Weber Kettle Club Forums

Cooking & Food Talk => Charcoal Grilling & BBQ => Topic started by: BBQFiend on February 01, 2016, 06:54:02 AM

Title: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: BBQFiend on February 01, 2016, 06:54:02 AM
I was thinking about doing the 3-2-1 style ribs next weekend. A buddy told me don't even bother cooking the ribs for 3hrs in the beginning. For him the better recipe is more like a 2-2-1. My next question is there seems to be some debate over whether or not to add apple juice during the foil cooking part. Some say it makes the ribs more juicy while others say it doesn't really help that much. I wanted to ask the folks here to get their opinion.
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: MikeRocksTheRed on February 01, 2016, 06:59:30 AM
I usually do 2 hours smoking (225-250), 2 hours wrapped (225-250) with a splash of whatever beer I'm drinking, then a quick mopping of sauce over high heat to finish.  I've never had them come out bad this way.  I've also never had to take a temp when doing it this way.  I've tried a few cooks recently without wrapping and it usually takes a full 6 hours and requires several lift tests for me to determine if they are done or not.  Will probably be going back to my 2hour-2hour-15minute method.  It's probably more of a 2-2.5-15 method since it takes a little while once the wrapped ribs are removed to get the coals moved around to a indirect/direct setup (coals on one side of the kettle) and then let them get cranking.
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: BBQFiend on February 01, 2016, 07:42:43 AM
Thanks Mike, That is the exact type of info I'm looking for. Do you have any tips on grilling corn? In the husk or out....
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: TheDude on February 01, 2016, 08:21:52 AM
For corn I pull the husks back, remove the silks and put the husks back. Soak in ice water to pull out the sugars. Grill direct till outside husks are charred.
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: MacEggs on February 01, 2016, 08:34:15 AM
Ribs - Juice or No Juice?

How about this … No foil … at all.  It's real easy, and you might be pleased with the outcome.  YMMV


Do you have any tips on grilling corn?

I started doing this last summer … I prefer Method 3 …. grilling naked (http://www.seriouseats.com/2013/07/the-food-lab-three-ways-to-grill-corn.html).  Delicious!
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: glrasmussen on February 01, 2016, 08:40:03 AM
I was thinking about doing the 3-2-1 style ribs next weekend. A buddy told me don't even bother cooking the ribs for 3hrs in the beginning. For him the better recipe is more like a 2-2-1. My next question is there seems to be some debate over whether or not to add apple juice during the foil cooking part. Some say it makes the ribs more juicy while others say it doesn't really help that much. I wanted to ask the folks here to get their opinion.

Corn, I char on all sides and do not soak. Have a Playmate cooler on hand, When charred, put corn in cooler and let is steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
I actually go longer, as I cook this before my meat. You will be amazed how it peels, silk will completely come off.

If you up to a new way of cooking ribs, may I suggest a High Heat indirect cook. It is the bomb and only way my family will eat them now.
1 hour one, look for some pull back, one hour crutched with some brazing liquid. Our of the crutch, direct heat to dry off a bit(both sides). Back
in the crutch to rest for 15 minutes. We prefer dry, but you can put back on after the rest, indirect, mop and look for you desired glaze.
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: LightningBoldtz on February 01, 2016, 09:44:11 AM
Ribs - Juice or No Juice?

How about this … No foil … at all.  It's real easy, and you might be pleased with the outcome.  YMMV


Do you have any tips on grilling corn?

I started doing this last summer … I prefer Method 3 …. grilling naked (http://www.seriouseats.com/2013/07/the-food-lab-three-ways-to-grill-corn.html).  Delicious!

Last set of baby backs that I did was 3.5 hours @ 250 no foil they were awesome.....
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: 1buckie on February 01, 2016, 10:00:28 AM
You can wrap if you'd like....it's kind of a lot of work in a way......it might be an idea to just try them flat out, rubbed w/ a little smoke so you get the hang of fire management, then start adding in extra processes like foiling, mopping, etc.

Here's Father's Day ribs a couple years ago.....

Bean pan ready:

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013001.jpg)

Charcoal set, basically:

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013003.jpg)

Just rotate the grate around a couple times while it's cooking, you'll either be over unburnt coals or ones that have burned & are dying out, so there's little risk of charring......

