Baby Back Ribs - how to?

[BBQ Vikings]

Dear all

I am competing with my BBQ buddy in the WBQA national championship later this year. In the ribs category, we will be cooking Iberico Baby Back ribs (this is mandatory according to the rules) on a Primo XL 400.

We have tried 3-2-1 several times without succes (the meat is to tender for competition due to the high amount of fat). How will you suggest cooking Iberico Baby Back ribs on a Primo?

[EdF]

I don't have any background in Competition criteria, so take this with a grain of salt. My inclination would be to do it as natural as possible: no wrap (because of the fat), only a basic rub (because of the flavor of that pig). Saucing, not sure what to say. I'd put it on the side at home.

You might want to experiment ahead of time with a smoke pot to get more smoke than other Kamado cookers: https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...-got-em-part-2

For me, the main point would be displaying the natural goodness of that pig!

[DWCowles]

Try 3-1-1 since they are baby backs you might want to cut the last hour in half (30 mins).

[Troutman]

or even 4-1-1. The comp guys I know that do 'em wrap for an hour in butcher paper, no Parkay or brown sugar or honey.

[jfmorris]

Seems like you are going to need to get some of those ribs in advance, and do test runs different ways. I would start as EdF suggests without a wrap, and if saucing, sauce in the last 30 minutes of the smoke, unless you finish on another grill. Then if that is not tender enough, try DWCowles suggestion of wrapping for less time. When I do the wrap method on baby backs, I do 2-2-1, but they are cheap Sam's Club loin back ribs, not Iberico pork. If the pork has a higher fat content, then as you point out, they are going to be too tender and fall off the bone from 2 hours wrapped. You want some bite.

[cccq]

What I was thinking.

[BBQ Vikings]

Thank you all. I think I will start by trying 2-0,5-0,5 and increase until I get the best result.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

I think that's a good start, but I think you will need more than 3h total. I personally, for babybacks for competition, I would want to go about 4h total, with half to 1h wrapped. Of course, as noted above the Iberico may change that a lot. The ONLY way to be sure is to do multiple practice runs. You have 42 days until then!