[Rob]

Originally Posted by kingpin

I don't go by the fall off the bone. I remember watching a big bbq rib contest in Texas and the judges all said that the meat should come clean off the bone when you bite it. Fall off the bone is overcooked.

You can also tell the ribs are ready when the ends of the bones are black and dried out.

Falling off the bone is easy, cooking ribs correctly is not. You should be able to get a nice solid bite from the meat without pulling the rest of the meat off the bone.

The best method I have found is a standard 3-2-1 method.

3 hours unwrapped on the smoker at 270*
2 hours on the smoker wrapped in foil at 250*
1 hour unwrapped on the smoker at 225*

Then let it rest for 30-45 min before serving.

Originally Posted by NeedSpeed

For those that like fall of the rib and want to cheat a little or are in a hurrry (BBQ Flame Suit Activated) you could boil them.

What I do sometimes is season the water a lot with things like liquid smoke, hot sauces, worcheshire, various dry seasons, pretty much whatever. I like to think of it as kind of a bbq crab boil. Then some white vinegar as well if you like (helps them break down).

Boil them for a few hours or till desired fall of bone-ed-ness. Pull them. Let them cool slightly. Add some dry rub of your liking. Add some of your favorite BBQ and throw them on the grill.

Baste often. You just want to grill long enough to get that carmelized bbq goodness going.

Purists hate it, but if you're a shitty cook you can't go wrong with this method.

I thought you lived in Memphis

Originally Posted by DropTheTop

You oven and boiler guys are killing me! For crying out loud, go pick up a Char-Griller or Brinkmann with a the side add-on Texas smoker, or even one of the smaller vertical smokers.

Thank you!