Model #2 - loading nine racks of ribs

[swede8a]

Understand that this model has 30# capacity. Wanting to smoke nine racks; most I have done is six. Can you stack racks on top of each other or is smoke going to be uneven? Should I be using upright rack holders that sit on the shelves?

Also, does the smoke time stay the same; about 6 hours at 235?  Do you increase wood amount as the number of racks increases.

Thanks for any input.

P.S. I saw the seven rib rack for model #2. This accessory may just do the trick. Thanks again.

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[Pork Belly]

I have smoked a lot of ribs stacked in piles over the years, but never in an SI. I would take one of your grates to a welding fabrication shop. Have them build you a rack that fits on top of it. Have them add short vertical sections. That way you can hold multiple racks of ribs on edge.

Be sure to account for the bracket that holds the racks in place. You cant make the new rib rack go all the way to the edge.

[Walt]

Back in 2014 I smoked 9 racks in my #2 for a funeral. 4 half racks per wire rack & 6 half racks on a rib rack @ the top.   Thickest pieces on bottom rack thinnest @ the top. They were well recieved. Same cook time. Same amount of wood.

[old sarge]

SI used to sell rib hangers. You would be able to hang a lot of racks vertically.

[Pork Belly]

I never saw anything complementary about rib hangers. I know they gave a lot away because they didn't sell.

[old sarge]

I know folks with ugly drum smokers use them for ribs, bellies, and the like.  My concern would be the meat could cook up so tender it could separate from the hooks.

[Walt]

This was a post referring to the 2014 cook that should help with capacity.....

I would think about 1/2 lb of meat per person. So.....with bone in maybe 3/4 lb per person.  The good news is, if you go heavy, extra ribs do vac seal real well.  I cooked 29 lbs (9 racks) of SAMe ribs recently.  Cut in half, you can arrange 4 halves per shelf useing the lower 4 shelves (8 racks of ribs).  If you put the rib rack on the top, 7 half racks will fit on it (3.5 racks).  12.5 racks can be squeezed in, if needed. I prefer to lay the ribs flat but the rack helps for squeezing in more during big Cook.

[Pork Belly]

I would think about 1/2 lb of meat per person. So.....with bone in maybe 3/4 lb per person.

At the restaurant we were using 2 1/4 and down, back rib racks. That is considered a fairly heavy rack. If you go out, most places cook up 1 1/2 and down.  What that means is our racks were sized between 1 3/4 and 2 1/4 pounds each.

Your calculation of 3/4 pounds bone in per person is about half a small rack of ribs.