Butcher paper and Ribs

Teefus · January 2018

The last couple times I've done loin ribs they turned out drier than I'd like. I've foil wrapped in the past to prevent this but almost went too far in the other direction (I like tender, but you could spread them on toast). Have any of y'all tried butcher paper wrapping? I've used this to great success with Brisket but never with Pork Ribs.

bikesAndBBQ · January 2018

About how long and what temperature were they on when you didn’t wrap and thought they were too dry? I never wrap pork ribs (or anything really) and never had them be too dry.

thetrim · January 2018

Aaron says "No" wrap on the ribs.

danguba78 · January 2018

I usually get my ribs from a Costco, and they are really meaty on the meaty end. The past few times the lean ends were dried out (I’m a dry rub, no sauce guy), so I decided to try wrapping with butcher paper for an hour. They turned out just the way I like them—-tender, not mushy, clean bite from the bone.

Hans61 · January 2018

Last two rib cooks I’ve used butcher paper it doesn’t tenderize as fast as foil I really have liked the results and will continue using it on ribs

tjv · January 2018

unlike foil, you can adjust the paper's breath-ability by how many folds you go. more folds, more like foil.......

t

SoCalTim · January 2018

Teefus said:

The last couple times I've done loin ribs they turned out drier than I'd like. I've foil wrapped in the past to prevent this but almost went too far in the other direction (I like tender, but you could spread them on toast). Have any of y'all tried butcher paper wrapping? I've used this to great success with Brisket but never with Pork Ribs.

Drier? Can you possible post your rib technique. Are you buying your ribs from the same market or ?

dmourati · January 2018

I have done six racks of pork spare ribs so far. This is what I learned:

Keep your fire under control. I started out doing 3-2-1 cooks.

The first 3 hour section is just about smokey flavor and color. Try to keep the temp under 250F. I tried pecan wood the most recent cook and it was really nice.

If you are going to wrap in foil or paper, do so but cut the time in half. So in a 3-2-1, check at 30 minutes. If you add any liquid or fats to the packet, save these as you take the ribs out of the wrap.

The last section is about bringing it home and getting exactly the texture and tenderness you like. You can mix it up here and offer more than one style. I use the toothpick test every 20 minutes. I have had the last section last over an hour waiting on tenderness.

Teefus · January 2018

SoCalTim said:

Teefus said:

The last couple times I've done loin ribs they turned out drier than I'd like. I've foil wrapped in the past to prevent this but almost went too far in the other direction (I like tender, but you could spread them on toast). Have any of y'all tried butcher paper wrapping? I've used this to great success with Brisket but never with Pork Ribs.

Drier? Can you possible post your rib technique. Are you buying your ribs from the same market or ?

My ribs have been coming from Costco or my local grocer. I've tried a number of time temp combinations and am trying to dial in "competition style" results with a moist rib that has a tender bark and nice soft bite but doesn't fall off the bone. So far I've tried:

325* for about 6 hours on the grille, spraying with cider periodically. Good but a little dry.
3-2-1 at 225*. Spread it on toast. Just pull the bones out and eat it with a fork.
3 hour turbo style at 325* Good tooth but dry bark.

Don't get me wrong. I've yet to cook a bad rack of ribs. All have been very tasty. and there are never any leftovers. I'm trying to zero in on the bulls eye.

I think I'll give the paper a try this weekend and see how it works out.

pgprescott · January 2018

I struggle getting the bark as dry as i like occasionally. I like it to dry them up a bit then mop or spritz a couple times in the last hour for the color and shellacked look i like. I use a mop with vinegar base and some sugars.

dmourati · January 2018

Tell me more about the 3-2-1. What did you put on it at 2? Just try backing off the time in wrap (which would have a similar effect to your proposed butcher paper, all else equal).

SoCalTim · January 2018

Teefus said:

SoCalTim said:

Teefus said:

The last couple times I've done loin ribs they turned out drier than I'd like. I've foil wrapped in the past to prevent this but almost went too far in the other direction (I like tender, but you could spread them on toast). Have any of y'all tried butcher paper wrapping? I've used this to great success with Brisket but never with Pork Ribs.

