Why Smoking Ribs Bone-Side Down Will Get You The Perfect Bark - Tasting Table

"If you watch any pitmaster worth their salt place ribs onto a smoker, you'll notice a consistent placement orientation. Most often, the bones are down, and the meat is up. We spoke with Scott Thomas of The Grillin' Fools, who explains exactly why this is the best method when smoking. "The reason to put the bones down is because [of] the shape of the bones," he notes. "The bones being curved will keep the ribs elevated off the cutting board/grill grates." Elevation prevents the delicate, seasoned meat from sticking to hot grates, keeping the rib rack stable through hours of smoking. Thomas adds that putting the meat side down risks stripping it bare. "If the ribs are placed meat side down, all that seasoning running down the middle on that side will stick to the cutting board/grill grates," he notes. What sounds like a small positioning maneuver actually sets up the whole cook."

"Bark is the holy grail of barbecue. That crackling, spice-blackened crust that makes every bite feel layered with texture and flavor. When speaking of its importance, Thomas puts it plainly: "The bark is formed by the combination of the heat, fat extruded during the cooking process, BBQ rub/seasoning, and smoke to form the tastiest part of barbecue." This is why choosing the right barbecue seasoning is paramount to your meat's success. Scientifically, it's the Maillard reaction meeting barbecue physics. As heat pene"

Bones-down rib placement uses the curved shape of the bones to lift meat off cutting boards or grill grates, preventing seasoned surfaces from sticking and preserving rub. Elevation maintains a stable rack through long smoking periods and prevents bare patches that ruin crust and flavor. Even exposure to heat and smoke allows fat, seasoning, and smoke to combine and create bark. Bark forms from heat, extruded fat, BBQ rub/seasoning, and smoke, aided by Maillard reactions. Choosing an appropriate rub and keeping the meat slightly lifted produce an even, flavorful crust and better texture.

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