SMOKING BABY BACK RIBS RECIPES

Steps:

• In a small bowl mix the rub ingredients.
• Using a dull knife, slide the tip under the membrane covering the back of each rack of ribs. Lift and loosen the membrane until it breaks, then grab a corner of it with a paper towel and pull it off. Cut each rack crosswise in the middle to create two smaller racks. Season the racks all over, putting more of the rub on the meaty sides than the bone sides. Arrange the racks in a rib rack, with all the bones facing the same direction. Allow the racks to stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• If using wood chips, soak in water for at least 30 minutes (no need to soak wood chunks).
• Place a large disposable foil pan underneath the cooking grate to catch the drippings. You may have to smash the foil pan a bit, but that’s okay. Or, if you’re using a charcoal grill, place the foil pan on the charcoal grate between two piles of charcoal. Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over low heat (250° to 350°F).
• Add two wood chunks to the charcoal or drain and add two handfuls of wood chips to the charcoal or to the smoker box of a gas grill, following manufacturer’s instructions. Place the rib rack on the cooking grate over indirect low heat, close the lid, and cook for 1 hour. Meanwhile, make the sauce and the mop.
• In a small saucepan mix the barbecue sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat on the stove, stirring often. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer to blend the flavors, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• In another small saucepan mix the mop ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat on the stove, stirring often. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer to blend the flavors, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• After the first hour, add the remaining wood chunks to the charcoal or drain and add the remaining wood chips to the charcoal or to the smoker box. Lightly baste the ribs with some mop. Close the lid and cook for another hour. If you're using a charcoal grill, replenish the charcoal as needed to maintain a steady temperature between 250° to 300°F, adding 8 to 10 unlit briquettes after every 45 minutes to 1 hour of cooking time. Leave the lid off the grill for about 5 minutes to help the new briquettes light.
• After the second hour, remove the ribs from the rib rack. Spread the racks out on a clean work area and baste them thoroughly with some mop. Put them back in the rib rack, again all facing the same direction but this time turned over so that the ends facing down earlier now face up. Also, position any ribs that appear to be cooking faster than the others toward the back of the rib rack. Close the lid and cook for another hour. Maintain the temperature of the grill between 250° to 300°F.
• After 3 hours of cooking, check if any rack is ready to come off the grill. They are done when the meat has shrunk back from most of the bones by about ½ inch. When you lift a rack by picking up one end with tongs, bone side up, the rack should bend in the middle and the meat should tear easily. If the meat does not tear easily, continue to cook the racks. The total cooking time could be anywhere between 3 to 4 hours. Not all racks will cook in the same amount of time. Lightly brush the cooked racks with some sauce and, if desired for crispiness, cook them over direct heat for a few minutes. Transfer to a sheet pan and tightly cover with aluminum foil. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Cut the racks between the bones into individual ribs. Serve warm with the remaining sauce on the side.

Steps:

• Make the spice rub. Place the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, chipotle pepper, onion powder, and thyme in a small bowl and whisk with a fork to combine. Transfer 2 tablespoons to a small saucepan for the sauce and set aside. Measure out your mustard and salt for the ribs before you start dealing with the raw meat.
• Remove the membrane from the ribs. Removing this chewy membrane will make for more tender ribs. Flip the racks over so that the bones are facing up. Pry a finger between the silvery membrane and the ribs to start pulling up the membrane — I like to do this between two of the rib bones. Once you have a piece of membrane pulled up, you should be able to easily pull the whole membrane off.
• Cut the ribs into 4 rib sections. Flip the ribs back over and cut them into 4 to 5 bone sections with a sharp knife. To do this, carefully hold the rack upright and guide the knife through the meat between the bones. This makes them easier to fit into the slow cooker and portions them into individual servings at the same time.
• Salt the ribs and coat with mustard. Sprinkle the ribs all over with the salt. It's okay if you have some leftover. Using a pastry brush or your fingertips, brush the ribs on all sides with mustard — this helps the spice rub stick.
• Rub the ribs with the spice rub. Evenly sprinkle the ribs with the spice rub, and then press it into the fleshy part of the ribs.
• Transfer to the slow cooker and add 1/2 cup water. Transfer the sections of ribs to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, standing them upright with the meatiest part of the rib down. Add 1/2 cup of water.
• Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Cover and cook the ribs on the LOW setting until the ribs are just becoming tender but not falling off the bone yet, 6 to 7 hours. If you pick up a section of ribs with tongs, it should easily bend but not fall apart. Cover and keep slow cooking while you make the sauce.
• Make the barbecue sauce. Add the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and liquid smoke if using to the spice rub in the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to combine. Simmer until darkened in color and thickened just a bit, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer half the sauce to a small bowl — no need to be exact, but it should be about 1 cup.
• Add 1 cup of barbecue sauce and cook for 2 hours more. Transfer the remaining sauce from the saucepan to the slow cooker, pouring it as evenly over the ribs as possible. Don't worry if they don't seem evenly coated or that there's a bit of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 2 hours more.
• Heat broiler to high. When the ribs are very tender (you'll know because picking up the ribs will result in more cracking than bending between the bones), arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Transfer the ribs to the baking sheet meaty-side up.
• Broil ribs for 7 to 8 minutes. Coat the ribs with the reserved sauce. Broil until the sauce is sticky and charred in spots, 7 to 8 minutes.