Drier? Can you possible post your rib technique. Are you buying your ribs from the same market or ?

My ribs have been coming from Costco or my local grocer. I've tried a number of time temp combinations and am trying to dial in "competition style" results with a moist rib that has a tender bark and nice soft bite but doesn't fall off the bone. So far I've tried:
325* for about 6 hours on the grille, spraying with cider periodically. Good but a little dry.
3-2-1 at 225*. Spread it on toast. Just pull the bones out and eat it with a fork.
3 hour turbo style at 325* Good tooth but dry bark.
Don't get me wrong. I've yet to cook a bad rack of ribs. All have been very tasty. and there are never any leftovers. I'm trying to zero in on the bulls eye.

I think I'll give the paper a try this weekend and see how it works out.

It's my opinion that 225 is too low to get a proper bark formation. Myself, I'm a 275 guy - straight thru, no spritz, no lifting dome, no wrapping. IMO, 275 allows the bark to form perfectly (Aaron Franklin does his at this temp) I start checking my ribs @ with 'the bend test' after 3.5 hrs to about 4 hrs.

Teefus · January 2018

dmourati said:

Tell me more about the 3-2-1. What did you put on it at 2? Just try backing off the time in wrap (which would have a similar effect to your proposed butcher paper, all else equal).

I wrapped in foil with a little sauce and a little cider.

dmourati · January 2018

It makes sense how you got to the texture you did in the 3-2-1 attempt. How did they look after 2?

Teefus · January 2018

SoCalTim said:

Teefus said:

The last couple times I've done loin ribs they turned out drier than I'd like. I've foil wrapped in the past to prevent this but almost went too far in the other direction (I like tender, but you could spread them on toast). Have any of y'all tried butcher paper wrapping? I've used this to great success with Brisket but never with Pork Ribs.

Drier? Can you possible post your rib technique. Are you buying your ribs from the same market or ?

My ribs have been coming from Costco or my local grocer. I've tried a number of time temp combinations and am trying to dial in "competition style" results with a moist rib that has a tender bark and nice soft bite but doesn't fall off the bone. So far I've tried:
325* for about 6 hours on the grille, spraying with cider periodically. Good but a little dry.
3-2-1 at 225*. Spread it on toast. Just pull the bones out and eat it with a fork.
3 hour turbo style at 325* Good tooth but dry bark.
Don't get me wrong. I've yet to cook a bad rack of ribs. All have been very tasty. and there are never any leftovers. I'm trying to zero in on the bulls eye.

I think I'll give the paper a try this weekend and see how it works out.

Oops. Typo. This (above) should have set 225* for 6 hours.

Teefus · February 2018

Follow up.

Did two two racks of loin ribs this afternoon.

3 hours at 225* on Rockwood lump and pecan chunks.
2 hours stacked and double wrapped in butcher paper with brown sugar and sauce.
30 minutes unwrapped to set the glaze.

Awesome.. nice bite, juicy, tender, flavorful. Not mushy.

No more foil foil for me.

dmourati · February 2018

Nice.

bucky925 · February 2018

I'm trying not to sound condensing RELLY! You have all or most read that I just can't nail wangs on the egg. But ribs are (for me) the easiest cook there is. I was very worried, reading all the rib posts when I got my egg. I threw on a rack or two with whatever rub and tried to keep the temp in control. I don't chase the temp, if it's too hot they will be done early, if not later. No foil, no butcher paper, just wait for the toothpick probe. They may not measure up to some's but I will not order ribs (or steak) when going out to eat anymore. I think it's just over thinking a easy smoke.

pgprescott · February 2018

bucky925 said:

I'm trying not to sound condensing RELLY! You have all or most read that I just can't nail wangs on the egg. But ribs are (for me) the easiest cook there is. I was very worried, reading all the rib posts when I got my egg. I threw on a rack or two with whatever rub and tried to keep the temp in control. I don't chase the temp, if it's too hot they will be done early, if not later. No foil, no butcher paper, just wait for the toothpick probe. They may not measure up to some's but I will not order ribs (or steak) when going out to eat anymore. I think it's just over thinking a easy smoke.

