Kansas City Style Ribs
Smoking ribs Kansas City style is a popular way of cooking ribs that involves slow smoking them over wood or charcoal and then finishing them with a thick, sweet barbecue sauce. In this article, we’ll take you through the steps to make perfect Kansas City style ribs, including a rub recipe and a sauce recipe that will make your ribs the talk of the town.
Choosing the Ribs:
The first step to making perfect Kansas City style ribs is choosing the right type of ribs. Kansas City-style ribs are traditionally pork spare ribs, which are meatier than baby back ribs and have more flavor. When selecting ribs, look for a rack that has plenty of meat on it and is well-marbled, as this will help keep the meat tender and juicy during the smoking process.
Preparing the Ribs:
Once you have your ribs, it's time to prepare them for smoking. Start by removing the thin membrane that runs along the underside of the ribs. This membrane can be tough and chewy, so removing it will help your ribs cook more evenly and result in a more tender end product.
Kansas City Style Rub Recipe:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.
Generously apply the rub to both sides of the ribs, making sure to work it into all the nooks and crannies.
Cover the ribs and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
Smoking the Ribs:
Now that your ribs are prepped and ready, it's time to get your smoker fired up. If you're using a charcoal smoker, light your charcoal and wait until it's ashed over before adding your wood chips. If you're using an electric or propane smoker, simply turn it on and set the temperature to around 225°F.
Once your smoker is up to temperature, place your ribs on the grate bone-side down. Be sure to leave some space between each rack to allow for even smoke circulation. For best results, use wood chips that complement the flavor of pork, such as hickory or applewood.
Maintaining the Right Temperature:
Maintaining the right temperature is key to achieving perfectly smoked ribs. Aim to keep your smoker temperature around 225°F throughout the smoking process, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain this temperature. Be sure to add wood chips every 30-45 minutes to ensure a consistent smoke flavor.
The Smoking Process:
Now it's time to let the smoking process work its magic. Pork spare ribs typically take around 4-5 hours to smoke, depending on the size of the rack and the temperature of your smoker. During the smoking process, check your smoker temperature regularly and adjust as needed.
To ensure that your ribs stay moist and tender, you can use a spray bottle filled with apple juice or cider vinegar to mist the ribs every hour or so. This will help prevent the ribs from drying out and add some extra flavor to your meat.
Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon coarse Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions:
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all the ingredients for the sauce, except for the salt and pepper, and whisk well until everything is fully mixed.
Place the saucepan on medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Once the sauce has boiled, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for around 10-15 minutes. Stir the sauce every few minutes to make sure it does not stick to the bottom of the saucepan.
After simmering, remove the sauce from heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
Take a taste and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt and pepper. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken as it cools, so don't worry if it seems a bit thin.
If you are using the sauce for the ribs immediately, let it cool for another 5-10 minutes, until it reaches room temperature.
Once the ribs are done smoking, use a basting brush to generously coat the ribs with the sauce on both sides.
Return the ribs to the smoker for another 15-20 minutes to allow the sauce to set and become sticky.
Once the ribs are ready, remove them from the smoker and let them rest for a few minutes.
Serve the ribs hot with extra sauce on the side.
And there you have it, a finger-licking good Kansas City style BBQ sauce for your ribs! Enjoy!
