first time on the smoker should I spray?

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paddyboy

Newbie
Original poster
Jun 8, 2009
17
10
Philadelphia
I am going to smoke my first set of ribs should I spray them as they cook and if so should it be just apple juice or something else?
 
Some people spray, some don't. For your first time I would suggest you spray. Next time don't and see which way you like better. A lot of people use a mix of apple juice and rum to spray with. Straight apple juice would work fine also.
 
If you have more than one rack, spray one & not the other(s). If you only have one, you could (gasp) cut it in half & only spray one half.
 
I used to spray the ribs I smoked, but have gone away from it lately, I didnt like opening the smoker, and I prefer the bark I get on the ribs now.

When I did spray, I used apple juice, or cranberry juice, some olive oil, and sometimes some rum, Jack, or Jim Beam.
 
Ok sounds good I got a large rack of spare ribs and a rack of baby back ribs. Will the babyback good faster I have read different things. I am trying to prove my wife wrong and not screw this up.
 
The BB's will finish before the spares. Are you going to foil them or leave then al natural?
 
I was going to leave them natural do you suggest foil and how long would you say the baby backs will take to cook?
 
If you want to "impress" the wife (and keep it on the safe side) use the 3-2-1 method. 3 hours unwrapped, 2 hours wrapped with a sprinkel of apple juice, 1 hour unwrapped to firm them back up. It produces fall off the bone tender ribs and is a very foregiving method
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i've gotten to the point where i only spray if i am already fiddling around (putting in wood, turning meat etc.); having said that, i do beleive it is a necessary step.

whatever you do, don't spray until 2 hours into the smoke or you will spray your rub off.

i would also suggest adding a little bit of some kind of oil to the spray. it doesn't ahve to be much - i add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of olive oil to 2 cups of mop and have had no problems. i've also used melted butter with a little olive oil to help emulsify it into the mop and keep from clumping.
 
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