Keeping ribs warm?

[5lakes]

Greetings!

It all started this morning on the way to work. My boy in college texts me, asking if I would like to come up and visit this weekend. I thought, "Any time I get to spend time with him is great" so I said sure. Times were arranged, then he adds "It sure will be nice to have a hot meal for a change." Aha, I thought... The real reason he wants me to come up! I always take him and his girlfriend out to eat when I visit. Granted, I know money is tight for him, even though I help him out.

During work, I think about doing something different, this time. Friday will be a nice day here for a change, so I figured perfect opportunity to take a day off and smoke some ribs to take up there. Also, perfect opportunity for the first smoke in my new WSM. So, I had a plan. Then, it hit me. I'd have to smoke the ribs, then keep them in the fridge till Saturday and cooler them for the two and a half hour drive. Once there, reheat them, along with reheating the Wicked Baked Beans. The beans won't be a problem, but what about the ribs?

My first thought was to vac pack them, then put in a pot of hot water once there. Seems it would work. Then, thinking some more, I could get up early Saturday, smoke them (the outside temp will only be in the low teens, however). I'm sure the WSM won't have a problem with that, and now with my Thunderbolt socks, I really wouldn't either. But, could they stay warm enough in a cooler to be safe three to four hours later? Done that with butts before, but ribs? The only real downside of getting up early Saturday is losing out on some beer time Friday night.

Ideas? Anything else I could try?

Thanx

Jerry aka 5lakes

[IrishChef]

Does he have an oven? That would be huge if he does. You could just foil them cold, and reheat them to temp in a hot oven.

[rbranstner]

Yes the ribs will stay warm in a cooler double wrapped in foil then wraped in towels. But if you don't want to get up early and smoke them you can smoke them Friday and I would just leave the rack whole and put them in foil and reheat on low heat in the oven or throw them on a grill when you get there to reheat them. Either way you do it you have options.

[Checkered Past]

Yea I have ta agree ... Cook and enjoy some Barley pops on Fri. and reheat on Sat., when I go up in the woods camping I do the boil in the bag method and it works well and no clean up.

[HawgHeaven]

I would vacu-suk them. I have found that the flavor is even better after doing this. When you go to reheat, either use the boiling the bag method, or if he has an oven available, place the racks of ribs in a disposable aluminum pan, add just a little apple juice in the bottom and seal with aluminum foil. Cook at 350-ish for 20 to 30 minutes. Freakin yummy.

[Slanted88]

I would vacu-suk them. I have found that the flavor is even better after doing this. When you go to reheat, either use the boiling the bag method, or if he has an oven available, place the racks of ribs in a disposable aluminum pan, add just a little apple juice in the bottom and seal with aluminum foil. Cook at 350-ish for 20 to 30 minutes. Freakin yummy.

Done it like this...I know it works...& Has the you done it taste!

[WALLE]

. But if you don't want to get up early and smoke them you can smoke them Friday and I would just leave the rack whole and put them in foil and reheat on low heat in the oven or throw them on a grill when you get there to reheat them. Either way you do it you have options.

That's the way I do mine.

[IrishChef]

That's the way I do mine.

Biggest issue with the cooler keeping them warm is if you have a delay. You might show up at his door, and he's got a "do not disturb" sign hanging on it. Hate to see you go through the effort, and then have to toss them.

[Bbqgoddess]

see.. its all up to you and your schedule... me, if I could take a day off to smoke em.. well I would just for the day off to play with my new smoker without a house full of peeps... then like Tracy said, leave em racked, foil em..toss in the fridge and re-heat in the oven as described above.,.if he is in college not sure he would have a que to re-heat em on?? When I have to pre-smoke and toss in the fridge for an event, I do like to re-heat on the que, I dont think it really adds anything to the flavor, I think its a mental thing, like your just not "re-heating" leftovers.. if ya know what I mean...??
Have a great time with your boy and your new toy!

[curious aardvark]

i'd be against the keeping them warm gig for a couple of reasons.
food kept warm for long periods is at risk.
don't think therre'd be a serious risk - but why take any ?
plus it also can taste a bit stale.

cook the day before, vac and chill and follow hawgs method

[new smoke]

Yea I have ta agree ... Cook and enjoy some Barley pops on Fri. and reheat on Sat., when I go up in the woods camping I do the boil in the bag method and it works well and no clean up.

I've thought about trying the boil-in-bag method with PP, but not with ribs. In your experience, about how long do they take in the water?

[Richtee]

I've thought about trying the boil-in-bag method with PP, but not with ribs. In your experience, about how long do they take in the water?

It's not so much "boil in" as simmer in. No rolling boil, a gentle bubble. 180 or so water. And be wary of edge of bag hanging over pot edge...bad... be sure to have a big enough pot to totally emcompass PLASTIC, not just the ribs. And no plastic touching bare metal above water line. Cut the ribs in half slabs if necc.

Works great. From chilled temps to serving, depending on amount of food in water... 20 mins to 45 mins. Of course...double packed half slabs maybe a bit longer. Great way to go.

[new smoke]

It's not so much "boil in" as simmer in. No rolling boil, a gentle bubble. 180 or so water. And be wary of edge of bag hanging over pot edge...bad... be sure to have a big enough pot to totally emcompass PLASTIC, not just the ribs. And no plastic touching bare metal above water line. Cut the ribs in half slabs if necc.

Works great. From chilled temps to serving, depending on amount of food in water... 20 mins to 45 mins. Of course...double packed half slabs maybe a bit longer. Great way to go.

I'll give it a shot.

Thanks, Rich.

[HawgHeaven]

It's not so much "boil in" as simmer in. No rolling boil, a gentle bubble. 180 or so water. And be wary of edge of bag hanging over pot edge...bad... be sure to have a big enough pot to totally emcompass PLASTIC, not just the ribs. And no plastic touching bare metal above water line. Cut the ribs in half slabs if necc.

Works great. From chilled temps to serving, depending on amount of food in water... 20 mins to 45 mins. Of course...double packed half slabs maybe a bit longer. Great way to go.

Yeah, forgot to mention the halving... and I highly recommend two seperate bags.

[new smoke]

Yeah, forgot to mention the halving... and I highly recommend two seperate bags.

Sounds like the two separate bags would work best. A lot more even heating and quicker.

Thanks.