Which do you prefer babybacks or spareribs

I prefer babybacks

I prefer spares. They're cheaper, more forgiving, better taste, and when trimmed St. Louis style, I like the fact that the tips (riblets) are done sooner which provide some early munchin' for the cook. That said, I'd never turn down the offer of baby backs...pb

Spares, laststandchili hit it on the head in the first post. Hope the weather stays nice for you this weekend.

John

I smoke ribs quite often. My spareribs have been “hit and miss” where as my baby backs are always good. I had some St. Louis style in what they claimed to be a BBQ joint a few months back that we’re so god awful I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.

I tend to make spare ribs at home and order baby back when eating out. Not sure why.
I like 'em both. But my preference when eating out is ordering a full rack of baby back ribs.

I'm with you, Scorereader. But when the baby backs are on sale at my Kroger, I load up. Last week they were $2.99 a pound, so I loaded up.

I'm a babyback fan, but they gotta be done right. I don't think I've ever had "spare" except at a Chinese restaurant. What region of the US uses spare ribs as BBQ?

Spares...but have 3 huge racks of BB's on the smoker as we speak. Should be ready around 2 est..anybody?

Generally baby backs, though spares are a nice change of pace. Going to do the former tomorrow assuming the spring weather holds up. Probably officially kick off the margarita season as well.

quote:

Originally posted by jcbbq

Spares...but have 3 huge racks of BB's on the smoker as we speak. Should be ready around 2 est..anybody?

Not sure what you call huge but, FWIW,some in the pork industry suggest that only loin back ribs weighing less than 1-3/4 pounds per slab should be called "baby back". pb

quote:

Originally posted by porkbeaks

quote:

Originally posted by jcbbq

Spares...but have 3 huge racks of BB's on the smoker as we speak. Should be ready around 2 est..anybody?

Not sure what you call huge but, FWIW,some in the pork industry suggest that only loin back ribs weighing less than 1-3/4 pounds per slab should be called "baby back". pb

Total weight 7.17 lbs - so according to some in the pork industry, they may exceed the accepted definition of bb's but they look and cook like a bb. the length of this set was longer than I usually buy but they sure smell good right now.

Porkbeaks is right on the money. Babybacks are LBR's less than 1 3/4 lb.

ok. how about toddler backs?


either way I'm eating at 2

I prefer spare, St Louis style... I always try the ribs at any new BBQ rest. I go to.
But, I love babybacks also. Just not enough meat.

(plus the dog enjoy's the spare's more. Now before ya'll yell at me, he doesnt eat the bone, he just nibbles everything away from it-he is 6 pounds, and is missing 1/4 of his teeth, including his 2 top front ones--OK?)

Sounds like theres no strong rib partisanship. I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at any well prepared rib myself although if I'm buyin and cookin its spares all the way.

On a related note, do you rib cookers out there wrap in foil (AKA the Texas Crutch) for any period in your cooking? I never have, having been under the impression that it was somehow impure or heretical. After reading Ray Lampe's (Dr. BBQ) recent book, which seems to use miles of foil, I'm going to give it a shot in some upcoming backyard Q.

Vayo con Queso

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

and is missing 1/4 of his teeth, including his 2 top front ones--OK?)

Thank God he is your dog and not your hubby!! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

quote:

Originally posted by laststandchili

Sounds like theres no strong rib partisanship. I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at any well prepared rib myself although if I'm buyin and cookin its spares all the way.

On a related note, do you rib cookers out there wrap in foil (AKA the Texas Crutch) for any period in your cooking? I never have, having been under the impression that it was somehow impure or heretical. After reading Ray Lampe's (Dr. BBQ) recent book, which seems to use miles of foil, I'm going to give it a shot in some upcoming backyard Q.

Vayo con Queso

+



I just wrapped these. Added some brown sugar and honey to some...cattlemans and honey to some...some just rubbed.

all wrapped in foil for the last hour or so.

quote:

Originally posted by laststandchili

Sounds like theres no strong rib partisanship. I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at any well prepared rib myself although if I'm buyin and cookin its spares all the way.

