St. Louis-Style Smoked Ribs
3-2-1 method: 3 hours smoke, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour sauced. Fall-off-the-bone but with bite. Competition ribs don't actually fall off the bone.
Boston butt, 12-hour smoke at 225F, apple wood. Bark is mandatory. Internal temp 203F and a rest in butcher paper makes it pull apart perfectly.
Mix rub ingredients. Coat pork butt liberally on all sides. Let sit uncovered in fridge overnight minimum.
Remove from fridge 1 hour before cooking. Set up smoker at 225F with apple wood.
Smoke fat cap up for 6 hours. Spritz with apple juice every 45 minutes after the first 2 hours.
When bark is set and dark mahogany (around internal 165F), wrap tightly in butcher paper.
Continue smoking until internal temperature reaches 203F and a probe slides in with zero resistance, approximately 12 hours total.
Rest wrapped in a cooler for at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours.
Pull by hand or with forks. The bone should slide right out.
Mix in any rendered juices from the paper. Season to taste. Serve on buns with slaw.
3-2-1 method: 3 hours smoke, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour sauced. Fall-off-the-bone but with bite. Competition ribs don't actually fall off the bone.
No sauce. Heavier on the paprika and cayenne in the rub. Memphis style is smoke and spice without glaze.
Pecan-wood chicken thighs. The Alabama white sauce on the side is not optional. Competition circuit secret: scrape off the rubbery smoked skin and replace with a butter-basted finish.
Gochujang and soy sauce glaze replaces BBQ sauce in the final phase. Serve with pickled daikon and steamed rice.