Country Pork Ribs On Pellet Grill Recipes

PELLET-GRILL SMOKED RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat a pellet grill to 275 degrees F (see Cook's Note). Combine 2 tablespoons salt, 4 tablespoons coarsely ground pepper and 2 teaspoons paprika in a small bowl. Rub each rack of ribs all over with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle evenly with the salt and spice mixture on both sides.
• Transfer the ribs, meat-side up, to the grill grates. Cover the grill and cook for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, combine 1/3 cup cider vinegar with 1/3 cup water in a spray bottle. After 1 hour spray the ribs with the vinegar-water mixture so they are damp all over. Cover and cook for 1 more hour.
• Meanwhile, combine the ketchup, 3/4 cup water, the remaining 1/3 cup cider vinegar, white vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons pepper, hot sauce and the remaining 2 teaspoons paprika in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is warmed through and the sugar is melted, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Check the ribs and spray them again with vinegar-water. They should be starting to take on a red color from the smoke. Cover and cook until they are deep red, 30 to 45 minutes. Spray the ribs once more, then brush the meaty part of each rack with 1/4 cup of the sauce. Close the grill and cook for another 15 minutes so the sauce can set.
• Lay down two pieces of heavy-duty foil that are long enough to enclose each rack on a work surface and spread half of each sheet with 1/4 cup sauce. Transfer the rib racks, meat side down, onto the saucy part of the foil. Coat the bone sides with 1/4 cup sauce and a few sprays of the vinegar-water, then fold the foil over and seal tightly.
• Add another layer of foil if the first has punctured during wrapping. Transfer the ribs to a rimmed baking sheet and place on the grill (the baking sheet will catch any juices that leak out). Cover and cook until tender but not falling off the bone, about 2 hours.
• Remove from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before carefully unwrapping (watch out for hot steam). Slice each rack into individual rib portions and serve with the remaining sauce.

HOW TO COOK PORK RIBS ON A PELLET GRILL

Steps:

• Whether you're shopping at an old-school butcher shop or at the supermarket, there are typically three types of ribs: St. Louis-style, Baby Back and Spareribs. St. Louis-style ribs are a powerhouse of flavor bundled up in a neat package. St. Louis-style ribs are often rectangular because bits of connected cartilage, or rib-tips, have been removed. The bones are also less curved than baby back ribs. The meat is well marbled between the bones, perfect for smoking on a pellet grill. Spareribs are the meatiest of the three offerings. The Sparerib was previously attached to the pork belly and, compared to other ribs, it brings a lot of meat along for the party. It can be slightly more chewy than other rib cuts but the extra meat more than makes up for it. Baby back ribs are a fortress that protect the tender and flavorful pork loin. The bone is shorter and more curved than other rib cuts. But don't let that discourage you from smoking them. Baby back ribs are packed with meat both between and on top of the bones, making them a formidable offering when competing for the attention of your taste buds. When selecting ribs, you want to take a few things into consideration. Unlike beef, freshness counts when purchasing pork. Select a rib with the fresh date being as far in the future as possible. Although there is nothing wrong with frozen ribs, a fresh rib will provide a bit more of a vibrant meat flavor so go with fresh ribs whenever possible. Supermarket pork ribs are commonly sealed in a Cryovac packaging. This will extend their freshness from a few days to a few weeks. But because of this packaging, the closer you get to the fresh date, the more susceptible the meat is to being past its prime. Cryovac packaging is quite thick. It can be partially translucent and hard to see thru. Because of this, you should be sure to pick up the ribs and give them a squeeze. Don't worry, you won't break them. But if you do find a bone that's broken, it's probably a good indication you should choose another rack. Pinch above and below the ribs as well as in between the bones to get a preview of how much edible meat you're actually buying versus discardable bone. You should also look for ribs without any bones or shiners protruding out of the side. The tightly sealed packaging often makes it hard to inspect them, but a little bit of poking and prodding is well worth the effort. When you're ready to get the ribs on the smoker, remove them from any packaging and give them a long rinse under cold water. At some point, the butcher will have cut the ribs with a saw that can leave behind tiny bone fragments. While you're rinsing the ribs, run your fingers all over the meat, but pay special attention to any cut ends and wash away any of those undesirable fragments.
• Removing the membrane may seem like a daunting task at first. But it's actually quite simple and only takes a few seconds to do. Start by patting the ribs completely dry on both sides with a clean kitchen towel or a stack of paper towels. On a clean work surface, flip the ribs over so the meat side is down. When you look closely at the bones, you will see the thin membrane covering most of them. I find that starting the membrane removal around the third largest rib is easiest. Use a finger and begin loosening the membrane between the bone and the meat. If you have trouble getting under the membrane, a dull knife like a butter knife works well to help break the seal. If you can pull the membrane completely away from that one bone, chances are you can remove the whole thing in a single try. Use a paper towel to grab the membrane and remove it from the rack in a single pull. It will have some tug but should remove like a large bandage that's done its job.
• It's important when you're seasoning the pork ribs to evenly coat both sides with your favorite rub or spice blend. Seasoning over a cutting board or serving tray that's larger than your rack of ribs serves two purposes. It allows you to have a vessel to transport the ribs to the pellet smoker, and it saves cleanup time catching some of the seasoning that may not have adhered. A large sheet of parchment paper also works well for transporting and keeping your workstation clean. Start by seasoning the bone side of the ribs first. To get an even coat on your ribs, sprinkle the seasoning from 12-18" above the bones. Be sure to cover the bones as evenly as possible, and don't forget to get the ends or cut sides of the rib rack. Flip the ribs over and repeat for the top of the rack. Be more generous with your seasoning on the top of the ribs as there is more meat on the top to season. Choosing a seasoning or rub for your ribs is a matter of personal preference. Look for seasonings that have a low salt content and preferably no sugar. The pork will be getting a significant portion of its flavor from the pellet smoke, and the seasoning enhances some of the nuances of the meat. Your pork ribs are now ready for the pellet grill. You can season the ribs up to 24 hours ahead of time. Keep them covered in the refrigerator until it's time to fire up the smoker.
• The first part of the cooking process is when the majority of the smoke will flavor your ribs. Fire up your pellet grill and set the temperature to 225°F. The best pellets for smoking pork ribs are fruit woods. Kingsford's Cherrywood pellets do an excellent job. The Kingsford® Grillmaster's blend or Southwest blend also contains fruit wood and works well for this dish. When your pellet grill is preheated and stabilized, place the ribs in the most central spot of the cooker. The raw ribs will have some stretch to them. Once they are situated on the grill's grate, push the bones slightly together like you're squeezing the air out of an accordion. This minor adjustment makes the meat stand a little taller between the bones and easier to get a clean slice when it's time to serve. Shut the lid of your pellet grill and smoke for three hours. Some people prefer to spritz, mop or baste the ribs during the cooking process. Although it has little impact on the final taste, spritzing the ribs every 45 minutes is a good excuse to check on them and make sure your pellet grill is operating properly. An apple juice spray or spritz is by far the most popular.
• Step two of the cooking process involves briefly removing them from the grill and wrapping the ribs to make them more tender. Lay two overlapping sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil down on a flat surface and place the ribs bone side up. Fold the foil across the side of the ribs overlapping in the middle and repeat with the ends to form a pouch. Make sure the pouch is as tight as you can make it without the ribs poking through or tearing the foil. Competition barbecue cooks will often fortify the pouch with pats of butter or margarine and a few tablespoons of brown sugar. Although adding ingredients to your pouch is unnecessary, consider experimenting with different add-ins to dial in a flavor profile to your liking. Adjust the temperature on your pellet grill to 250°F and place the ribs back in the center of the cooker. Cook for two more hours in the foil pouch.
• Carefully remove the rib pouch from your pellet grill and place them bone side up on a cutting board. While cooking in the foil pouch, the ribs have become quite tender. And hot. So be careful when handling them. A sturdy set of tongs paired with an oversized spatula make handling the hot and delicate ribs much easier. You will notice that the meat has shrunk and the end of the bones are now visible on most or all of the ribs. This is a sure sign that the meat has become tender and likely delicious. To sauce, start by brushing a thick coat of barbecue sauce on the bottom or bone side of the ribs. Flip them over and repeat on the top side of the ribs. Carefully place the ribs back on the smoker and allow the sauce to set up or adhere to the ribs for up to one hour. Check the ribs frequently to make sure the barbecue sauce does not burn. Feel free to add additional coats of sauce. Remove the ribs when the sauce had firmed up to your liking and the pork has reached an internal temperature of at least 145°F. If you do not prefer barbecue sauce on your ribs, repeat the above steps without saucing.
• Place the ribs on a cutting board meat side down. Use a very sharp knife to slice between the bones. The meat will be quite tender, and a dull knife can tear the ribs. You can serve the ribs and enjoy them immediately.