Beautiful! Don't sweat the week in the Refer. I been doing it for 20 years. Just wrap the Rib Roast, actually any Roast Beef, in Cheese Cloth and place it on a roasting or cooling rack in a Pan. Put the whole deal in the bottom of your Fridge for 5-7 Days, up to 10 days if it is a refer that is rarely open, changing the cloth every couple of days as it gets moist. When ready to Smoke, trim any seriously dry patches, add your rub and procede as usual. There is nothing that will get on the meat that will not be killed in the smoker. Just don't let anybody store Salad stuff near the meat. Opening the Refer Door 20X a day puts more Bacteria in the Fridge than that meat will in a week...You might like this recipe too...JJ
Smokey Au Jus
1- Lg Onion,
4-5 Carrots,
3-4 Ribs Celery
3-4 Peeled Cloves of Garlic
Toss them in a pan under the Beef, and let the whole deal Smoke for one hour,
THEN add 4-6 Cups Beef Broth,
2 Tbs Tomato Paste,
1/2tsp Dry Thyme (4-5 sprigs Fresh)
1-2 ea Bayleaf
Finish the Smoking process to the IT you want.
While the Roast is resting, dump the pan juices veggies and all into a 2-3Qt Sauce pot and add 1Cup Red Wine, something you like to drink, and bring the Jus to a boil, lower the heat and simmer 20-30 minutes. Strain out the veggies and let the Jus rest a minute or so for the Fat to rise. Skim off the bulk of the fat then using strips of paper towel laid on top of the Jus then quickly removed, take off the last little bit of fat.
The purpose of Smoking the Vegetable for 1 hour before adding the Broth and Herbs is...The Smoked vegetables Roast in the Dry heat concentrating their Flavors and Sweetness giving the finished Jus a Richer, Deeper, Full Flavor.
Serve the sliced Beef Au Jus or thicken the Jus to make Gravy.