To trim ribs or not?

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john3198

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
SMF Premier Member
Dec 2, 2009
457
16
Houston, TX
I am doing 4 racks spare ribs tomorrow. Did one today to try out methods (never did 3-2-1 before) and tried some new rubs. I trimmed to a St. Louic cut. They turned out good, so will probably stay with 3-2-1- or some varient of that.

Haven't decided whether to trim the ones for tomorrow's smoke or not. What do most of you guys do? Trim to St. Louis or not?
 
Personally I don't trim I have but don't most of the time
 
I'm with jerry I don't trim mine either I let it all hang out too.
 
To me, the St. Louis cut has two advantages: 1) It makes my ribs look professional, and 2) it gives me some good bits of meat to throw in baked beans, collard greens, etc. Okay, okay, it gives me something to snack on, too.
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In the end, if you aren't that picky about how they look, might as well leave 'em as they come. It's all going to get eaten anyway.
 
Same here. I stopped trimming when I realized I had almost 20 lbs of trimmimngs in my freezer. I was always going to use them for something. I will trim if smoker space is a premium, ie. big party or something. My family has persuaded me to go Baby Back. No trim just unwrap and smoke. (remove membrane of course)
 
It depends on who's coming over to help eat them. If I want to do it up nice for a dinner party, I trim for sure...and the trimmings are super munchies partway through that 3-2-1
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I have always trimmed. I like the look of the slab when trimmed and like others I use the trimmings in beans or just eat as a snack. bbally has a great tutorial in the pork section I beleive its a sticky now for trimmimg to St. Louis style.
 
i like to trim the racks of spares down for 2 reasons

1) rib tips
2) the skirt

both to snack on, or the skirt to cut up and toss in some beans.
 
Thanks to all of you who responded. Sounds like more of a presentation issue. I will try some both ways, if I have room.
 
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