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Smokin-It Smokers => Model 2 & 2D - The Middle Kid => Topic started by: TJ on March 05, 2015, 10:52:36 AM

Title: Bison ribs
Post by: TJ on March 05, 2015, 10:52:36 AM
Saved three big hunks of ribs from a buffalo I just shot with the intention of giving them a go in the smoker. Never tried bison, or beef for that matter in the smoker.
Any and all advice would be welcome.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: SuperDave on March 05, 2015, 10:58:31 AM
Are bison ribs as lean as the rest of bison meat?  Low and slow in our smokers really depend on there being some fat to help break down muscle tissue and keep the meat moist.  I bet that bison isn't an easy smoke.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TJ on March 05, 2015, 11:22:22 AM
They do have some fat, but not anywhere near as much as beef does. I was thinking maybe bake in the oven at 275 or so for a few hours and then smoke at 200 for about 6 hours. But was hoping someone here actually smoked them.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TmanEater on March 05, 2015, 12:47:05 PM
I keep reading around here that meat will only absorb smoke until about an internal temperature of 140ยบ. I'm not sure you'd want to bake in oven for a few hours and then move to the smoker.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: Pork Belly on March 05, 2015, 12:52:50 PM
We had great results braising and roasting our bison ribs in the oven. I did not have my SI at the time. I i had it I would have tried a portion of the ribs in the smoker but not commit all of them.

Try a small section if you get good results smoke the rest. If they are not outstanding go with the braising and roasting for the remaining ribs.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: DivotMaker on March 05, 2015, 09:25:32 PM
Never smoked bison ribs, but man, that sounds good!  Bison meat is really good, and I bet the ribs will be awesome!  Due to the leanness, I bet brining them would really add a moisture/flavor benefit, and then a good long "low and slow" smoke (no higher than 225)!
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TJ on March 06, 2015, 12:14:19 AM
I already thought about brining them overnight. Then decided to go low and slow with about 6 ounces of wood at 200F. Will monitor them often and if they start to dry out before becoming tender will transfer them to the oven until they are ready to munch on:)
The meat is awesome. Ended up with about 500 pounds of boned out meat, not counting the three slabs of ribs I saved.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: DivotMaker on March 06, 2015, 08:15:12 PM
Bet they'll be incredible, TJ!
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: BedouinBob on March 07, 2015, 05:08:41 PM
I will love to see how these turn out.   8)
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: old sarge on March 07, 2015, 10:45:02 PM
Something you folks may want to try when grilling or smoking very lean meat is larding.  Here is a link for various larding needles.  If you have an all steel marinating syringe injector (the needle is a smaller diameter) you can load it up with melted yet cool bacon fat or or just about any kind of melted fat and use that as well.

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alarding%20needle
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: Pork Belly on March 08, 2015, 12:19:33 AM
"Larding" is not done with lard or rendered fat. Larding needles grip strips of fat back. These needles are then run through the meat. The strips of fat are then deposited in the meat. If you want to go low budget, I have successfully used strips of bacon and a honing steel.
You could inject rendered fat but you wouldn't be larding. Having butchered two buffalo myself I don't think it would be worth the hassle to inject them. I would cut them into sections about as big as a lap top. Brine the ribs then smoke no higher than 225 check them at three hours. Decide then if your going to continue smoking or start to braise them in the oven. A lot of it is going to depend on the age and sex of the bison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsI7wekfYSA
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TJ on March 28, 2015, 12:35:04 PM
Pulled a pack out of the freezer and they are now defrosted. Removed the membrane and they are brining in one gallon of water with one cup or sugar and one cup of salt and a teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder.
Tomorrow the plan is to smoke them at 200 for about 5 hours and if they are not tender enough then they will get sauced and be moved to the oven at 250 or so until they are tender.
I'll post the results.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: gregbooras on March 28, 2015, 12:45:44 PM
TJ,

I have had bison steaks but not the ribs, looking forward to see how they turn out!

Greg
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TJ on March 29, 2015, 11:31:59 PM
After a 4 hour smoke at 200 put them in the oven at 275 in a covered pan. Basted them with sauce twice while they braised for 4 hours then removed them to toss on a hot grill for a few minutes to get some char.
Absolutely fantastic! Flavor was very rich and tender enough to cut with a fork. Moist and dense.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: gregbooras on March 30, 2015, 06:43:32 AM
Impressive, congrats!

Greg
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: DivotMaker on March 30, 2015, 10:30:50 PM
Nice Job!  Wish I could get some bison ribs around here! :(
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: 1stlink on March 31, 2015, 07:47:51 AM
TJ,
Congrats, ribs sound awesome. I think you may miss CO as I'm thinking that Bison are scarce in TN..  :'(
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: BedouinBob on March 31, 2015, 09:39:55 AM
I don't knTJ....seems to me if there are no pictures it didn't happen...  :)
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: gregbooras on April 04, 2015, 08:00:40 PM
When I was in Wyoming last year with family we grilled bison ribs and steaks and everyone enjoyed the food. I am traveling for the next few weeks, btu plan to order some bison steaks and elk steaks from Jackson.

Greg
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TJ on April 06, 2015, 12:27:52 PM
I knew someone would ask for pictures so hopefully I can post one.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: BedouinBob on April 06, 2015, 02:30:30 PM
Now that's what I'm talkin' about TJ! They look great!  :)
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TJ on April 06, 2015, 02:36:16 PM
Glad I insisted the rib cage remain intact otherwise the meat would of just ended up as burger.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: TmanEater on April 06, 2015, 08:17:49 PM
Looking mighty good.
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: 1stlink on April 07, 2015, 03:32:14 PM
Nice ribs, I am envious..  :)
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: DivotMaker on April 07, 2015, 09:54:00 PM
Wow, TJ!  Now THAT'S some "pull back" on the bones!  Amazing how much the meat shrunk!
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: Akalli on May 02, 2020, 08:22:35 PM
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Bought some bison back ribs from a local rancher here in Colorado and wanted to give smoking them in my #1 a try. Based on tips here, I put on a bourbon brown sugar rub and smoked them at 200 for 4 hours with a small handful of hickory chips. Took out of smoker then slathered with plenty of homemade BBQ sauce, wrapped them up tight in foil, placed them in a roasting pan with some hot water, covered the pan with foil, and roasted themin the oven at 275 for 3 hours, then put on the grill for a few minutes for the char.  These were wonderful! So tender and extremely flavorful. Can't wait to do some more to share with the neighbors! Thanks again for the tips on smoking bison ribs!
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: 1stlink on May 03, 2020, 05:39:53 AM
Excellent Akalli, pics are mouth watering...
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: gregbooras on May 03, 2020, 11:58:35 AM
Wow those look great!
Best Greg
Title: Re: Bison ribs
Post by: Akalli on May 03, 2020, 12:12:33 PM
They were spectacular!! Was worried about dryness, but that wasn't the case at all.

Wow those look great!
Best Greg