Depends on your method I think. For those who use a more complex method in order to achieve more complex flavor results, the windows can be pretty narrow. Ribs in foil can go from
perfect to overdone in a couple minutes. I keep it simple too. Mostly cuz I’m lazy. I’ve done it many ways and the simple lazy way gives me the most consistently good results. Having said that my ribs are pretty good but pale in comparison to some I’ve had done by other methods.

Teefus · February 2018

bucky925 said:

I'm trying not to sound condensing RELLY! You have all or most read that I just can't nail wangs on the egg. But ribs are (for me) the easiest cook there is. I was very worried, reading all the rib posts when I got my egg. I threw on a rack or two with whatever rub and tried to keep the temp in control. I don't chase the temp, if it's too hot they will be done early, if not later. No foil, no butcher paper, just wait for the toothpick probe. They may not measure up to some's but I will not order ribs (or steak) when going out to eat anymore. I think it's just over thinking a easy smoke.

No worries. I always thought ribs were easy too. Just apply a rub, cook them low and slow until they're falling apart, and apply a sauce glaze at the end. I've done dozens of slabs that way and they were all delicious. I decided to go a little different direction. Rather than sliding the bones out and eating the rib meat with a fork, I wanted to retain some firmness to the meat so I could cut individual ribs for serving. Mission accomplished. I still need to tweak the cook a little though. I'll add more pecan chunks (or maybe hickory) on the front end to get a stronger smoke flavor next time.

pgprescott · February 2018

Teefus said:

bucky925 said:

I'm trying not to sound condensing RELLY! You have all or most read that I just can't nail wangs on the egg. But ribs are (for me) the easiest cook there is. I was very worried, reading all the rib posts when I got my egg. I threw on a rack or two with whatever rub and tried to keep the temp in control. I don't chase the temp, if it's too hot they will be done early, if not later. No foil, no butcher paper, just wait for the toothpick probe. They may not measure up to some's but I will not order ribs (or steak) when going out to eat anymore. I think it's just over thinking a easy smoke.

No worries. I always thought ribs were easy too. Just apply a rub, cook them low and slow until they're falling apart, and apply a sauce glaze at the end. I've done dozens of slabs that way and they were all delicious. I decided to go a little different direction. Rather than sliding the bones out and eating the rib meat with a fork, I wanted to retain some firmness to the meat so I could cut individual ribs for serving. Mission accomplished. I still need to tweak the cook a little though. I'll add more pecan chunks (or maybe hickory) on the front end to get a stronger smoke flavor next time.

Hickory is bolder than pecan. Similar flavor.

Teefus · February 2018

pgprescott said:

Teefus said:

bucky925 said:

I'm trying not to sound condensing RELLY! You have all or most read that I just can't nail wangs on the egg. But ribs are (for me) the easiest cook there is. I was very worried, reading all the rib posts when I got my egg. I threw on a rack or two with whatever rub and tried to keep the temp in control. I don't chase the temp, if it's too hot they will be done early, if not later. No foil, no butcher paper, just wait for the toothpick probe. They may not measure up to some's but I will not order ribs (or steak) when going out to eat anymore. I think it's just over thinking a easy smoke.

No worries. I always thought ribs were easy too. Just apply a rub, cook them low and slow until they're falling apart, and apply a sauce glaze at the end. I've done dozens of slabs that way and they were all delicious. I decided to go a little different direction. Rather than sliding the bones out and eating the rib meat with a fork, I wanted to retain some firmness to the meat so I could cut individual ribs for serving. Mission accomplished. I still need to tweak the cook a little though. I'll add more pecan chunks (or maybe hickory) on the front end to get a stronger smoke flavor next time.

Hickory is bolder than pecan. Similar flavor.

Yup. Hoping to add a little bolder smoke punch.

Butcher paper and Ribs

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