Steam and smoke

Tom

Does putting ribs in foil during a cook remove the smoke flavor?[p]I was reading on another website that steaming ribs, which is basically what happens when you put em in foil, removes the smoke flavor. Is this true? I hadnt noticed.[p]Tom

Unknown

Tom,
On the cooks I have done,It does not remove the smoke flavor. I usually do a 3/1/1 method and It comes out great.

Unknown

Tom,
if you are referring to the popular 3/1/1 nethod used by several here the answer is no. The smoke taste in the meat really occurs "up front" and beyond a certain low temp the meat won't absorb more smoke taste. Granted if you kept adding wood/chips throughout the cook I suppose you could lay a heavy external smoke taste on the meat, but that gets bitter so not wise. Personally I did the 3/1/1 yesterday with baby backs and used 4 handfulls of apple chips. That was just right for me.

Unknown

kat,[p]You mention the "3/1/1 method." Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know what that is. And I did try to help myself by searching the archives, but to no avail. Just a quick explanation, please? Thanks.

The Naked Whiz

Hal,
I think you will find info on this on Tim M's site, but basically, you do the ribs for 3 hours at one temp, you do them for 1 or 1.5 hours in foil, then 1 more hour direct. Or something like that. The numbers refer to the number of hours that the ribs spend at each step. So you might also see the 3/1.5/1 method.[p]TNW

Judy Mayberry

kat,
Can you tell me how to keep adding smoking chips during a cook where there are indirect setups involved? Do you remove the bricks, plate setter, drip pan, etc. to add the chips to the lump? I've tried sprinkling them in around the sides but it's hit or miss.

Unknown

Hal, TNW answered your question, but other factors to be considered and to each his own are:
Temp - I aim for 275
frequency of flipping - I do on the hour
direct or indirect - I go indirect
drip pan dry or with liquid - I go wet with 50/50 apple juice and water
BBQ sauce or not - I serve as a side as I enjoy the taste of the chosen rub