I cooked my first two SLC slabs on the PBC yesterday, and one of them ended up falling off the hook. PBC users, how do you tell when to pull the ribs before they get too tender and fall, without pulling them too soon?
Some info on my cook: I use a bbq guru, so I cooked them at 250 (I wanted to split the difference between the PBC's normal 275+, and the 225 I normally cook at). I hooked each one 2 ribs down. I hung one slab on one rod and the other one on the other rod. I don't know exactly when it fell, but between the 3.5 & 4 hour mark, judging by it's level of burnt-ness.
I have found that if I hook too low and put to too much stress on the point of contact they will want to fall. I have had bones pulling apart and no problems with falling ribs.
I had a half rack fall that was not tender at all. Problem was I hooked too low and the hook came out the side.
I usually try to go 3 ribs down if I can and I also double hook each rack. By double hook we mean running another hook through in the opposite direction lower on the rib and resting it on the first hook. I have attached a picture of me doing it with chicken (same concept but only pic I had readily available). It is going to give you a better chance... Depending what other cooker is available or how many slabs I am doing... I will pull them off, sauce them, and then put them back on the grate to let the sauce set.
I always single hook around 4 or more bones down from the membrane side and just let it flop over the hook (so the wonderful drippings smoke hits the meat side) and have not had a problem.
With that said a lot of folks double hook meaning in a serial fashion rather than side by side.
Thanks. I try to hang multipal meats at a time. Ribs with chicken is a favorite. I believe it helps with the magic fog inside the barrel.
Like tonight I have a bone in leg o lamb with one rack of ribs.
I'm still a PBC newbie but have cooked a single full slab, 2 full slabs and 4 slabs cut in half all single hooked under the second bone without any problems. 3- 4 hours at 250 seems a bit too long to me but maybe I'm not cooking long enough.
I have a Gateway Drum -- it's bigger than the PBC, but it makes wonderful ribs! After 2 to 2-1/2 hours (depending on spares or baby backs), I check tenderness. If it's there or almost there, out they come. Peel off membrane, it's like paper then wrap to either hold or finish in the pellet cooker.
CandySueQ You are waiting until most of the cooking is done to peel off the membrane from the ribs? I haven't come across this method before. Thanks, will have to try it.
I was cooking 8 racks of ribs for a party and checked them a while later to find one broke off and flaming in the coals ever since then I always double hook
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