When Do You Prep Your Ribs?

[DDave]

Just curious, but when you you folks prep your ribs? Do you rub them the night before or the day that you smoke them?

I started out doing them the night before but here lately I've just been doing them an hour or so before I put them on the smoker.

Thoughts?

Dave

[Mikey]

I get the fire going in the Bandera, then prep the ribs and when the fire's ready, on they go. About 2 hrs. after the fire's lit, give or take.

[SmokinLee]

An hour or two is good. I planned a smoke last year, had them all rubbed, and smoker warmed up. Got called out and couldnt smoke em till the next day. They were very hammy.

[ALX]

Never figured that one out myself...Great poll...I do it few hours before smoke

[rpmorey]

I generally get behind, seems like every time. So normally mine get rub as they are going into the smoker.

[Richtee]

prepped... trimmed...when I can. Never rub more than like 6 hours ahead.

[doctor phreak]

funny that you posted this because i have 2 racks that i am doing tomorrow and was thinking to myself that i need to go in there and get them rubbed so after reading this i will wait until the morning to get them prepared about 2-3 hours before i put them on and see what a difference it will make

[minnbill]

I've done both,usually try to get em done the night before just cause

[DDave]

i have 2 racks that i am doing tomorrow

So do I.

Actually, since I started doing the "brown sugar thing" after the rub, I've just been prepping them after I light the drum.

Dave

[Crewdawg52]

Prepped, trimmed and wrapped in plastic wrap at home (if I can get them done) before the comp (one less thing to do). Rubbed no more than 2 hrs before going in the smoker. Like Lee said, the salt in the rubs will make them "hammy".

[crusty ol salt]

with my schedule smoking has become more of "the spur of moment" very rarely does anything happen the night before...

[SMOKE FREAK]

Mine will hit the smoker in about 6 hours from now...they're still half frozen
I wont rub them till the fire is lit...At least a good hour to warm the smoker and on they go...

[Texas-Hunter]

Normally no more than 3-4 hours before I pop them in the smoker.. I agree with Lee, if done over night and you are using a store bought rub. The ribs tend to be hammy due to the large amount of salt in the rub...

[HawgHeaven]

I used to do them the night before, but as was stated earlier, they will tend to get hammy. Now, it's about 4 hours ahead of the smoke.

[Uncle-Honky]

I prep at least 2 hours before going on. Let the stick burner warm up and the heat even out. At comp, being they are inspected, I have no choice but to wait to rub them. We get to them when there is time, after the big meats are set and the chix are done cut 'n boned...yada yada yada.
Cool poll Dave