There are all kinds of theories of how to make good barbecue. Some people boil ribs before cooking them while others throw them in the oven. But BBQ experts agree that the best way is to cook your ribs low and slow on the grill or in the smoker.
Home BBQ Equipment
When cooking barbeque, you have a few options.
But if you want to go (forgive us) whole hog, you’ll get what the pros have – a smoker. These can range in price from $100 to $10,000. It’s up to you to decide how devoted you are to barbecue, but keep in mind that you’re not serving a restaurant full of people.
The next best option is a charcoal grill. Barbecue is all about capturing that great smoky flavor; an old school grill allows you to use both charcoal and wood chips to do so.
Your last option is to use a gas grill, which is the most commonly found barbeque grill. With a gas grill, you can have both the ease of gas and the flavor of a charcoal grill. You’ll have to buy a wood chip smoking box like this from Amazon if you want to use these chips for flavoring.
You soak your wood chips, put them in the box, and place the box below your grill grate. After a few hours, you’ll have your own backyard barbecue!
Backyard BBQ Ideas
You’ll find a zillion barbecue recipes online from simple to fancy. However, remember that the beauty in good barbecue comes from the technique and not the complexity of your recipe.
Select a good meaty cut of ribs such as baby back. Peel the membrane off the ribs and then rub with the cut sides of either lemons or limes, squeezing a little of the juice as you go onto the ribs.
Next, add your rub. This can be a simple pepper-and-salt combo or a fancy concoction that includes spices like paprika. If you have time, wrap your ribs in plastic wrap and leave them in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight.
Light a fire on only one half of the grill (a medium-high heat) and stack your ribs on the other side. Remember, you’re smoking your meat rather than grilling it.
Cover your grill, cook for 40 minutes then rotate your ribs. Cook for 40 more minutes, then rotate ribs again. Cook for another 40 minutes and then it’s sauce time.
Turn the temperature down to a medium heat and place your ribs side-by-side, still over the unlit portion of your grill. Baste with your sauce and grill for 30 more minutes. You can baste more than once if you like.
Remove your ribs and let rest for 10 minutes, then serve.
Not in a rush? Here’s an even slower way to cook your ribs that will give you even more time to hang out in your backyard and enjoy summer.
About StorageMart
At StorageMart, we’re proud to be a part of the communities we serve. And we’re always up for good barbecue, especially when sitting in the backyard with friends, neighbors, or family.