Messed up some babybacks, can they be saved?

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

husker3in4

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Feb 24, 2015
212
24
Somehow I messed up 2 racks of babybacks last weekend. I kept them on the for usual time, but they came out tough, and didnt get much smoke either.

So now I am thinking I will just throw them away (and shed a tear in the process), but am wondering if they can be salvaged in the crock pot? I know they wont taste like they were supposed to off the smoker, but it might save them?
 
There is no reason you can't reheat/finish cooking them in the smoker. Smoke at 225, spritzing or mopping with apple juice will help here, until they are probe tender. You can also place the ribs in a baking pan with a cup of 50/50 Apple juice and your fav BBQ Sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 325 until tender. You can finish them under the Broiler, baste with the pan juices, until the bark sets and the ribs caramelize. All is not lost and no reason to toss them or cry...JJ
 
I'd put them in a pan raised off the bottom with a rack (or balls of tin foil if you don't have a rack) and then put some water or apple juice in the bottom of the pan with the ribs raised above. Foil the top right and steam until tender. Pretty sure it's the same method JJ was talking about.
 
Ill give this a shot. Since it didn't seem to get smoky, Im going to put them back in the smoker for a couple hours. I suspect the problem was, they were too meaty and needed more time.

Funny thing is, I had an end rib that was absolutely perfect, tender meat, pulled away from the bone (leaving it clean)but didnt fall off - but the rest of the ribs were tough.

Or if I am too lazy to fire the smoker back up, i will try the steam method in my oven.
 
Update: I put them back on the smoker (after 5 days in the fridge!) and kept them in the smoker for 2 hours. I wish I had put a light layer of bbq sauce on them, but otherwise, I think I can officially call them "saved". Thanks!

On a side note, I noticed the pellets  in my A-Maze-n smoker tray went out the first time, about halfway thru the first row (which is why they didnt get much smoke flavor apparently). I reloaded it, lit it, let it burn for 10 mins, blew out the flame and put it in the smoker this time (all things I did the first time too) and when I checked it after I pulled the ribs out, it again went out about halfway thru the first row.

Ive used the A-Maze-n smoker tray thru the summer with no issues, and I have a layer of foil on the rack above to prevent drippings from putting it out. I have the loading tube 2" out and the chip tray out about an inch, so it should have had enough airflow.

the only difference is that it is cold now and rainy on and off, and in the summer it was hot.

I will want to smoke a pork butt for the suberbowl, and it will probably be colder even, but I want to make sure my pellets stay lit in the A-maze-n tray. Any advice?
 
May need to Nuke the Pellets for 90 seconds or warm them in the smoker during preheat...JJ
 
I forgot to mention, I always nuke my pellets for 60 secs, stir, then another 60 secs.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky