The 3-2-1 ribs method is where you smoke the ribs on low for 3 hours – then you wrap it and smoke it for 2 hours before unwrapping the ribs and then smoking for 1 hour for one last time.
You may think smoking ribs is pretty straightforward but the reality is that you need to use and master the right technique. This is where the 3-2-1 method comes in. I learned it from my family and now I want to pass it down to you.
In this post I will give you a detailed guide for the 3-2-1 technique, what kind of ribs to use it with, and lots of other tips!
3-2-1 ribs describes the length of time that the pork ribs have to be smoked in a certain manner.
This refers to smoking ribs unwrapped for 3 hours at the beginning of the smoke. Then, you wrap the pork ribs and then smoke for another 2 hours. After this, you unwrap the pork ribs, and smoke for another hour.
So, what is the benefit of smoking pork ribs this way?
Well, this method strikes that right balance between smoking ribs and steaming them. See, if you smoke ribs unwrapped for the entire smoke, then you end up with dry and tasteless ribs.
On the other hand, if you steam them for too long, you miss out on that crunchy surface and smoky flavor. The 3-2-1 method gives you the best of both worlds.
Now, you are likely wondering, will this give you fall off the bone ribs? Well, I hate to disappoint you but while fall off the bone sounds good, it isn’t a sign of well smoked ribs.
If you have fall off the bone smoked ribs, then you likely have overcooked your BBQ ribs. So, while this is still a popular turn of phrase, I wouldn’t use it as a guide to smoke ribs if I were you.
Before I get into the 3-2-1 ribs method for smoking ribs, I do have to clear up one thing: when to use this methodology.
You should only use this technique when smoking spare ribs and St. Louis style ribs. Never use it to prepare smoked baby back ribs.
So, why is this?
See, baby back ribs are taken from where the spine meets the ribs, after the loin is removed. They are called baby back ribs because they are shorter and don’t have as much meat on the bone. Furthermore, the meat is quite lean as well.
This is why when you smoke baby back ribs, you have to use the 2-2-1 method. If you try to use the 3-2-1 method, you will dry out your baby back ribs.
Then, what is the difference between baby back ribs, St. Louis style ribs, and spare ribs?
Well, pork spare ribs are taken from the belly section, once the belly has been removed. As a result, they are quite a bit meatier and have a bit more fat on them. The only real difference between spare and St. Louis ribs is that the latter is a trimmed and neater version of the spare ribs.
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You need to remove the membrane from the ribs if your butcher hasn’t already done this. Do this by using a sharp knife to lift up the membrane from one corned of the rack of ribs.
If you are concerned about cutting yourself, then use a butter knife.
Once you have lifted up enough of the membrane, grasp it firmly with a paper towel. Then slowly peel away until it is completely removed.
Add the yellow mustard, two tablespoons of apple juice, and Worcestershire sauce to a bowl. Stir until well combined.
Add the ingredients of the BBQ rub to a small bowl. Mix well until combined thoroughly.
Brush the yellow mustard mix onto both sides of the ribs. Sprinkle the dry rub on top, for both sides.
Preheat the smoker to 180 degrees F.
Place the ribs bone side down. Close the lid and smoke for 3 hours.
Tear off long sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil.
Take the ribs off the smoker and place on the foil bone side down.
Sprinkle the brown sugar on top of the ribs. Then, drizzle on the honey as well as the apple juice. If you would like extra tender ribs, add a tablespoon or so more of the apple juice.
You can also add a drizzle of apple cider vinegar if you want a bit more kick.
Seal the ribs in the foil tightly to create an airtight seal.
Increase the smoker temperature to 225 F.
Place the ribs back in the smoker, bone side down. Close the lid.
Cook for 2 hours
Take the smoked pork ribs off the smoker.
Gently remove the ribs from the foil packet and brush with BBQ sauce on both sides.
Place ribs back on the grill grates.
Smoke for up to an hour.
Check on the smoked ribs after the half an hour mark. If the meat has begun to pull back from the bone, then the ribs are close to being done.
Pick up the ribs by the middle of the rack with a pair of tongs. If the ends begin to droop downwards and the meat begins to crack in the middle, then the ribs are ready.
Take the ribs off the smoker and let the ribs rest for a few minutes before serving.
The dry rub that I have included in this recipe is one of my favorites. This is because it is a nice balance between sweet and savory.
That being said, you should feel free to create your own rub, based on the ingredients and spices that you like best.
I would advise you to use some brown sugar, however, as pork works well with a little bit of sweetness. However, if you are using a very sweet BBQ sauce, then you can cut down on the brown sugar in the rub.
Just be mindful that pork doesn’t have the strongest flavor profile. So, avoid choosing any ingredients that may be too overpowering.
As you will have seen in this ribs recipe, I have used apple juice, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce as the binding agent.
I like these ingredients as they add a little bit of flavor while ensuring that the rub ingredients stick on the ribs.
If you want to keep things simple, though, you can go ahead and just use yellow mustard alone.
I always go with apple wood when it comes to smoking ribs. The pork and the sweetness of this wood are the perfect pairing.
Not to mention, I like the fact that apple wood is fairly mild and adds enough of a smoke flavor without going overboard.
You will have noticed that I have started off with a cooking temperature of 180 F for the first 3 hours of the cook.
I know that a lot of people like to set the grill temperature a little higher as they want to speed up the cook. However, I am going to warn you against doing that.
Keep in mind that there is so little meat on the ribs already. Therefore, there is a greater risk of the ribs drying out.
So, it is always best to err on the side of caution and to go with low heat for the first part of the cook.
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For most of my smoked recipes, I will advise people to use a meat thermometer. When you cook ribs, though, the thermometer may not always be the most accurate option.
This is because there isn’t as much meat on the bone. So, it is quite easy to get an inaccurate reading. In this case, I would say that following time instead of the internal temp may be the better option for you.
Yes, the baste for this ribs recipe is pretty sweet. While a lot of people like it like this, I appreciate that it may not be up your alley.
If so, you can substitute some of the honey for some chili sauce. You will find that the contrast between sweet and spicy will hit the spot every single time.
You can even add in a little butter if you want!
I would make a point of including the apple juice for more tender ribs, though. After all, the more moisture there is, the more tender meat you will get.
Wrapping the ribs properly is a key step here. This is why you need to get it right.
First things first, use heavy duty aluminum foil. This will reduce the risk of the foil tearing. See, if the foil tears, then not only will you lose the liquid enclosed in the foil, but you are also allowing steam to escape. This means that the BBQ ribs will be deprived of moisture and will likely dry out.
In case you are using thinner foil, then make sure to use multiple sheets as a backup.
The other trick is to create a tight seal. Crimp the edges together and fold them over. Follow this up by scrunching tightly.
I don’t need to tell you that BBQ sauce is an important part of smoked ribs recipes.
Due to the importance of the BBQ sauce, always spend a little bit more money and choose a really high quality brand.
In fact, if you have the time, I would suggest that you make your own BBQ sauce. Not only do you get the benefit of a superior flavor, but you can also adjust each ingredient so that you find the right balance between sweet and spicy.
One of the best pieces of advice that I can give you is to let your ribs rest for a few minutes – about 5 minutes – after smoking them.
This will put the finishing touches on them, trust me.
This method isn’t as popular as it doesn’t allow for the ribs to steam for long enough. As a result, you may end up with dry meat.
Fall off the bone ribs are a bit of a misconception as they refer to overcooked ribs. You should pay attention to how the rack bends instead.
There you have it – all that you need to know to prepare delicious ribs. So, follow the technique, ingredients, and tips mentioned here!