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013002.jpg)

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013007.jpg)

I put a therm right next to them, at Meat Level (<< Technical Term)so any time you open there's a quick check available......just watch for the pig juice to bubble up & melt the rub.....you can spritz w/ apple juice / cider vinegar combo to add a bit of surface moisture, won't hurt....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013012.jpg)


I go 260~275, 225 may tend to take so long that they dry out.....look for a good bend late in the game....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013004.jpg)

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013011.jpg)

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013014.jpg)

Juicy stuff.....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013025.jpg)




Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: 1911Ron on February 01, 2016, 12:48:56 PM
I used to wrap with brown sugar, peach nectar and honey and they were good, one day I got lazy and did not wrap, spritz or sauce just the bend and done, I like the results better.

You will find a range of ways to do it (3-2-1, 2-2-1 wrap don't wrap....etc.) only way to tell which you and your family and friends like is to experiment with different ways and go with the one you like!
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: Big Dawg on February 01, 2016, 02:01:00 PM
I used to wrap with brown sugar, peach nectar and honey and they were good, one day I got lazy and did not wrap, spritz or sauce just the bend and done, I like the results better.

You will find a range of ways to do it (3-2-1, 2-2-1 wrap don't wrap....etc.) only way to tell which you and your family and friends like is to experiment with different ways and go with the one you like!

And that's best part ! ! !





BD
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: WNC on February 01, 2016, 05:23:16 PM
Used to be wrapper, but as soon as I tried them unwrapped I haven't looked back, plus it's just a whole lot easier!

But the best thing was trying to find out which way we liked them best?

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/bbq-food-pics/rib-lunch/msg146844/#msg146844

here's one of my unwrapped rib cooks.

Title: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: kettlecook on February 01, 2016, 06:13:20 PM
I don't use any more than a spritz or two of juice if wrapping spares, (which I probably wouldn't do if cooking on a kettle or wsm.) I do use a good bit more when I wrap loinbacks, but that's on an offset smoker, where there's a lot more smoke and air movement. I don't recommend wrapping em if using a wsm or kettle, especially at first. I'd see what the bark is like without foiling first, and then go from there. Good luck with it and have fun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: MrHoss on February 01, 2016, 07:09:42 PM
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013025.jpg)

There it is right there baby!!!!!!
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: BBQFiend on February 02, 2016, 06:39:13 AM
Thanks for the tip guys. I know this may be blasphemy but I'm not a huge fan of the dry almost jerky exterior bark. If I wrap the ribs will that prevent that?
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: austin87 on February 02, 2016, 07:39:01 AM
A jerky like exterior may mean you are cooking at too high of heat. Yes the wrap will help with that. Another move is to put some apple juice with a splash of vinegar in a spray bottle - that will also help keep the exterior a bit softer.
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: Davescprktl on February 02, 2016, 07:55:01 AM
I do 3-2-1 and I just use BBQ sauce.  Works great.
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: Davescprktl on February 02, 2016, 07:57:51 AM
You can wrap if you'd like....it's kind of a lot of work in a way......it might be an idea to just try them flat out, rubbed w/ a little smoke so you get the hang of fire management, then start adding in extra processes like foiling, mopping, etc.

Here's Father's Day ribs a couple years ago.....

Bean pan ready:

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013001.jpg)

Charcoal set, basically:

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013003.jpg)

Just rotate the grate around a couple times while it's cooking, you'll either be over unburnt coals or ones that have burned & are dying out, so there's little risk of charring......

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013002.jpg)

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013007.jpg)

I put a therm right next to them, at Meat Level (<< Technical Term)so any time you open there's a quick check available......just watch for the pig juice to bubble up & melt the rub.....you can spritz w/ apple juice / cider vinegar combo to add a bit of surface moisture, won't hurt....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013012.jpg)


I go 260~275, 225 may tend to take so long that they dry out.....look for a good bend late in the game....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013004.jpg)

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013011.jpg)

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013014.jpg)

Juicy stuff.....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013025.jpg)

Great stuff as always!  Love your pics and techniques!
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: 1buckie on February 02, 2016, 08:02:04 AM
Thanks for the tip guys. I know this may be blasphemy but I'm not a huge fan of the dry almost jerky exterior bark. If I wrap the ribs will that prevent that?

A jerky like exterior may mean you are cooking at too high of heat. Yes the wrap will help with that. Another move is to put some apple juice with a splash of vinegar in a spray bottle - that will also help keep the exterior a bit softer.


