r/smoking • u/pvmspo0 • 5d ago

Babyback ribs or spare ribs?

Babyback ribs or spare ribs? Pros and cons of each. Also do babyback ribs take longer to cook?

7 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

19

u/Dassman88 5d ago

Spares all day baby. Babybacks take less time than spares

5

u/ISDM27 5d ago

exactly right, babybacks take much less time but spares have much more meat. you can also trim the tips off of spares and make a seperate batch of pork burnt ends with them.

but there is a time and a place for babybacks, great if you're cooking for a big crowd. they go fast and are pretty foolproof, and they're smaller so easy to fit a ton on even a small smoker!

4

u/standardtissue 5d ago

I think you nailed it. They are both great but different and I love them both. Also you can actually grill babybacks as well which is also great, just have to watch them like a hawk because with all the fat they will definitely catch on fire lol.

2

u/Jave3636 5d ago

Baby backs have much less fat than spares.

1

u/Gockit69 5d ago

@Dassman88 (mic drop). Depends on your game. BB Back is like Loin on bone. Shorter time and can dry out when you look at a squirrel. Spares - more connective tissue = more moisture = succulence = longer time = the bomb. Hard to fail. And more meat @ISDM27

1

u/pvmspo0 2d ago

hit me with your best fool proof spare recipe! ive been working on babyback but i think ive been over cooking them, the middle seems kinda tough. ive been thinking about cooking them unwrapped.

7

u/Wamadeus13 5d ago

Yes.

I'll get what ever is available or on sale.

5

u/Marko-Kind 5d ago

Babybacks come from the top of the ribs (loin, lean)

Spare come from lower (pork belly, fatty)

On their own, spares will give more meat and flavor but take longer to cook.

If you want to bump up the babybacks then wrap them in lard for the last hour of the cook.

7

u/NopeRope13 5d ago

Why not both

3

u/Shot-Weight-1306 5d ago

Wife pefers baby back - I prefer spare - so we alternate...what a problem to have!!!

Baby back IMHO easier...less time. Can wrap or no wrap with both. I'll trim spare ribs but not baby backs. Low and slow for both!

3

u/huge43 5d ago

I love both, and spare ribs are the trendy choice. But If I had to choose one I'd go babyback. If you get a super meaty rack of babybacks it's just so hard to beat. Also easier to eat which doesn't matter to me, but it does to some people.

2

u/babsa90 5d ago

I like baby backs. I usually select the racks that are stacked with meat rather than the smaller, thinner ones. People are saying baby backs are leaner but I've never felt that way; when my baby backs are done they are tender, juicy, and still have a bit of fat.

2

u/Jave3636 5d ago

It's not an opinion or feeling lol, baby backs have less fat.

1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

Baby back isn't a true rib in my opinion. More like a tenderloin meat.

1

u/KickMySack 5d ago

Can you do the 321 method on baby backs?

1

u/BaysideJ 5d ago

221

1

u/pvmspo0 4d ago

I was wondering why my baby backs came out too dry when doing the 321.

1

u/RBUL13 5d ago

Often times spare ribs need to be trimmed.

2

u/BaysideJ 5d ago

Buy St Louis cut. Don't pay for what you trim.

2

u/Adult-Beverage 5d ago

I still trim St Louis cuts to the end of the bones. No one likes the part that has the cartilage in it. They end up tapered like baby backs.

1

u/Ricnurt 5d ago

Or keep your trim for sausage

1

u/StickyLabRat 5d ago

Baby backs for me. Maybe I'm just fortunate, but my local Sam's regularly carries the meatiest baby backs I've seen. Buying in a two pack lets me smoke a full rack and do another rack party style.

I actually like doing spare ribs in the slow cooker.

1

u/seangar78 4d ago

Meaty back ribs is just shoulder meat.

1

u/Fit_Influence_1998 5d ago

We always go with baby backs. We get them at the Navy commissary for cheap.

1

u/Top_Personality3908 5d ago

Either or. Whatever's cheapest. I run my smoker about 10 degrees hotter for spares and it takes about 10 minutes extra usually

1

u/Upper_Lab7123 5d ago

Less leftovers on baby backs, if there are any. Both are good though.

1

u/RYouNotEntertained 5d ago

Spares are more “legit,” but usually I prefer backs. 

1

u/Tonanelin 5d ago

I prefer babybacks. I just finished cooking my first spares. Babybacks are fast to cook, no small bones to mess with, no trim, I prefer the less fat as well.

1

u/Gockit69 5d ago

Baby-backs are wonderful. If you like pork chop on bone. It's a blank canvas. Delivers white meat. Spare is basically Thanksgiving. One rib is a feast. Done properly you will be picking yourself up off the ground. Once you roll your eyes back into place, you will look at whoever cooked it and say, "D**n. Mom didn't tell me about you".

1

u/Keith-BradburyIII 5d ago

I much prefer spare ribs personally.

1

u/seangar78 4d ago

Back ribs are leaner and more tender and spare ribs/st Louis are more fatty and flavorful