As you begin your meat smoking journey, you’ll find yourself considering more and more accessories to buy. As we started smoking ribs for ourselves, we started with one rack of ribs. There was no reason to consider a rib rack – until you’re planning a cook out for 20 people! The challenge is figuring out how to cook several racks of ribs at once, while cooking them evenly. If you plan on hosting and cooking ribs for a crowd, then a rib rack is a must have accessory. Let’s take a look at the benefits of a rib rack for your next smoke.
What is a rib rack?
A rib rack is made of durable metal and has multiple slots where you can place your spare ribs vertically in the oven or on the grill. This way you can cook more than one rack at a time without taking up too much space. This works great for pork ribs, baby back ribs and beef ribs. Depending on how many racks you are smoking, you may even consider purchasing two to accommodate all of your guests.
Why use a rib rack?
A rib rack allows you to smoke multiple racks of ribs vertically, taking up less grilling surface area, allowing you to maximize your smoking space. The rib rack also allows for more even heat distribution and promotes better smoke circulation around the ribs. This leads to evenly cooked and more flavorful ribs. The biggest perk is that it allows you to smoke several racks of ribs at once, increasing the efficiency, and reducing the cooking time for large parties.
The benefits of a rib rack
There are many benefits of using a rib rack – as mentioned above the primary benefit is maximizing your smokers grilling surface area and cooking multiple racks at once. There are a few additional benefits:
- Even cooking: The rib rack promotes better heat distribution and smoke circulation around the ribs, leading to a more evenly cooked end result.
- Flavor enhancement: The rib rack helps the smoke circulate more evenly around the ribs, allowing the smoke to adhere to both sides of your ribs
- Time-saving: most back yard smokers don’t have industrial grade equipment. By cooking multiple racks at once it saves time, and prevents from having to smoke each rack individually
- Versatility: rib racks can be used in smokers, gas grills, and even the oven
What to consider when purchasing a rib rack
Before purchasing, keep in mind the size of your grill. Measure closely to ensure that the rib rack will correctly. Not only will you want the dimensions to fit on the grill grates, but you’ll also want to check the vertical clearance to ensure that the grill lid will close with a proper seal.
If you’re you’re considering purchasing several racks – you’ll definitely want to account for this. One may fit just right, but will two? Double check that you have enough surface area to accommodate multiple racks. It will be of no help if it doesn’t fit on the grill!
How much is a rib rack?
Rib racks come in a variety of sizes, materials, and prices, depending on the retailer and the quality of the product. However, despite the wide range of options available, rib racks are generally considered to be one of the most affordable grilling accessories on the market. In fact, many backyard chefs can purchase a high-quality rib rack for as little as $20.00. With so many affordable options available both online and in-store, finding the right rib rack to suit your needs and budget has never been easier. Retailers such as Amazon, Home Depot, and local hardware stores offer a wide selection of rib racks, ensuring that you’ll be able to find the right size and capacity for your grill.
Conclusion
A rib rack is a game-changer for anyone who loves to smoke ribs for a crowd. With its many benefits and affordable price point, it’s no wonder why many backyard chefs and grill enthusiasts consider it a must have accessory. Not only does a rib rack make it incredibly easy to cook ribs for a large group of people, but it also frees up valuable real estate on your grill or smoker, allowing you to cook other items at the same time. The best part? You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the benefits of a rib rack. Prices for rib racks can range anywhere from $11.99 to $25.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a rib rack?
A rib rack is used when grilling or smoking ribs to cook them evenly and save space. It helps drain excess fat and makes handling and serving the ribs easier, presenting them attractively when done.
Do rib racks work?
Yes, rib racks work effectively when grilling or smoking ribs. They ensure even cooking, help drain excess fat, and make efficient use of grill space by holding ribs in a vertical position. This results in deliciously cooked and well-presented ribs.
How to use a rib rack?
To use a rib rack, simply place it on a grill or in a smoker. Position the ribs vertically in the slots of the rib rack, making sure they are securely held in place. This allows the ribs to cook evenly, ensures proper drainage of excess fat, and makes it easier to manage and serve the ribs when they are done cooking.
If you’ve gotten this far, here’s one of our favorite smoked rib recipes.