5 Benefits of Cooking Babyback Ribs in the Smoker

Cooking Babyback Ribs in the Smoker may become one of your family’s favorite meals. They are meatier than spare ribs or St Louis ribs. When these ribs are properly cooked, they are juicy and you accomplish that “perfect bite”!

Cook by Temperature, not Time

So I will just jump right into it, cook your babyback ribs by temperature not time. You likely have heard of the “3-2-1 Rib Method”, yeah wad that up and toss it out the window!

I have tried the 3-2-1 Rib Method when I first started cooking ribs. The ribs are good, and they do fall off the bone. However, the only issue is they are a little dry and “mushy”. This is because the ribs are overcooked!

In the beginning I did not know any better and I thought they were good. Well my process has changed.

A Recent Babyback Rib Cook

Recently I smoked some babyback ribs for dinner. I always keep a log of start time, grate temp, internal temp checks, wrap time, and finish time.

I started my cook at 2:36 pm and I pulled them to rest at 5:11 pm…that is less than 3 HOURS total cook time!

The bite was perfect!

Had I cooked my ribs for another 3 hours they would have been dried out and overcooked. This is why I say cook by temperature and not time!

Pro tip - If you don’t keep a BBQ log, I would highly recommend it. It helps so much with different weather variations, like humidity, outside temperatures, etc., that can affect your cooks.

Back to the Benefits of Cooking Babyback Ribs in the Smoker

Ok, now back to cooking babyback ribs. A lot of new pitmasters stress about cooking babyback ribs. Let me put your mind to ease, because they are so easy to cook!

1. You have the option to customize the taste.
   • You can experiment with BBQ rubs, BBQ sauces, etc. and tailor it to your specific flavor profile.
   • We suggest using a good quality rub, like Butcher BBQ Honey Rub or Butcher BBQ Cherry Rub.
   • Each of these rubs brings sweet honey and cherry flavor to the pork. When paired with apple wood or cherry wood it is simply amazing!
2. You can use anything from a Weber Kettle to a Traeger pellet smoker.
   • Personally, I am a little bias towards charcoal smokers. However, pellet smokers are a great option for busy families.
3. You will experience tender texture for that “perfect bite”.
   • Low and slow cooking will break down connective tissue resulting in juicy, tender ribs!
4. You will get social!
   • No, I am not talking about social media, but if you post some pics, it is nice when people like and comment.
   • I am talking about social gatherings. Smoking ribs at a family gathering, backyard barbecues, or tailgating is what it is all about!
5. Last but not least, you will have nutritional control over what you and your family eat.
   • Buying babyback ribs locally and cooking at home gives you control over what ingredients goes into your food.

In Conclusion

There you have it, 5 benefits of cooking babyback ribs in a smoker. There’s nothing like firing up the pit and smoking some delicious babyback ribs.

Try our Butcher BBQ Honey Rub or Butcher BBQ Cherry Rub at your next BBQ. That is where smoke meats flavor!

Also, please leave us a comment below or reach out to us if you have any questions. We would love to hear about your recent cooks!