Smoked Bone-In Beef Short Ribs

Please share:

We are big meat eaters in this house. We are steak-a-day kind of people. We have a Traeger smoker and it is running most of the summer and half of the winter. Meat is a big part of our diet.

Back when the world was normal, and conventions and traveling were things we participated in every year, we would find ourselves down in Austin, TX a couple times a year. BBQ in Texas is a big thing, they know how to do it right. We would always go to Terry Blacks BBQ and get the brisket and beef ribs. Favorite part of our trip, for sure. Since we couldn’t eat at that restaurant ear-round, we learned how to make those things at home.

Beef Dry Rub

A big part of getting smoked meat just right is the dry rub. I’ve been working through different variations of beef dry rubs for a few years now. Some included sweetener, some did not. I found that my favorite blend had no sweetener and had a bit of kick to it (but not too much to make the meat un-enjoyable). That blend is now available at cardnl, along with 4 other spice blends we’ve worked on perfecting for years.

Getting the Temperature Just Right

Another very important element in smoking meat is a temperature probe. Nobody likes overcooked, tough-to-chew meat, and getting the temp just right is key to perfectly cooked meat. When cooking bone-in meats like this rack of short ribs, be careful where you place the temp probe. Not too close to the bone, you want to register the temp of the meat, not the bone.

Using Vinegar

Also, since this recipe calls for a dry rub, and no BBQ sauce in the rub or basting, we brush it with a watered down vinegar. This keeps the meat from drying out while also adding some acidity to help break down the tough muscle meat and add a wonderful depth of flavor.

Resting the Meat

And last but absolutely most definitely not least, you MUST rest the meat when you remove it from the smoker. Don’t you dare just bite into fresh smoked meat. You need to wrap it tightly in foil to allow the heat to stay trapped inside while the meat relaxes, allowing all that juice and liquid to stay trapped inside and not run right out the second you cut or bite into it. Trust me, this is hugely important and not to be skipped.

Please share: