• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grilling 24x7
  • Grilling 24×7
  • About
  • Recipes
    • By Food Type
      • Beef
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Pork
        • Pork Ribs
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Seafood
        • Crab
        • Shrimp
        • Lobster
        • Fish
      • Veggies
        • Appetizers
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
      • Lamb
      • Keto Diet
    • By Course
      • Appetizers
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
      • Soups and Casseroles
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Main Dishes
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
        • Pizza
      • Dessert
      • Sauces/rubs
    • By Method
      • Cast Iron Recipes
        • Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
      • Tailgate Recipes
        • Grilled Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggies
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups And Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggie
  • Reviews
  • Tips
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Grilling 24x7 » Recipes » Smoking Ribs for Beginners

Smoking Ribs for Beginners

by Frank Campanella 20 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This recipe is aimed at Smoking Ribs for Beginners but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a few pro tips included as well

smoking ribs for beginners recipe

This guide will give you all the knowledge you need to confidently smoke ribs that will be the talk of the neighborhood. We will discuss how to season the ribs.

How long to smoke ribs and what temperature to smoke ribs, along with lots of details to up your barbecue game.

Smoking ribs for beginners recipe

If you have already mastered Ribs, here are some other rib recipes that I think You’ll Enjoy: Bang Bang Baby Back Ribs, Pellet Grill Spare Ribs and Boneless Pork Country Ribs

Baby back ribs gas grill recipe

1. Remove the Membrane

To some, this may seem obvious, but I wanted to talk about taking the membrane off the back of the ribs. * Side note, for some reason, the swift brand baby back ribs have the membrane removed on them, so keep that in mind. You’re not crazy.

There is a thin membrane on the backside of the ribs that won’t break down when you cook the ribs and can be chewy. You can remove it by using a paper towel to pinch a corner of the membrane.

It may take a little practice, but you’ll get better at it in no time.

Once you have separated enough of the membrane to get a grip, gently pull until the membrane is fully removed, hopefully in one piece.

If it tears, simply pinch at it again and remove any small pieces left behind.



raw ribs with Dijon Mustard

2. Season the bone side first, then the meat side

Once the membrane is removed, it’s time to season the ribs. I like to put a very light coating of oil or mustard on both sides of the ribs to help the seasoning stick.

Always season the backside of the ribs first. I like to go just a bit lighter on this side, and I let the seasoning sit for about 5 minutes before I flip the rack over to the presentation side.

This allows the seasoning to fully absorb and not fall off when you turn the ribs over.

After flipping the ribs to the presentation side, you can season a little more aggressively.

Hold the seasoning from a higher point, so you get even distribution across the entire rack of ribs.

If you miss any spots, you can go back and season those areas. Don’t stack racks of ribs on top of each other because the rub will wipe off or stick to the other racks and clump up.

seasoned ribs ready to go on the smoker

3. Put Ribs in the fridge for 30 minutes before smoking.

Because ribs are much thinner than brisket or a roast, I like to start my rack of ribs as cold as possible so they have plenty of time to absorb smoke and develop a nice bark.

After seasoning, I put the ribs in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or even in the freezer for 10 minutes.

perfect pork ribs Pinterest

4. Don’t mop too soon

There is a balance between keeping the meat moist and developing a nice bark or crust on the smoked ribs.

After the ribs have smoked for a few hours, the rub will begin to dry out, and a crust will develop. Lightly drag your finger over the ribs and see if the rub sticks or comes off on your finger.

That will tell you whether it’s time to mop or not. If the rub comes off, simply continue smoking until it racks up and adheres to the meat completely. If the bark has developed, then it is time to mop or spray.

I use a simple mixture of water, bbq sauce, and apple cider vinegar. If you have a spray bottle, don’t use the sauce unless you strain it, or you’ll clog the sprayer.

I simply dab the ribs gently with a mop brush, making sure I just lightly moisten the ribs.

Hawaiian style spare ribs

Mop Mixture

  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup bbq sauce
  • 1 tbsp dry rub
Baby back ribs with Alternasweets low carb bbq sauce

5. When to Wrap the Pork Ribs

I make the decision when to wrap my ribs based on two factors, color, and temperature.

If I’m happy with the color of the ribs and how the bark looks, then I may decide it’s time to wrap to maintain that color and not darken the meat any further.

The second factor is the temperature because around 160-170 degrees F, the ribs have taken on all the smoke they can, and it’s time to wrap so that the meat can choke up on the bone and become more tender.

Texas style dry rub ribs with kinders the blend seasoning

6. Foil or Butcher Paper??

I will use both, depending on what kind of ribs I’m smoking. Foil is better for ribs that I intend to sauce later and want the bones to choke up.

