What is the Best Smoker for Ribs? | Smoke Lab with Steve Gow | Oklahoma Joe's®️

What makes better RIBS - a pellet grill, drum smoker, centerbox smoker, or offset smoker? Steve Gow from @smoketrailsbbq conducts an experiment to find out, comparing ribs smoked on the #OklahomaJoes Longhorn Offset Smoker, Rider DLX pellet grill, Marshall Centerbox smoker and the Bronco Drum Smoker. Let’s find out which one wins!
“Ribs on any smoker” recipe
Ingredients:
Meat: Rack or two of spare or baby back ribs
Rub: Your favorite rub!
Sauce: Your favorite sauce!
Technique
Remove membranes from ribs and rub with your favorite rub, letting them sit on the counter to dry brine for at least 30 minutes
Place large water pan on the bottom rack of your smoker with the ribs on the upper rack (between the meat and the heat). If using an offset smoker, place the water pan between the ribs and the firebox
Smoke at 250 for 2-3 hours until the bark is set and the ribs have some nice color (around 165 internal)
Wrap ribs in aluminum foil meat side down on 3 pats of butter, pouring maple syrup and a light sprinkling of rub on the bottom. Then flip the ribs meat side up and pour maple syrup and a light sprinkling of rub on the meat side of the ribs. Then place the ribs meat side down.
Carefully wrap the ribs in foil and cinch the foil in such a way that it’s easy to open and close the packet of foil
Smoke at 250 for 1-2 hours, checking for tenderness every 15 minutes after the first hour. The ribs are done when they probe tender with an instant read thermometer, tear slightly when bent, have some bone pullback, and are in the 195+ temperature range.
Remove ribs from foil and sauce them with your favorite sauce. Let them sit on the smoker unwrapped an additional 20-30 minutes for the sauce to set up and become sticky and tacky

[@BabyDiego10599]

I own the Bronco and the Highland. If I had to do this all over again, I would keep the Bronco, get rid of the Highland and purchase the Marshall. At 60yrs old I'm pretty much a set it and forget it kind of guy lol!

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I like set and forget sometimes as well!

[@3-2-1GoSmoking]

Vertical smoking in a drum over the coals is top notch flavor. The deflector and water pan killed its chance in this experiment

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I'll try it out!

[@3-2-1GoSmoking]

@@SmokeTrailsBBQ very cool, also, big fan of your main channel! OKJ smoker myself and your vids on running them effectively have been a great help!

[@remedyman2u]

This is the best explanation of how to start and maintain temps on the Marshal Centerbox smoker that I've seen. I tried it just like in this video and mine locked in at 250 degrees for several hours. Thanks so much!

[@DJara02]

I own the Rider 900, Longhorn and Bronco. I love them all! I agree with your statements. But, I find myself using the Rider when I don't have a lot of free time or want to do an overnight low and slow. What makes the biggest difference is the type of pellets you are using. If it is a day off or have a big mix of meat to cook I hands down will use the longhorn or Bronco. Nothing can compare to the smoke flavor and feeling of accomplishment when people compliment your hard work. Keep up the good workand am loving the collab videos!

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Totally agree! right tool for the job. Every one of them is better at something

[@bhampresson]

Would love to have seen the judge in there, it does great smoking

[@ganggang2066]

Yeah mate I’ve done some cool smoking on my judge, but would like to see some pro use just for more tricks and tips.

[@BigChuck525]

Don't say "all pellet grills " are the same until you try a Lone Star Grillz pellet grill. It is a game changer. It smokes continuously at all temperatures and you can even mix wood chips with the pellets without jamming the auger for even more smoke.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I've heard great things! I've also heard a thousand people say whatever pellet grill they own is the best one and all the others suck lol! Maybe one day I'll try out an LSG!

[@mefobills279]

​@SmokeTrailsBBQ LSG pellet pot scatters pellets to the periphery, so slow burn hence smoke. Also heated air ignition for reliability. Probably a little less smoke flavor than maverick with the smoke cage.

[@BigChuck525]

I'm starting to hear good things about the Rider DLX. I also have hearing dozens of KZbinrs say what ever grill some manufacturer gives them and pays them to review is the best and all others suck. Maybe someday I'll try one out for smaller cooks. All kidding aside, I enjoy your content on whatever channel you are on and thank you for making me a better cook.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Haha! I have a lot of pellet grills. I wouldn't say any are objectively better than the others, they are all better at different things and some provide more value for money which is important as well. Glad I can help you on your cooking journey man!

[@shameershah917]

It was great. Plz do a review on vertical pellet smokers

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

That would be cool!

[@tomsupinsmokebbq3687]

In the drum smoker. I hang mine for 3 hrs then wrap for 2 hours bones fall right out. I use the highland i smoke more beef n pork on

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Nice!

[@MonopolyJ]

I would like to see the different charcoal options in the offset, drum, and center box.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Like a comparison of JD, FOGO, Royal Oak, etc.? I could pretty much say right now that Jealous Devil will win haha! There's a lot of brands. What type of charcoal do you want to see compared?

[@Harleyforever20]

The best flavor from no matter what cooker you’re using is achieved by using quality lump charcoal. On the Bronco,try hanging them. Use a deflection plate or a water pan at the bottom.

[@ap3126]

Brother love your info and fun test , but i have the bronco and I can get every bit of smoke out of it and I hang my ribs plus I use a fire dial heat diffuser and a billows I can even temps for over 12 hours with one basket and get great smoke for the first few hours on wood placement on charcoal. Anyway keep The amazing channel !!

[@Jeffdoeswhat]

I’ve been wanting the Marshall center box smoker. I just need someone to get me one to do a video put together video over 😁

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

It's awesome!

[@briankendalll2093]

The Marshall looks fun. Have you tried a direct heat cook similar to what Snow’s does with it?!

[@kylesphire8336]

You gotta hang the ribs on a bronco without the water pan. They make the best ribs of any smoker I've ever used when cooked that way.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I'll try it out!

[@VillanuevaMedia]

The bronco needs no water pan and you should try hanging them instead of using the diffuser plate in there much better flavor.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I'll test out both ways!

[@robertoconnell5054]

Would love to see you evaluate the Grilla Grills Kong. I have one, bought it because their stuff is solid, and the Kong is enormous and much much less expensive than the competition.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I'll check it out!

[@drumdwgreen]

Hi there, love all of your content, especially the one you have talked about in regards to the ribs (you are doing it wrong) video some of my best ribs I have were from that video. In regards to a pellet grill, what are your thoughts in putting a block or two of wood in the little basket, like you would with a joe smoker. I watched the mad scientist, he overloaded his pellets from the start to create more smoke. Thanks again. Dave

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

yep you can overload the burn pot, put pellets on the deflector plate, use a smoke tube etc. But the most effective tactic is to have a humid environment and spritz so the smoke attracts better to the meat.

[@ashward9390]

I have a ryder dlx and when i first start my cook i set it to its lowest setting gettin a tonne of smoke then ramp up i would realy like to see some experiments with the pellet grill maybe using a cage with wood chunks or different pellets. I am very limited to the pellets i can use. And the treager cherry seam to give me a good smoke

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Great idea!

[@vinceak47]

How does the Marshall perform with needing to add more wood/charcoal

[@jrhatfield6377]

What kind of pellets are you using in the pellet smoker? Cheap pellets produce little smoke.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I think I was using Furtado Farms for this one, which is an all natural 100% hardwood pellet.

[@apollo1983]

If want more smoke out of a pellet grill try the camp chef woodwind pro.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I have one!

[@Winnie122459]

How about using a Orion cooker?

[@arturos.3973]

😂 That sprits

[@chrishaney2774]

Why do you close the air intake on the bronco to raise the temp??

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Hi Chris, opening the air intake would raise the temperature on the Bronco. Thanks for watching.

[@ricksulzer7056]

Traditional offset vs reverse flow option.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Just did a video on that did you see it?

[@ricksulzer7056]

@SmokeTrailsBBQ I'm not sure how I missed that. I'll check it out, thanks.

[@robertoconnell5054]

Would love to see where a Kamado would fall among the others.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

I need to get one!

[@gallien]

No idea why you used the water pan in the bronco.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Moisture, block radiant heat, prevents it from drying out. More flavor with direct heat from the drippings but juicier brisket with the water pan. I should do an experiment on water pan vs exposed to the direct heat.

[@Vultite]

For pellet smokers, go no wrap and never look back

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

No wrap at all?

[@Vultite]

@@SmokeTrailsBBQ not until the rest, I get great color/bark and smoke flavor. Works best on fattier spare ribs. I also do this with pork butt and I always get amazing bark that softens a little with the wrapped rest

[@TimRhodes]

There is no "best smoker" for BBQ. It's more about knowing how to use the smoker you have to get the cook and flavors you want.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

That's a good take on it!

[@TimRhodes]

@@SmokeTrailsBBQ that also doesn't mean some aren't better than others, though!

[@mrheyz]

I could tell it was tough.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Which one?

[@Nov1785]

I think you should of started with the ribs we all know have the less smoke flavor up to the offset last you already had the most smoky flavor rib

[@morenoanglers9800]

Next time, do a blind test and see if you can tell which rib was cooked on what smoker

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

great idea!

[@GCsVidz]

You forgot a Kamado smoker.

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Yea I don't have one. Maybe soon!

[@W_T.F]

The point of the Bronco is to hang ribs.

[@billdohteabaggins3548]

Had to put a cold smoke injector on my pellet grill cuz they suck without help. Lose the water pan in the barrel. You killed the flavor. I have to be carefully not to over smoke when i use my Oklahoma barrel smoker.

[@chrishaney2774]

Could not disagree with this video anymore. Everything about it was wrong and shouldn’t be used to promote a product. They all looked under cooked and improperly prepped for smoke

[@SmokeTrailsBBQ]

Thanks for watching Chris!