Another #3 Newbie

gmbrown

gmbrown

Member
Hi, folks,

I've been lurking here for a while (for research, mostly), but finally got a hold of my #3. Last summer, we bought a mass-market competitor's product, and it was DOA--didn't even heat up. So we returned it, and I did some research, and found that that was a problem a lot of people had with it. I figured there had to be a decent-priced electric smoker that actually works, and eventually found Smokin-It. My wife got me the #3 as a birthday present (best wife ever), and since we don't live too far from Smokin-It HQ, I picked it up in person. Steve, Mr. Smokin-It himself, was very personable (and friendly to my curious three-year-old who had come for the ride), helped me load everything up, gave me a few tips on how to use it, and off we went.

Couldn't be happier with how it works (and more importantly) how it cooked up the two slabs of ribs that ended up being the maiden voyage of our #3. This is a great product, and you folks here on the forum have shared some great tips.

Geoff
 
Welcome Geoff from ND!

You have made a great choice with the #3 and what a bonus to be able to pick it up and eliminate the shipping cost.

Plenty to read here and many that can answer questions.
 
You will be very happy with your #3 and the forum is the icing on the cake, great people with great tips, a combo that makes it impossible to fail !!
 
Welcome to the family, Geoff!    You are off to a great start with plenty of good smokes in your future ... lots of good ideas on this forum of meats/recipes to try out...it will keep you busy for sure!  Cheers
 
es1025 said:
I would recommend baby backs.
Click to expand...

I may try those. Certainly, when I had ribs the old-fashioned (wrong  ;) ) way, baby backs were better because they still ended up more tender. But for my money, in a smoker, I prefer a properly smoked rack of SLC ribs because they have more meat and taste just as good if not better. That said, I may change that tune once I've run a couple racks of baby backs through the #3.  :D
 
Hi Geoff, welcome to the forum. Great choice with the #3, you will be amazed at the results that this unit produces.
 
gmbrown said:
es1025 said:
I would recommend baby backs.
Click to expand...

I may try those. Certainly, when I had ribs the old-fashioned (wrong  ;) ) way, baby backs were better because they still ended up more tender. But for my money, in a smoker, I prefer a properly smoked rack of SLC ribs because they have more meat and taste just as good if not better. That said, I may change that tune once I've run a couple racks of baby backs through the #3.  :D
Click to expand...

Either are a fine choice, and both come out great in an SI.  I was a SLC rib guy most of my life, mainly due to never having baby backs that were worth a darn.  Too little, not enough meat.  However, I found the IBC 3-rack packs they sell at Sam's, and I'm a true convert!  They are more meaty than any spares I've made, and yield more "edible" meat (the whole thing).  Maybe it's the ribs you're buying.
 
DivotMaker said:
Either are a fine choice, and both come out great in an SI.  I was a SLC rib guy most of my life, mainly due to never having baby backs that were worth a darn.  Too little, not enough meat.  However, I found the IBC 3-rack packs they sell at Sam's, and I'm a true convert!  They are more meaty than any spares I've made, and yield more "edible" meat (the whole thing).  Maybe it's the ribs you're buying.
Click to expand...

Part of the problem may be comparing apples to oranges: the baby backs I've had have always been good, but I've always had them grilled (the downside to living in the North is that few people know how to do BBQ--I had to drive at least half an hour and pay a lot of money to find the few places in the Detroit area that know what they're doing. But now I get to do it myself  :) ). And I'm comparing those to smoked spare ribs. IMHO, that's no comparison. Now, if I had those good baby backs in the smoker, that may have me singing a different tune. :-)
 
Maybe i have been lucky, i get my ribs from either bj's or costco. Both places have good product.

I smoked both types of ribs,  both came out real good just like the meatiness of the baby backs.

Btw, in nj you only get slc in restaurants coated in bbq sauce. We dont order ribs anymore.
 
es1025 said:
Maybe i have been lucky, i get my ribs from either bj's or costco. Both places have good product.

I smoked both types of ribs,  both came out real good just like the meatiness of the baby backs.

Btw, in nj you only get slc in restaurants coated in bbq sauce. We dont order ribs anymore.
Click to expand...

Funny, Ed, most of the BBQ joints in my neck of the woods only do spares.  The bigger chains, like Rib Crib, do baby backs, but not the smaller places.  Strange, really.  I grew up on spares, but am a total convert to back ribs now.  I find the lack of the small cartilage bones, and less fat, appealing.  The meat texture is more consistent, too.
 
Tony
True story, i have a 9 year old that loves ribs since she was very young. We would go to a restaurant and order ribs at 20 for a rack. Slathered in sauce. I was like i can do better, thus the smoker ed was born. My daugther does not order ribs out anymore. Now she is onto seafood. Shrimp, scallops, salmon. She is a dry rub only girl with a littlr sauce on the side only baby backs.

 
Awesome, Ed!  Funny - my wife has never been much of a "smoked meat' girl, but loves it now!  I guess having the right Q makes all the difference! ;D
 
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