Cooking ribs while camping over fire... advice?

[mcurphy]

summin wrong with pine?

It burns too hot and too fast. Oak or other hardwoods burn slowly.

 

[imagoon]

Put on rub, wrap in foil, stick in cooler for a couple of hours at least, over night is better. Cook them next to / to the side of the fire (~250 degrees is the goal) for 2.5 -> 3.5 hours depending on the cut and amount of meat on the ribs. Open, add sauces if you want, push them over the hot spot for 10-15 minutes (or less) to brown them.

 

[Fritzo]

It burns too hot and too fast. Oak or other hardwoods burn slowly.

Conifer trees (Cedar, spruce, pine, redwood, etc) give off small quantities of toxic fumes when burning. Not a good idea to cook with it.

 

[Howard]

No, don't do that...

 

[ponyo]

People cook ribs all the time on a normal grill. I would marinate the ribs in some type of spicy sauce and cook it over charcoal fire for about 25-30 minutes. You just have to keep rotating and flip it so it doesn't burn. I prefer smoking the ribs but grilling is not bad.

 

[drbrock]

I was really against boiling ribs until I tried. I was at a tailgate and we did not have 3 or 4 hours to cook ribs. We boiled them quickly and then finished them off on a grill with bbq sauce. Everyone at the talk gate was talking smack until they tasted them Generally consensus=best ribs ever tasted.

For fun I would do what aluminum foil buried in coals trip someone mentions prior to this. Should be fairly easy to accomplish.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I was really against boiling ribs until I tried. I was at a tailgate and we did not have 3 or 4 hours to cook ribs. We boiled them quickly and then finished them off on a grill with bbq sauce. Everyone at the talk gate was talking smack until they tasted them Generally consensus=best ribs ever tasted.

For fun I would do what aluminum foil buried in coals trip someone mentions prior to this. Should be fairly easy to accomplish.

If you like boiled ribs try foiling.

3 hours of smoke at 225f
2 hours foiled at 225f
.5-1 hour to firm back up at about 250-275f

 

[skyking]

dutch oven sounds great, but I cook things like that in foil. you can move it around as the fire changes, it will keep the "pepper" out.

 

[drbrock]

If you like boiled ribs try foiling.

3 hours of smoke at 225f
2 hours foiled at 225f
.5-1 hour to firm back up at about 250-275f

Will do. Always looking for more ways to cook meet. The older I get the more I enjoy the cooking process over the amount of shots I can take at a tailgate lol.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Will do. Always looking for more ways to cook meet. The older I get the more I enjoy the cooking process over the amount of shots I can take at a tailgate lol.

Yup. I live an extremely fast-paced life. I really get a lot of enjoyment over being forced to slow down for a few hours and watch over some BBQ.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Get one of those tripods that has the grate hanging from chains. You can spin the grate on the chains to ensure even cooking. Keep the grate a good 12-14 inches over the flame and keep it spinning for 2 hours and it will be similar to smoking the ribs.
I've done this with steaks, lobster, chicken, pork, etc. Turned out great each time.

 

[Rallispec]

on the fence debating between wrapping then in foil and cooking them over the coals, or using the dutch oven method.

I like the foil idea because I can do a lot of the prep work ahead of time - get them seasoned and wrapped in the foil at home, then just do the cooking at the campsite. But I also have a feeling that the dutch oven method might yield better results.

Either way it's still ribs, what's the worst that can happen!

I'll let you all know how it goes when I get back.

 

[thirdeye]

If it were me, and I had to do it using a fire, I'd wrap them in foil after seasoning them and then put them as far as you can from fire while still getting heat from it. I wouldn't even consider doing it over the fire unless you like really burnt ribs.

The dutch oven might be another option if you're into basically boiling the ribs in bbq sauce. Not really my thing, but it could probably work. You're still going to need to invest a few hours into it regardless. You can't really cook raw ribs quickly without sacrificing something.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Get one of those tripods that has the grate hanging from chains. You can spin the grate on the chains to ensure even cooking. Keep the grate a good 12-14 inches over the flame and keep it spinning for 2 hours and it will be similar to smoking the ribs.
I've done this with steaks, lobster, chicken, pork, etc. Turned out great each time.

Yeah, that's sort of like gaucho style except they just kind of hang it on post type of things: http://www.virtualtourist.com/trave...estaurants-Buenos_Aires-La_Estancia-BR-1.html

 

[ponyo]

Foil method is pretty much dummy proof. It's why 3-2-1 method is so popular when smoking spare ribs. But grilled ribs are great too. You don't have to wait 5-6 hours and can eat in less than 30 minutes. You do have to slice and cut ribs into individual pieces to cook faster but it makes for easier eating.

 

[DigDog]

Conifer trees (Cedar, spruce, pine, redwood, etc) give off small quantities of toxic fumes when burning. Not a good idea to cook with it.

tnx for tip

 

[zinfamous]

Completely cook'em at home, refrigerate, warm/brown over fire?

this.

I rubbed them then cooked them over the fire last time I went camping--it was a disaster. First, ribs should have been smoked with that rub. second, the cook time was just way too long for camping resources.