If I’m cooking beef ribs or pork ribs that I’m going to leave dry, I prefer butcher paper because it lets the meat breathe and doesn’t steam the meat near as much.

Both methods work and have advantages and disadvantages. Your third opinion is not to wrap at all.

This will give you the best bark by far but will probably have a much darker color and the most intense smoke flavor. 

When I do choose to wrap, my goal is only to wrap the meat long enough to push the tenderness to my desired point, then unwrap it to preserve as much of the bark as possible.

When wrapping ribs, wrap the meat side up, so they don’t sit in the juices and wash off the rub.

I always double wrap using foil or butcher paper and wrap so that I can open them up easily to check the meat.

How to smoke ribs on a gas grill

7. Everything you need to prepare the best ribs

  • Ribs…duh
  • Smoker or Grill…Oven if you must but I hope you’re saving up for a smoker!!!
  • Mop Brush
  • Basting Brush
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Butcher Paper
  • Probe Thermometer
  • Barbecue Sauce
  • Dry Rub
  • Yellow Mustard
  • Honey
  • Butter
Smoked spare ribs with Utz works honey q bbq sauce

8. Temperature and times to look for.

I’m sure you have seen the 3-2-1 rib cooking method, which is a good method, especially for Smoking Ribs for Beginners but doesn’t think of this as a hard number that you have to stick to.

The size, thickness, and type of ribs will affect your cook time greatly. Always cook by the look and feel over time and temperature. Use times and temps as markers to check your meat and lose guidelines.

The tenderness of your meat will never lead you astray, and the look of the ribs will tell you more than any temperature reading.

Master these skills, and you will have a much better understanding of how ribs cook and what you prefer in a perfect rack of ribs.

sauced baby back ribs

9. Smoking Ribs for Beginners Timeline

  •  Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F.
  • Trim the ribs and remove the membrane from the back side of the rack. Brush a light coat of mustard on both sides and season liberally with a dry rub. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, placing ribs on the pit.
  • Place ribs on the smoker, and don’t open the door for two hours. This is the time when the ribs will absorb the most smoke
  • Check the ribs to see if a bark has developed. If your rub has adhered to the meat, gently mop or spray your ribs for the first time. Cook for another hour.
  • Mop ribs for a second time and check temperature. If you’re happy with the color and the meat has an internal temperature of 160-170 degrees F. Then you can wrap it in foil or butcher paper.
  • Lay the ribs down on the foil or butcher paper bone side up. Place a few pats of butter on the rack, then drizzle about a tablespoon of honey and a light sprinkle of additional dry rub. Wrap the ribs up tight and return them to the smoker. Continue smoking for another hour. If you would like, you can raise the temperature as high as 275 degrees F. To speed up the cooking process because the meat is protected by foil or butcher paper
  • Gently unwrap and probe the meat. Generally, ribs are ready to eat at an internal temperature of 200-210 degrees F, depending on personal preference. More important than the temperature, use the probe thermometer to test for tenderness. Poke the meat in between the bones to see if the ribs are tender. The probe should go into the meat with very little tension. If the meat still seems tough, wrap the ribs back up and continue cooking for another 30-60 minutes and check again.
  • Once the ribs are tender, you may serve them dry or sauce them. If saucing, unwrap the foil and fold it over to create a tray to hold the juices so you can sauce the top.  Brush on a thin layer of sauce and smoke for another 30 minutes. You can sauce a few times depending on how saucy you like your ribs. Allow time for the sauce to adhere to the meat before slicing the ribs
  • When cutting the ribs, it’s easier to turn the rack upside down so you can see the bones better and make clean cuts. You may lose a little sauce, but you can always baste a little extra on top when you turn them over.
  • A perfect bite of ribs should be taken right in the center of the rib, holding it like you would an ear of corn. The bite should leave a half-moon bite mark and expose clean meat off the bone. If the whole rib falls off or doesn’t leave a clean bite, it’s likely overcooked. It may have been wrapped too long. Still tasty and delicious, but you may want to reduce your wrap time in the future. If the bite seems tough or the meat doesn’t come off the bone clean, you probably didn’t cook the meat long enough. In the future, adjust the time accordingly
how to smoke baby back ribs on the gas grill

10. Helpful Tips for Smoking Ribs for Beginners

If you end up with perfect smoked pork ribs the first time, then bravo to you, my friend. If you don’t, please don’t be discouraged.

Almost every pitmaster or backyard BBQer I know has messed up just as many ribs as they have perfected. Over time you will learn each smoker cooks just a little differently.

Whether you’re using an offset stick burner, a ceramic smoker, or a pellet grill, each one has a distinctive personality with hot spots and erratic tendencies.

