How Long To Smoke Ribs

Learn How Long To Smoke Ribs At 275 and more! There are several factors to consider when determining how long to smoke your ribs. Factors such as how many pounds your rack of ribs is, how thick it is, how many ribs you are trying to smoke, and the external temperature of your location.

When all of these are considered, on average it may take between one and a half hours and seven hours to fully smoke your ribs when your smoker temperature is set at 250°F, 275°F, and 300°F.

For details, be sure to check out the following sections where we will outline in detail how long it takes to smoke ribs at these different temperatures.

How to Cook Perfect Ribs

Learning how to smoke the perfect ribs is easy to do, and we are excited to show you several tips for how to make them absolutely delicious. Before you begin smoking your ribs, it is important to prepare your ribs and your smoker then determine how long your ribs should be smoked.

Let’s start by quickly looking at how to prepare your ribs for smoking.

Soak Wood Chips Or Add Pellets

First begin by preparing your pellets or wood chips. If your smoker uses wood chips, you will want to soak your wood chips before you begin smoking. If you are using a pellet smoker, you can simply be sure that you have plenty of pellets added to your smoker.

Get The Rub On The Meat

Then take the rack of ribs and remove it from the packaging. If there is a membrane on the back of your ribs, remove that too.

Begin by covering your ribs in a sauce of your choice. We enjoy using grape jelly, but you can also use Dijon mustard, or olive oil if desired.

Once your sauce has been added, cover your ribs with your desired seasonings.

Set Ribs At Room Temperature

Allow your ribs to rest at room temperature while your smoker is heating up.

Preheat Your Smoker

Preheat your smoker to 250°F, 275°F, or 300°F as desired.

Smoke

Smoke your ribs until they reach your desired internal temperature. Pork and beef ribs must reach at least an internal temperature of 145°F, but are best when they reach the internal temperature of around 195°F.

Prepare Your Basting

When your ribs are close to being done, you can baste your rack of ribs with your desired sauce. You can make your own homemade sauce, or simply base them with barbecue sauce. Allow the sauce to caramelize then remove them from your smoker and allow them to rest before serving.

How Long to Smoke Ribs at 250, 275 and 300°F

Now that you have an overview of how to smoke ribs, let’s look at the specific amount of time you should smoke ribs by the smoker’s temperature.

As you assess the time needed to smoke your ribs, the time may vary slightly depending upon the specific size of your rack of ribs, how many racks of ribs you’re smoking, and the external temperature of your location.

These suggested times below are a good rule of thumb but may need to be adjusted slightly depending on these factors. Let’s begin by first looking at smoking with the temperature at 250, followed by How Long To Smoke Ribs At 275, and finally by how much time when smoking at 300.

How Long to Smoke Ribs at 250

As we mentioned there are several factors that play a factor in determining how long it takes to smoke a rack of ribs. What kind of rack of ribs you are smoking, how many pounds they are, and what your external temperature is at your location all play a factor in how long it takes.

However, a good rule of thumb for smoking ribs at 250°F (121.1°C) is that it will take between five and seven hours to fully smoke.

How Long to Smoke Ribs at 275

When you turn the temperature up in your smoker to 275°F (135°C) you slightly increase the amount of time it will take for your ribs to fully smoke. Again, the exact amount of time may vary, however a good rule of thumb for smoking ribs at 275°F is that they will take between three and five hours to fully smoke.

How Long to Smoke Ribs at 300

Increasing your smoker temperature to 300°F (148.9°C) will also speed up the smoking process. Please note that when your smoker temperature is this form you will cook your ribs much faster, but they may dry out as well.

Typically, to fully smoke a rack of ribs at 300°F it will take between one and a half hours to three hours to cook your ribs.

Types Of Ribs

Below are the estimated smoking times based on the specific types of ribs, and smoking temperatures. We have estimated how long it will take to smoke ribs at 250°F, 275°F, and 300°F based on an estimate of a 3-pound rack of ribs.

Baby Back Ribs

Smoking at 250: 5 hours

Smoking at 275: 3 – 4 hours

Smoking at 300: 1.5 – 3 hours

Spare Ribs

Smoking at 250: 6 hours

Smoking at 275: 5 hours

Smoking at 300: 2 – 3 hours

St. Louis Style Ribs

Smoking at 250: 6 hours

Smoking at 275: 5 hours

Smoking at 300: 2 – 3 hours

Country Style Ribs

Smoking at 250: 6 – 7 hours

Smoking at 275: 3 – 4 hours

Smoking at 300: 2.5 – 3 hours

Falling off the Bone

Many enjoy ribs that are falling off the bone, which can be difficult to achieve and have moist ribs. If you ask professional chefs, they say that you should not aim for ribs that fall off the bone, as you’re likely to dry them out in the process, instead, you should aim for nice, juicy, and tender smoked ribs.

