows more slabs of ribs. That makes sense.[p]Is the rib rack normally or always used with a plate setter?[p]. . . Pete[p]

dhuffjr

Peter Creasey,
I have cooked ribs in a rack direct. You need to cook them at a very low temp or you will burn the ends. I prefer to do them indirect. I've been cooking them lately 3 at a time on the grid over the platesetter. The three pack of loin backs from Sam's fits just fine. On their side you could easily do six racks.

Eager Egger

Peter, I put in the plate setter with legs up and the grill on top of it. Then thee rib racks on the grill.

Unknown

Peter Creasey,
Thanks for asking that question. I have learned something today, so I am just a little smarter than I was yesterday!!!!

Peter Creasey

>> I put in the plate setter with legs up and the grill on top of it. Then thee rib racks on the grill. <<[p]EagerEgger, Looking at the BGE CD with Kevin Rathbun grilling ribs, it looks like he does not use the plate setter. Just grills the rib rack on the grid at 250 degrees for 3 hours.[p]

Unknown

EagerEgger, I have cooked ribs for years and have never done them in the indirect mode (with the plate). I do think that 3 hours is a bit short. I'd go for 220 degrees for at least four over a nice smouldering fire. The ribs, my experience, like it low and slow.