A rack of back ribs will take between 1 1/2 -2 hours to cook (with lid closed), and you should flip them approximately every 20 minutes. Baste with BBQ sauce each time you flip. To check for doneness and tenderness, insert a sharp-knife between two ribs, it should insert without any resistance.
Which side of ribs do you cook first?
Place the ribs, bone side down, in the center of the grate over the drip pan and away from the heat. (If your grill has limited space, stand the racks of ribs upright in a rib rack.) If cooking on a charcoal grill, toss half of the wood chips on each mound of coals. Cover the grill and cook the ribs for 45 minutes.
How often do you turn ribs when smoking them?
Place the rack of ribs onto a rack in the smoker. Set a timer to 3 1/2 hrs, after the 3 1/2 hrs open up the smoker and slather the BBQ sauce on top. Flip the ribs over and slather the BBQ sauce on the other side of the meat. Let the meat rest for 30 minutes before serving.
Can u over cook ribs?
They should – BUT – they can overcook and dry out. You DO NOT want them falling off the bone, but you DO want them to be easy to pull off the bone. You do need to cook ribs with a temperature probe attached. … Any higher than that, and the collagen starts to melt out of the ribs, leaving them dry and lifeless.
Should ribs be cooked meat side up or down?
Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place the meat side down. The extra fat on the bone side of the rib will cook down and add more flavor as they bake. You can flip them when you stop to baste the ribs for even cooking.
Do ribs go meat side up or down?
In truth, because ribs are relatively tough and gristly, they require long, slow cooking in indirect heat. The bony concave side of the ribs should always face down, so the thin meaty layer won’t overcook during this lengthy process.
Should you wrap ribs in foil?
Ribs benefit greatly from a low-and-slow cooking method. For cook times longer than two hours, most meat will benefit from being wrapped in foil. … This will help tenderize the meat and maintain its beautiful color (rather than it becoming too dark or blackened).
What temp do I cook ribs on?
According to USDA, ribs are “done” when they are 145°F internal temp, but they may still be tough. If you take them up to 190 to 203°F, the collagens and fats melt at this temp and make the meat more tender and juicy. Then they’re ready!
What is the 2 2 1 method for ribs?
It’s there to help the seasoning adhere to the ribs. Trust me, you won’t taste it a bit when the ribs are done. So why are they called 2-2-1 ribs? Because you smoke them uncovered for 2 hours, then smoke them wrapped in foil for another 2 hours, and finally finish them off uncovered for another hour.
What happens if you cook ribs too long?
Ribs benefit from a lengthy cook time over a low temperature, which can be tough to control on the grill, and can easily lead to burnt meat.
Can you overcook ribs in oven?
You just have to make sure you check on the ribs partway through the bake and then about a half-hour before the end, as you don’t want to overcook and toughen up the meat.
How can you tell when ribs are done in the oven?
Bend Test: When ribs are done cooking, they’re flexible but don’t fall apart. To check, hold the rack from the end with a pair of tongs. The other end should bend towards the ground and cracks may form in the crust.
How do you wrap ribs in aluminum foil?
Fold the top edge of the foil over the ribs. Tightly fold in both sides of the foil at an obtuse angle to you so that the meat is wrapped tightly but the sides can still be folded in once more. This method also works for smoking ribs like baby back ribs.
Do you put water in the pan when baking ribs?
Fill a small baking pan two-thirds full with cold water and place on the lowest rung in the oven. This helps to keep the ribs moist during the lengthy cooking time. Position a second rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
What is the lowest temperature you can cook ribs?
The lower the meat’s temperature, the less moisture it loses, but the longer its connective tissue takes to dissolve, too. You can get very juicy ribs by cooking them at 135 degrees, but making them tender takes two or three days. At 160 degrees, you get tender ribs in 10 to 12 hours.