For your ribs to be fully smoked, and safe to eat the internal temperature of your pork and beef ribs must reach 145°F. To enjoy a nice, tender, and juicy flavor to your ribs, you want to aim for an internal temperature of 195°F in your ribs.

The best way to achieve nice, tender, and juicy ribs is to smoke them over low heat, and allow plenty of time for them to fully cook. If you have enough time, smoking your ribs as low as 225°F is ideal for delicious smoked ribs.

However, if time does not allow you can also add a water pan into your smoker, and smoke ribs over a higher temperature using the time guide above.

Smoked Baby Back Ribs close up on smoker

Best Wood for Smoking Ribs

Knowing what kind of wood to use when you smoke ribs is also important. The type of wood you use will change the flavor of your ribs in general, making the type of wood you use very important.

The best wood to smoke ribs can also vary depending upon what kind of ribs you are smoking. Please see the two types below for details.

Best Wood for Smoking Pork Ribs

There are some great options for what wood you can use when smoking pork ribs. Some great, mild options include cherry, apple, and maple. If you would like extra flavor try smoking your pork ribs with hickory, oak, pecan, or mesquite wood.

Best Wood for Smoking Beef Ribs

You can also use apple, maple, and maple wood for smoking beef ribs. However, the best wood for smoking beef ribs includes hickory and cherry.

Soak Wood Chips for Electric Smoker

When you are using wood chips to smoke ribs in an electric smoker, don’t forget to allow your wood chips to soak in water before smoking. This will allow you to get the best taste and smoke results for your ribs.

How Long to Let Ribs Rest

Typically, it is ideal to let your ribs rest for 10 minutes after they have smoked, before serving. This is very easy to do because you can simply pull your ribs off of the smoker when they are done, add them to your serving tray, and pull the rest of your meal together while they are resting. This will give you the perfect smoked ribs.

FAQs

Do you flip ribs on the grill?

Yes, it is ideal to flip your ribs once or twice throughout the entire cooking process. If you are cooking your ribs over a lower heat, such as 225°F or 250°F, you may want to consider flipping your ribs about twice throughout the process.

How long do ribs last in the fridge?

Once ribs have cooled off, if there happens to be any leftovers they should be stored in the fridge. Allow your ribs to cool to room temperature first, then place your ribs into an airtight container, or seal them in a plastic storage bag and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.

How long are cooked ribs good for?

Cooked ribs should be left at room temperature for no more than two hours before they go bad. You can also store leftover cooked ribs in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days, or store them properly in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

Can you overcook ribs in a smoker?

Yes, although it is difficult to do, you can overcook ribs in the smoker. This is typically done by cooking them too hot or too long, which makes them dry out. You can also overcook ribs if they are left on your smoker at a low temperature for an excessive amount of time.

To avoid overcooking your ribs, use a meat thermometer to keep track of the internal temperature of your ribs. Ideally, you want to aim for an internal temperature of 195°F to 200°F.

What is the best type of ribs?

Most people enjoy baby back ribs as they have a reputation for being soft and tender. However, spare ribs, country style ribs, and St. Louis style ribs are also delicious.

How to Smoke Ribs on a Gas Grill

Smoking ribs on a gas grill is going to be very similar to the process outlined above. Preheat your gas grill as low as he can possibly set the temperature. If you can get it as low as 250°F, this will be ideal.

Prepare your ribs as instructed above, then add them to your gas grill. If possible, you will get the best results when you add a pellet smoker tube, or wood chip box to your smoker to get that smoky flavor.

How to Smoke Ribs on a Pellet Grill

To smoke ribs on a pellet grill, you are going to use the process outlined above. Choose your favorite kind of pellets to add in your hopper, preheat your smoker, and smoke at your desired temperature following the instructions above.

How to Smoke Ribs in an Electric Smoker

You can also follow the above instructions when smoking ribs and an electric smoker. Simply be sure to pre-soak your wood chips, add your soaked chips to your box, and add a water pan tear smoker. Otherwise, prepare your ribs as stated in the instructions above.

How Long To Smoke Ribs At 275

Smoking ribs at 275°F is desirable because it allows your ribs to be done quickly, while still smoking them over a low temperature, and getting the nice, moist, juicy flavor and texture to your ribs.

How Long To Smoke Ribs At 275 may vary depending upon your specific smoker, the size of the ribs, and the external temperature at your location. On average it will take between three and seven hours to fully smoke your ribs at 275°F.

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