question about "large pork back ribs"

mike281

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Mar 23, 2016

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• Mar 23, 2016

• #1

Hey all,

I'm new to this forum and also new to smoking meat (just got a smoker 3 days ago and have already put about 25 lbs of pork through it).  But to my question...

I have searched here an google and can't find anything about what large pork back ribs might be.  From what I've read baby back ribs tend to weigh 1-2.5 lbs and loin back ribs 2-3.5 lbs.  My local grocer (Rouse's in south Louisiana) has a sale this week on "large back ribs" which they claim average 5-7 lbs per slab.  From where on the pig are they getting such big ribs?  Has anyone here used something similar and if so how were they? At $0.88/lb it is very tempting but smoking ribs is a fair amount of work and I don't want to waste my time if this will be an inferior cut that won't turn out well no matter what I do. 

Thanks in advance for the help

Mike

 

joe black

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• Mar 24, 2016

• #2

Mike, Somebody might come around who has seen these before, but I haven't. I've smoked a lot of ribs, but this is a new one on me. I might would think that they're from a huge hog and would be tough. At $.88/#, that may be all that they're worth. If you want to give them a try, I would definitely keep them between 230-240*. I would also probably have reservations at a restaurant.

Good luck with them if you try them. Be sure to post some pics, 'cause I want to see a 5-7# slab of ribs. Let us know how they come out. Joe

 

3montes

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• Mar 24, 2016

• #3

5-7lbs is large for even spare ribs. I almost always buy pork loin back ribs and these can get over 4lbs if they are extra meaty. As Joe said at .88 cents a lb I wouldn't expect much but I'd be curious enough to go to the butchers and take a look, Keep us posted.

 

chef jimmyj

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• Mar 24, 2016

• #4

5-7 Pounds? Full Rack of Spare Ribs with the Brisket/Sternum on is most likely. That would be REALLY heavy for Back Ribs or TWO Racks per Pack...Old Pig or Young...Foiling Ribs is the great equalizer! The Braise time tenderizes the toughest meat...JJ

 

Last edited: Mar 24, 2016

mfreel

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Sep 4, 2013

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Omaha, Nebraska

• Mar 24, 2016

• #5

Here's a pic.  

I have a video of butchering spare ribs for St. Louis style ribs, which might be what they're talking about.  Let me know if you want to see it and I'll PM you.

pork_cuts.jpg

• mfreel
• Mar 24, 2016

 

chef jimmyj

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• Mar 24, 2016

• #6

mfreel said:

 
Here's a pic.  

I have a video of butchering spare ribs for St. Louis style ribs, which might be what they're talking about.  Let me know if you want to see it and I'll PM you.

pork_cuts.jpg

• mfreel
• Mar 24, 2016

Click to expand...

St. Louis Ribs are typically 3 to 4 Pounds. The Spare Ribs...St .Louis with Rib Tips attached (Above in Pink) run 5+ Pounds. Thanks for the Pic...JJ

 

demosthenes9

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• Mar 24, 2016

• #7

There's a number of things not making any sense.  The weight is off as others have shown and the pricing is way off for any kind of ribs. 

 I wonder if they are just mislabeling a bone in pork loin ?

Chefs-Cut-10-Bone-Pork-Loin-Rack2-496x256.jpg

• demosthenes9
• Mar 24, 2016

 

grillard

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Feb 6, 2016

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Southern Mississippi

• Mar 25, 2016

• #8

We had the same ad here in south MS, so I went to check it out. They had packages of ribs for .88/lb. But the label reads "large pork ribs contains brisket bones." Apparently the 5-7 pounds thing refers to the package. Each package had about 3 racks that looked like they'd been cut by a blind method addict with a chainsaw!

20160325_101132.jpg

• grillard
• Mar 25, 2016

 

mike281

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Mar 23, 2016

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• Mar 25, 2016

• #9

Yeah, I just got home from the store.  The ad made it seem like it was the weight per slab.  At 0.88/lb I decided they were way overpriced.  Your description of the apparent "butcher" is spot on, those things looked so mangled it was ridiculous 

 

grillard

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Feb 6, 2016

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Southern Mississippi

• Mar 25, 2016

• #10

Is it just me, or has Rouses just lost the bubble lately? When the Slidell store first opened, the meat and produce sections were excellent. It seems like as there expanded, they've just gone downhill.

 

chef jimmyj

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• Mar 25, 2016

• #11

BEST price I have seen in NJ for Spare Ribs is $1.99 before 4th of July. Typical is $2.99+ and $3.99+ for Baby Backs. At $0.88, even cut with a chainsaw is a great price and would be worth getting for smoking as a quick family meal, used as flavoring for Beans and such. I simmer Ribs in Tomato Sauce for Pasta and in an old family recipe of Ribs cooked with Sauerkraut until they fall apart. I would stock up at that price!...

...JJ