Name: Smoked Baby Back Ribs with Apple Juice Spritz Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 racks Baby Back Pork Ribs; 2 cups apple juice (in a spray bottle); 2 teaspoons celery salt; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper; 3 teaspoons ground paprika; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Description

A flavorful smoked baby back pork ribs recipe featuring a perfectly balanced dry rub and apple juice spritzing to keep the ribs moist and tender during a slow smoking process.

Ingredients

Scale

Ribs and Spritz

2 racks Baby Back Pork Ribs
2 cups apple juice (in a spray bottle)

Dry Rub Seasoning

2 teaspoons celery salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
3 teaspoons ground paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

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Instructions

Remove the membrane: Remove the silver skin (membrane) off the back side of the ribs if the butcher did not already do this by taking the blunt end of a knife and tracing it under the membrane. Pull the membrane away from and off of the ribs to ensure better seasoning absorption and tenderness.
Preheat the smoker: Preheat your smoker to 300°F for 15 minutes with the lid closed to reach optimal smoking temperature.
Prepare the rub: Combine the rub seasonings in a small bowl or ramekin. Rub the ribs thoroughly on the top side with the seasoning mixture. Let the ribs rest while the smoker heats up.
Smoke the ribs: Place the ribs directly on the grill grate inside the smoker. Smoke for 30 minutes, then spritz the ribs several times with apple juice to keep them moist. Continue spritzing every 30 minutes until a total of 3 hours has passed. Flip the ribs once at 1 hour, and then flip every 30 minutes thereafter. Ensure the internal temperature of the ribs reaches 202°F before removing.
Rest and slice: Remove the ribs and rest them on a wooden cutting board for 10 minutes. Slice next to each bone (starting from the left side of each bone) to create even sections. Serve with your favorite BBQ sauce if desired, and enjoy!

Notes

Removing the membrane helps the ribs absorb flavor better and results in more tender meat.
Maintaining a consistent smoker temperature is crucial for perfectly cooked ribs.
Apple juice spritzing helps keep the ribs moist and adds subtle sweetness.
Using a meat thermometer ensures the ribs are cooked to a tender, safe temperature.
Let the ribs rest before slicing to retain juices and enhance flavor.