Take the time to learn your smoker. Learn the ideal smoking rib temp for your smoker. Make mental notes. Hell, I know plenty of people who actually journal. Each cook takes notes on the weather conditions.

Times, temperature, and ingredients used for each cook. Look at each rack of ribs before cooking. Are they meaty and thick or seem thin and smaller than normal?

Analysis of the pork ribs before cooking will help you make the necessary adjustments as you cook.


bbq dry rub in a glass container with a spoon

My Personal Favorite Dry Rubs and BBQ Sauces

Top 5 Rib Rubs for Smoking Ribs for Beginners

  • Eat Zero to Hero Sweet Rub
  • Utz Works BBQ Dry Rub
  • Killer Hogs BBQ Rub
  • Adam McKenzie | Double Smoke
  • Sweet Swine O’ Mine
imperial stout beer bbq sauce recipe

Top 5 BBQ Sauces for Smoking Ribs for Beginners

  • Utz Works Competition 181
  • Utz Works Memphis Soul 142
  • Blues Hog Original
  • Killer Hogs the BBQ Sauce
  • Eat The Next Big Thing KC Sauce

More Fantastic BBQ Rib Recipes

  • Texas Style Beef Ribs
  • St. Louis Pork Ribs on My SQ36 Offset Smoker
  • BBQ Corn Ribs with Smokehouse Mayo
  • How to Make Baby Back Ribs on the Gas Grill
  • Sweet & Spicy Hawaiian Style Spare Rib
smoking ribs for beginners recipe

Baby back ribs gas grill recipe
Print Pin
5 from 6 votes

Smoking Ribs for Beginners

This recipe is aimed at Smoking Ribs for Beginners but that doesnt mean I dont have a few pro tips included as well
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, BBQ
Keyword Pork Ribs, Smoked Ribs
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Servings 6
Calories 890kcal

Equipment

  • Smoker or Grill

Ingredients

  • 6 lbs Pork Ribs St. Louis or Baby Backs (2 Racks)
  • ¼ cup Yellow Mustard
  • ⅓ cup BBQ Dry Rub
  • 6 tbsp Butter
  • 2 tbsp Honey
  • ¾ cup BBQ Sauce

Instructions

  •  Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F.
  • Trim the ribs and remove the membrane fron the back side of the rack.Brush a light coat of mustard on both sides and season liberally with dry rub. Refrigerate for 30 minutes placing ribs on the pit.
  • Place ribs on the smoker and don’t open the door for two hours. This is the time when the ribs will absorb the most smoke
  • Check the ribs to see if a bark has developed. If your rub has adhered to the meat gently mop or spray your ribs for the first time. Cook for another hour.
  • Mop ribs for a second time and check temperature. If you’re happy with the color and the meat has an internal temperature of 160-170 degrees F. Then you can wrap in foil or butcher paper.
  • Lay the ribs down on the foil or butcher paper bone side up. Place a few pats of butter on the rack then drizzle about a tablespoon of honey and a light sprinkle of additional dry rub. Wrap the ribs up tight and return them to the smoker. Continue smoking for another hour. If you would like you can raise the temperature as high as 275 degrees F. To speed up the cooking process because the meat is protected by the foil or butcher paper
  • Gently unwrap and probe the meat. Generally, ribs are ready to eat at an internal temperature of 200-210 degrees F depending on personal preference. More important than the temperature, use the probe thermometer to test for tenderness. Poke the meat in between the bones to see if the ribs are tender. The probe should go into the meat with very little tension. If the meat still seems tough wrap the ribs back up and continue cooking for another 30-60 minutes and check again.
  • Once the ribs are tender you may serve them dry or sauce them. If saucing unwrap the foil and fold over to create a tray to hold the juices so you can sauce the top.  Brush on a thin layer of sauce and smoke for another 30 minutes. You can sauce a few times depending on how saucy you like your ribs. Allow time for the sauce to adhere to the meat before slicing the ribs
  • When cutting the ribs, it’s easier to turn the rack upside down so you can see the bones better and make clean cuts. You may lose a little sauce, but you can always baste a little extra on top when you turn them over.
  • A perfect bite of ribs should be taken right in the center of the rib holding it like you would an ear of corn. The bite should leave a half moon bite mark and expose clean meat off the bone. If the whole rib falls off or doesn’t leave a clean bite, it’s likely over cooked. It may have been wrapped too long. Still tasty and delicious but you may want to reduce your wrap time in the future. If the bite seems tough or the meat doesn’t come off the bone clean you probably didn’t cook the meat long enough. In the future adjust the time accordingly

Notes

These measurements are estimated and will depend on the actual size of the ribs. Use your judgement and play around with the ingredients. You may like to go easy on the rub and heavy on the sauce or vice versa. 
Remember we are having fun and experimenting. Most pit masters have taken hundreds of racks to perfect their  methods…but its a tasty road to the top of that hill.

