Baby back ribs are so delicious and addicting. However, cooking these tender yet juicy delights is no easy task, especially when you don’t know how long to smoke them. Smoke baby back ribs at 225˚F for 5-6 hours.
Contents
- Should Baby Back Ribs Be Smoked At 225 Or 250
- Tips For Smoking Baby Back Ribs
- How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225
- How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225 On A Pellet Grill
- How Long To Smoke Ribs At 225 In An Electric Smoker
- How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225 On The Grill
- How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225 Without Foil
- Final Thoughts
Should Baby Back Ribs Be Smoked At 225 Or 250
Many BBQ pit masters will try to convince you that the best temperature to smoke ribs is 225˚F or 250˚F.
However, the best temperature ranges between 225˚F and 250˚F. These temperatures allow the ribs to cook slowly so the meat tenderizes and cooks evenly.
The meat will not cook evenly if the smoker’s temperature is too high. Some parts of the baby back ribs will be overcooked, while others will be perfectly cooked or undercooked.
How Often Should I Spray Baby Back Ribs While Smoking
Once you place the baby back ribs in the smoker, let them smoke for 90 minutes. Mist the ribs with apple cider vinegar or apple juice, then let them smoke. Continue misting the ribs every 30 minutes until they are fully cooked.
Tips For Smoking Baby Back Ribs
Baby back ribs have a mild flavor. Too much smoke can be a bad thing for baby back ribs.
For this reason, you cannot smoke ribs with every wood. Some woods, like mesquite, hickory, and pecan, can easily overpower the baby back rib’s flavor.
Fruit woods such as cherry, apple, and peach work best with baby back ribs. If you want your smoked baby back ribs to have a signature BBQ flavor, you can mix hickory wood with fruit woods like applewood to lessen the harsh flavor.
Add BBQ sauce to the ribs during the last 30 minutes of cooking. If you add the BBQ sauce too early, the sugar in the sauce will burn.
Applying the BBQ sauce 30 minutes before it finishes cooking allows it to caramelize, but it will not burn.
How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225
How long to smoke baby back ribs depends on 4 factors. First, the size of the ribs drastically impacts the smoking time.
Some believe the average rack of baby back ribs weighs about 2 1/2 pounds. In contrast, others believe a rack of baby back ribs can weigh up to 4 pounds. Nevertheless, you should weigh your baby back ribs before you cook them.
The larger the rack, the longer it will take to smoke. In contrast, the smaller the rack, the faster they will cook.
The cooking time also depends on whether or not you wrap the ribs in foil. Wrapping the ribs in foil will speed up the cooking process.
The degree of tenderness also affects baby back ribs cooking time. Some people prefer fall-off-the-bone ribs, which will take longer to smoke. In contrast, some people prefer tender ribs that stay on the bone.
Generally speaking, it takes about 5-6 hours to smoke ribs at 225˚F. However, check the rib’s internal temperature about 30 minutes before they are scheduled to finish cooking.
It seems a little premature, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. The ribs may be finished cooking, or you may need to adjust the cooking time.
How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225 On A Pellet Grill
If you are smoking baby back ribs on a pellet grill, it’s best to use the 3-2-1 method. In short, the ribs are cooked for 3 hours unwrapped.
Next, the ribs are wrapped with foil and smoked for another 2 hours. Finally, the ribs are smoked for another hour until they are fully cooked.
So, it will take about 5 hours to smoke baby back ribs at 225˚F.
How Long To Smoke Ribs At 225 In An Electric Smoker
Generally speaking, it takes about 3-4 hours to cook baby back ribs at 225˚F. However, the cooking time depends on the size of the ribs and the other factors I mentioned above.
Nevertheless, ensure you preheat the electric smoker before smoking the rib. Preheating the smoker will ensure the ribs cook evenly. Additionally, it will also prevent the baby back ribs from sticking to the smoker’s cooking grates.
Check the rib’s internal temperature every 40-60 minutes. Periodically checking the rib’s temperature ensures they cook evenly and prevents them from overcooking.
How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225 On The Grill
You can smoke baby back ribs using a grill if you do not own a smoker. It will only take about 3-4 hours to smoke baby back ribs in the smoker.
However, if the ribs are thicker, it may take an additional hour to cook them. So, it will take 3-5 hours to smoke ribs on the grill.
However, check the rib’s temperature periodically to ensure you don’t overcook the ribs.
How Long To Smoke Baby Back Ribs At 225 Without Foil
Believe it or not, wrapping ribs in foil is optional. Wrapping ribs in foil helps speed up the cooking process when the meat enters the stall.
The stall refers to a period of time when the rib’s internal temperature remains stagnant. It does not increase or decrease.
Wrapping the baby back ribs in foil speeds up the smoking process. However, you do not have to wrap the ribs.
The ribs will still be delicious. The only con is that the baby back ribs will take longer to cook.
Usually, it will take about 5-6 hours for baby back ribs to cook when they are wrapped in foil. In contrast, cooking will take up to 5-7 hours.
Nevertheless, make sure you monitor the baby back ribs internal temperature. The ribs will be cooked when they have a temperature between 190˚F and 200˚F.
Final Thoughts
Baby back ribs were made to be smoked. Smoking them adds a beautiful flavor that makes the ribs super addicting.
You will have moist, juicy ribs every time since you know how long it takes to smoke baby back ribs at 225˚F. So, pull out your smoker and smoke some baby back ribs.
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.