Membrane removal-baby backs

Unknown · September 2005

Newbie to the egg here - need some assistance before attempting first meal.[p]I've had on and off luck with the removal of the membrane from baby back ribs. Seems that one rack the membrance just flies off, and the next I work at it until I start uttering naughty words!! It just doesn't come off the same on each rack.[p]Any help here? What's the trick?

Mark Backer · September 2005

Curt,[p]If you're not doing it for a competition, I have found that cutting the slabs in half and then pulling the membrane from the cut back to the end is really easy...[p]otherwise, you must achieve membrane zen and become one with the ribs. You cannot think about the job of removing the membrane. Your mind must be blank.

Borders · September 2005

Curt, sometimes the butcher removes the membrane and you think you are working with a membrane and its just remaining tissue. That stuff wont come off.[p]Otherwise, if the membrane is really there, I use a butter knife and start on a rib bone, right at the edge and try and slide the knife under the membrane. Once the knife is in about an inch, you can use your finger to do it without ripping the membrane. If it rips, just try another rib.

TRex · September 2005

<p />Curt,[p]I'm like you - I have luck some time and get the whole piece to come off very nicely, other times I feel like I'm peeling the plastic wrapper off an old Jolly Rancher. Like Backer said, I also cut mine in half and that helps by giving you a place to start. This also may sound gross by I remembered back in high school when we dissected a cat and we had to cut back the fat layer to get to the muscle and we used a really sharp knife and just kind of "whittled" each individual layer back - that's kind of what I do with the membrane on one end, until I have enough peeled back that I can get a good grip.[p]Don't know if any of this helps - do let me know if you discover the Zen of Membrane Removal.[p]TRex

mad max beyond eggdome · September 2005

TRex,
grabbing it with a piece of paper towel makes it so much easier, as for some reason paper towel will give you a great grip on the membrane, rather than having it slide in your fingers. ...HTH

Smoked Signals · September 2005

Curt,
Really cold ribs ... the colder the better. Just above freezing. I just knick them with the knife and pull with a paper towel. [p]Doug

GrillMeister · September 2005

Curt,[p]Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard. Just like stripping wallpaper.[p]I'm an expert now after the last 4 days.[p]Now where's those ribs....

The Pork Jesters · September 2005

Curt,[p]roll the ribs with the inside to the outside. it will stretch the membrand and allow you to pull it all off in one motion. [p]Odis

Hammer · September 2005

Curt,
Go to your local Wally world and purchase some fish skinners; cost you a couple of bucks and pull the membrane off. No fuss; no cuss; just a clean slab of ribs.
Hammer

The Pork Jesters · September 2005

The Pork Jesters ,
I forgot to mention that I don't use paper towels or any other gripping tool when I do this. Losening the membrane is all you need to do. [p]Odis

Moldy Coyote · September 2005

Odis ,[p]The Pro's know all the tricks, and how to make it look easy!
Just tried your suggestion on some ribs for tomorrow. Worked like a charm! A tip of the Stetson, and a large Thanks![p]David

fishlessman · September 2005

Hammer,
do they grip well enough for beef ribs. the last flat ribs i bought were the worst ive ever seen for removing the membrane. i dont have much problem with pork, but the beef ribs need some assistance

The Pork Jesters · September 2005

Moldy Coyote,
Glad it worked for you. Some old pro taught me that, can't remember who. Makes me want to cook more ribs. [p]ODis

Hammer · September 2005

fishlessman,
Never tried them on beef ribs, but don't know why they wouldn't work. Tried them on a lot of things, and they have never failed yet.
Hammer

Membrane removal-baby backs

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