Nutrition

Calories: 890kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 87g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 284mg | Sodium: 843mg | Potassium: 899mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 540IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 5mg

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook1406
  • Twitter
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lainey

    May 30, 2021 at 10:54 pm

    No smoker…..No grill 🙁

    Make my own rib rub…..

    Bake mine in the oven on 350 for about 1.5 hours covered, then remove foil for another 5-10 minutes……..Is this the best temp or should I be baking them lower & slower?

    Reply
    • Culinary Lion

      May 31, 2021 at 12:29 am

      Makin it work, I Love it!!

      Reply
    • James Mattmiller

      October 30, 2021 at 8:02 pm

      When I do ribs in the oven I go as low as 200 or 220 and go for about 4 to 6 hours but they turn out killer

      Reply
    • Pete Nathans

      November 09, 2022 at 11:38 pm

      5 stars
      Next time you should go over the type of wood/chips to use in your smoker. Some wood is to strong of smoke flavor. Fruit wood is best.

      Reply
      • Frank Campanella

        November 10, 2022 at 10:21 pm

        that’s fair, I like to use blends most of the time or even hickory or oak. Mesquite is about the only would I would try to avoid but that’s just my opinion

        Reply
  2. Tom LaPorte

    July 22, 2021 at 9:42 pm

    5 stars
    Great tips to make the best ribs ever! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Culinary Lion

      July 23, 2021 at 12:22 pm

      Thank you, glad you found it helpful

      Reply
  3. Frank

    August 08, 2021 at 1:10 am

    5 stars
    Great tips, my ribs came out fantastic

    Reply
  4. William

    February 20, 2022 at 3:13 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome walkthrough!

    Curious, can you share the model of that Dalstrong cleaver?

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      February 23, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      you’ll have to checkout dalstrongs website. it was called a chef hybrid knife. It might have been a limited addition. Thank you for checking out the recipe!!

      Reply
  5. Betty

    April 18, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    How long in the smoker after wrapping the ribs? Step 7 says if not done yet cook for “ another 30-60 min but never said how long after the initial wrapping.

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      April 24, 2022 at 1:59 pm

      normally 60-90 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the rack of ribs

      Reply
  6. Scott Hootman

    May 30, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    Does it matter if I leave the ribs in a pan while they smoke or should they be right one grill

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      May 31, 2022 at 8:35 pm

      to get maximum smoke its best to have them on the grill. That said its not a huge difference and it can make clean up easier. Its up to you to decide which is more important for you.

      Reply
  7. Paul Klink

    June 17, 2022 at 7:05 pm

    5 stars
    This is great, trying it right now. Very step by step, however, some further clarification on terms would be very helpful. What is mop, I can surmise, but that is just an example. Things like “put some butter on the rack”…On the rack in the grill, or the rack of ribs, I know I am stupid, but for a total newbie at smoking, it would be helpful.

    Thanks
    Paul

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      June 24, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      I appreciate the feedback. Ill see if I can go back through and try to give better explanations. thank you

      Reply
  8. Maria

    August 04, 2022 at 2:22 am

    I’m the section of wrapping in foil or paper you say meat side up, but in the directions (#6) you say bone side up. Which should it be?

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      August 13, 2022 at 1:21 pm

      truthfully it doesnt make a huge difference but I do recommend bone side down. Ill check the blog and clarify. thank you

      Reply
  9. T3dward

    September 09, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic article. Thank you for taking the time to list it all out. I think the most common mistake is that people panic when something doesn’t look right or one of the metrics is off (heat, smoke, rub amount or coverage etc). Your article is worth bookmarking!

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      September 13, 2022 at 10:04 pm

      Thank you!! glad you found it helpful

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Frank Campanella

If you love grilling, smoking and searing then you have come to the right place. Grilling 24x7 is your home for everything BBQ, Grilling and more. 

You'll find unique grilling recipes as well as a collection of bbq sides and sauces to make your next backyard cookout or tailgate a success.

Read More →

Cover of The Complete Guide to Grillin Steak - Preorder Now

Most Popular Recipes

  • Smoked Eye of Round with Beef Au Jus
  • Cast Iron Cuban Casserole – Leftover Pulled Pork Recipe
  • Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings with Spicy Sriracha Onion Rings
  • Bacon Burnt Ends Using Slab Bacon

Sign Up For The Best BBQ Recipes



Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 Grilling 24x7