Cedar Smoked Baby Back Ribs Recipes

SMOKED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Prepare the ribs (see below). Combine the brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin, mustard powder and 2 tablespoons salt in a small bowl. Rub the ribs all over with the cut sides of the lemon and then the spice mixture and place in a large roasting pan or resealable plastic bag. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Meanwhile, soak the wood chips in water 1 hour, then prepare your grill for smoking, filling the smoker box with one-quarter each of the wood chips and apple.
• About 30 minutes before smoking, remove the ribs from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature. Meanwhile, combine the apple juice, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar in a small spray bottle. Shake to mix.
• Once the grill reaches 250 degrees F, lightly brush the grates with vegetable oil and place the ribs on the cooler side of the grill, meat-side up. Spray with the apple juice mixture. Close the grill and let smoke 1 hour.
• Replenish the smoker box with another one-quarter each of the wood chips and apple. Flip the ribs so they're meat-side down with the opposite edge of the racks closer to the smoker box. Spray with the apple juice mixture; close the grill and let smoke 1 more hour. Repeat this process every hour until the ribs are dark brown and tender and the meat starts to shrink away from the bones, about 2 more hours. Remove the ribs from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
• How to prep your ribs:
• Position the ribs meat-side down. Insert a paring knife under the membrane that covers the back of the rack. Loosen the membrane with the knife. Grab the membrane with your fingers and peel off completely.

SMOKED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Remove silver skin from the back of each rack. Rub each rack with 1 teaspoon salt and let sit for 20 minutes.
• Slather 3 tablespoons mustard on 1 rack, then shake 1/3 cup BBQ rub on top; rub in on all sides until evenly coated. Repeat on the second rack and refrigerate both racks, covered, 8 hours to overnight. Set aside remaining BBQ rub.
• Remove ribs from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes. Spread the remaining 1/3 cup rub over the ribs.
• Meanwhile, mix dry wood chips with charcoal in a smoker and preheat, according to manufacturer's instructions, until temperature is a steady 225 degrees F (107 degrees F).
• Place a water pan on the smoker (or use the smoker's water tray, if it has one) and add water to the depth of the fill line. Place ribs in the smoker and close the lid.
• Combine apple juice and beer in a spray bottle. Spritz ribs every hour, rotating each time you spray. Cook for 3 hours, then remove ribs and check temperature. Wrap ribs in aluminum foil, and return to the smoker.
• Smoke until meat pulls away easily from the bone, 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Remove from the grill and check temperature; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 170 to 180 degrees F (77 to 82 degrees C). The ribs will be very juicy but the outside will not be crispy.
• Remove the foil and return ribs to the smoker. Cook until crispy, 15 to 30 minutes; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 190 to 195 degrees F (88 to 91 degrees C). Remove from the grill and tent with foil to allow juices to resettle into the meat before slicing and serving.