Bend Test

trout1 · March 2015

Do you look for the ribs to bend approximately 90 degrees or 180 degrees and breaking? I am cooking SL ribs and I am not foiling. I have never been satisfied about when they are at their peak doneness. I have use a toothpick to check before and it went in easy, but they were not bending a lot. Can you help me get this right about when they are done? Thank you for any advice you can give.

fljoemon · March 2015

90 degrees is what I go by ....
http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/are_they_ready.html

jaydub58 · March 2015

I have never foiled SL spares. I just pick up the rack by one end, and if they bend down about 90 degrees, they are ready!
Good luck, don't forget pics.

Newport65 · March 2015

For what it is worth, I usually cook to about 195 IT. That temp seems to give me the right pull when biting.

bosco0633 · March 2015

I never foil ribs. I cook 250 for four hour with sides, then do a bend test. If you hit close to a 90 you are good. If not, go an other half hour. test again, if not another half then they will be done. Never more than 5 hours

I am not a huge bark guy with my ribs, so I spritz on the hour with apple juice and cider vinegar

lousubcap · March 2015

I go by the toothpick test to determine when done. I get more consistency with it than the bend test-if done then bend doesn't matter. FWIW-

trout1 · March 2015

Thanks everyone for your comments. Here are two photos of the ribs. I cooked them indirect at 275 degrees for about 4 hours and 23 minutes. I rubbed them down with mustard then put Myron Mixon Original meat rub on them. I think that these were the best yet.