On a related note, do you rib cookers out there wrap in foil (AKA the Texas Crutch) for any period in your cooking? I never have, having been under the impression that it was somehow impure or heretical. After reading Ray Lampe's (Dr. BBQ) recent book, which seems to use miles of foil, I'm going to give it a shot in some upcoming backyard Q.

Vayo con Queso

I've use the "crutch" a few times. It's most appreciated by thse in the family that like fall-off-the-bone tender. To each his own, I guess. pb

I tend to prefer the full-rack of Spare Ribs over the Baby Back. As was said by others, I won't turn down the BB's though. I get the 'Chin'(SP?)bone removed from the rack and get the rack notched at the double rib spacing by the butcher. I really like the 'flap' of meat that is attached at the large end on the backside of the Spare Rib Rack.

I think many places call their ribs BB's when indeed they are Spare Ribs trimmed to a squared off appearance.

Note that Arthur Bryant sells Spare Ribs...and labels the 1/2 rack as the Small end or the Large end. Now that is honest labeling!

Have never foiled ribs although I read about that technique quite a bit. I am not a fall off the bone person. If offered fall off the bone ribs, I would be more than happy to devour them. Roossy, your dog is more of sparerib than a babyback.

I like both babyback and St Louis style, but I would love to try the tip your car over Brontosaurus ribs Fred Flintsone used to eat.

Good thought, Neb-Guy. In my younger days I used to do A LOT of damage to the Sizzler "AYCE Beef Rib Nights". But I would use a ton of napkins to wipe off as much of the sauce on those Beef Bones before chowing down.... and my dogs were in little Doggie Heaven when I came home from one of those Beef-Rib Nights (with a couple of Doggie bags full of "used" rib bones).

Well, I just finished the best plate of BB's (pardon me TB's) since I moved to Tennessee. Shame you can't get ribs like that in this area.


Reminded of a place call JK's on the outer banks back in the mid 80's...best spicy BB's I ever had. Unfortunately they burned the building down...at least two times.

I usually order spare. I like baby back a bit better, but not enough to justify the price jump.

Dan B,
just barely too full of schnitzel to start craving ribs

quote:

Originally posted by NebGuy

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

and is missing 1/4 of his teeth, including his 2 top front ones--OK?)

Thank God he is your dog and not your hubby!! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Ha Ha Ha....No hubby here!
I could say something, but I seem to be in trouble lately everytime I type something....so, I will just put a couple photo's here.
--------------------


Bad Tara!

Hey! They look like the 3 guys I just saw on The Dating Game. Bachelor number1, bachelor number2, and bachelor number3.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Butt BBQ

Have never foiled ribs although I read about that technique quite a bit. I am not a fall off the bone person. If offered fall off the bone ribs, I would be more than happy to devour them. Roossy, your dog is more of sparerib than a babyback.

""arf arf""

quote:

Originally posted by NebGuy

Hey! They look like the 3 guys I just saw on The Dating Game. Bachelor number1, bachelor number2, and bachelor number3.

Which one did you choose?

IN my backyard,all ribs are welcome,in my restaurant,almost everyone wants babybacks.
P.S.I buy them at Costco for $2.64lb.case price.thy come 3 to a pack,6 packs to a case.The packer is swift,the best by far.Swift won't sell to food brokers i'm told.Sams also carries them,same price.

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

quote:

Originally posted by NebGuy

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

and is missing 1/4 of his teeth, including his 2 top front ones--OK?)

Thank God he is your dog and not your hubby!! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Ha Ha Ha....No hubby here!
I could say something, but I seem to be in trouble lately everytime I type something....so, I will just put a couple photo's here.
--------------------


Bad Tara!

What has 45 teeth and 30 legs?























The front row of a Willie Nelson concert.

John