I don't use any more than a spritz or two of juice if wrapping spares, (which I probably wouldn't do if cooking on a kettle or wsm.) I do use a good bit more when I wrap loinbacks, but that's on an offset smoker, where there's a lot more smoke and air movement. I don't recommend wrapping em if using a wsm or kettle, especially at first. I'd see what the bark is like without foiling first, and then go from there. Good luck with it and have fun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

......just watch for the pig juice to bubble up & melt the rub.....you can spritz w/ apple juice / cider vinegar combo to add a bit of surface moisture, won't hurt....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013012.jpg)

50/50 combo of cider vin & apple juice....those were hit twice, fairly lightly, once at the middle of the cook & once near the end........

Like Austin says, sometimes high heat dries things out.....cooking too, too low has also have that effect....there is such a thing as "warming stuff to death"....225, low & slow sounds cool, but if the therm you're watching is a little off, it could be the stuff will never really get done  (i.e.: 215f is just above where water boils....not very hot)......on something like ribs, I shoot for about 260~275....a few drops & spikes around that centering won't likely hurt anything........... ;D
Title: Re: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: MikeRocksTheRed on February 02, 2016, 08:17:05 AM
@BBQFiend -  With my wrap method you will not get a tough bark, but like @austin87 said, if you smoke them correctly unwrapped it shouldn't be tough like jerky.  I think you should do two racks, one using the wrap method and one without so you can try both methods out at the same time and see which one you prefer.  Again, the reason I like my wrapping method is that I know they are going to be awesome at the end without having to test.  The unwrapped method requires a few lift tests towards the end, and until you can lift the rack with tongs and they bend enough to almost tear apart but don't, they are done.  You might get lucky on your first test, or you might have to test every 20 minutes 2,3,4 times until they are done.

As far as corn goes, everyone here has a different opinion about it.  I like to trim some of the husks and remove some of them if there are a lot and they are thick, then trim the stalk end (so they can absorb water) and soak the corn in water for an hour.  I then cook them directly in the husks over direct (medium) heat rotating every 10-15 minutes for a total cook time of about 30-40 minutes.  I think cooking them in the husks is the best way for making the shucking portion of corn on the cob the easiest.  In my opinion once cooked the husks and silks come off really easy and you can make your guests do it!  LOL

Cooler corn -  If you need to make a ton of corn for a party or function, shuck all of the corn and put it in a cooler.  Add enough boiling water to the cooler to cover the corn then shut the cooler.  The corn will be ready to eat in about a half hour and will stay warm without overcooking for several hours if not longer!
Title: Ribs - Juice or No Juice?
Post by: kettlecook on February 02, 2016, 12:58:21 PM
Thanks for the tip guys. I know this may be blasphemy but I'm not a huge fan of the dry almost jerky exterior bark. If I wrap the ribs will that prevent that?

A jerky like exterior may mean you are cooking at too high of heat. Yes the wrap will help with that. Another move is to put some apple juice with a splash of vinegar in a spray bottle - that will also help keep the exterior a bit softer.


I don't use any more than a spritz or two of juice if wrapping spares, (which I probably wouldn't do if cooking on a kettle or wsm.) I do use a good bit more when I wrap loinbacks, but that's on an offset smoker, where there's a lot more smoke and air movement. I don't recommend wrapping em if using a wsm or kettle, especially at first. I'd see what the bark is like without foiling first, and then go from there. Good luck with it and have fun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

......just watch for the pig juice to bubble up & melt the rub.....you can spritz w/ apple juice / cider vinegar combo to add a bit of surface moisture, won't hurt....

(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/Fathers%20Day%202013/FathersDay2013012.jpg)

50/50 combo of cider vin & apple juice....those were hit twice, fairly lightly, once at the middle of the cook & once near the end........

Like Austin says, sometimes high heat dries things out.....cooking too, too low has also have that effect....there is such a thing as "warming stuff to death"....225, low & slow sounds cool, but if the therm you're watching is a little off, it could be the stuff will never really get done  (i.e.: 215f is just above where water boils....not very hot)......on something like ribs, I shoot for about 260~275....a few drops & spikes around that centering won't likely hurt anything........... ;D

Great advice and pics! Just listen to this guy and y'all will be alright. [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk