There’s no right or wrong answer. What gives you the best results? 🤔
by itsthea3
49 Comments
s0_Shy
I remove the membrane and the flap of meat on the underside. I do keep everything else you trimmed off though.
SNEAKY_PNIS
On multiple occasions I’ve smoked two (or more) slabs at the same time, one with and one without. I’m just a casual smoker, and not trying to do competition level stuff. I honestly can’t tell enough of a difference. I’ll attempt to pull the membrane, and if it’s easy and I can take it in a quick pull I’ll just do it, if I get any trouble, I’ll leave it. Personally, for us, we can’t tell enough of a difference to care.
canefin
I generally peel the membrane just because it’s what I’ve always done. I’ve had ribs from others that don’t bother and haven’t really noticed much difference. I don’t think it really matters that much.
therealmanbat
Yeah. For the first 7 years of bbqing, I ALWAYS removed the membrane, but recently, I just started leaving it on. No real difference IMO and nobody else really seems to care.
wirecatz
I take it off. Scoring it works ok too but I don’t care for the texture.
Complex-Rough-8528
At home cooks I always remove it, same with competition.
I do a big Rib cookoff every year and we cook 100+ racks usually. Scoring is the way for that I don’t have time to peel them the night before.
illapa13
I usually take it off. If I am going to leave it on I’ll at least score it with the knife to break it up a little.
OneAndDone169
I try and pull the membrane off. If it’s too much of a pain then I’ll just score the membrane and cook it that way
CynicalElephant
What an insane waste. Multiple pieces cut off for literally no reason.
Phraoz007
Time for me to come in against the grain.
I leave it on. It pulls off in a 1/4 of a second before you eat it.
I also break spaghetti noodles in half before putting them in the pot.
flappyspoiler
If it comes off easy I take it off. Leaving it doesnt really make a difference either way. Score it and move on with life.
Let the bbq try hards argue amongst themselves while you enjoy your ribs.
RochnessMonster
I dont like the rare occassions that the membrane becomes tooth floss so ill always try and remove it if i can. Its just a few minutes of extra work to save yourself the potential annoyance later. Another trick i learned is you can just score the membrane in a crosshatch pattern and it basically crisps itself off during the cook.
Cloud-VII
I just score it real good so it burns up.
I also trim my sides after the cook because it keeps the end pieces more moist.
landob
I attempt to remove it. If it ends up being difficult I just score it.
Throbinhood91
I didn’t remove the membrane for years and recently I’ve started. I can’t tell much of a difference really.
AwarenessGreat282
I really don’t notice it there or not. Same with most of what he trimmed off. Sure, for competition where looks matter, it’s necessary but I do not cook for looks.
tonka00
I leave it on now don’t notice it
OptiGuy4u
Does everyone else cut off the ends and the “knuckles”? I just leave it all as more to gnaw on.
I do cut off the flaps though.
diablito916
My family actually likes eating it. Lil snappy bits along with the tender bites. I took it off once and my youngest said “this wasn’t your best ribs” lol
TheVaklav
I just slice it a few times
Mysterious-Win1139
Sometimes that membrane is noticeable and just doesn’t feel right on the chew. I Always remove.
ketoLifestyleRecipes
Use paper towel to pull the membrane off.
Brillian-Sky7929
No membrane. Why leave something on that impedes flavor/seasoning getting into the meat.
jmorris20072007
I score the membrane with a sharp knife, works great and much easier than pulling the membrane.
DutchAlders
I always just score with a steak knife.
photobriangray
Middle option, I cross-score the membrane to make it easier to get a little smoke through. They stay juicier and will have a bit of snap in the bite, but will tear easily. Try it.
onininja3
For me at home I remove it. When I worked at a que joint we did not in fact when I showed it to my boss they said never heard of doing it lol
OK_Level_42
I always remove the membrane because I brine my ribs for a couple hours in salt, sugar and water. Will have to try one with and one without.
tkepongo
I stopped. Can’t tell a difference and I’m cooking for family and friends so who cares
fattyrollsagain
Chewing on the membrane is my favorite part about ribs
AndurielsShadow
Honestly, I kind of like the little bit of extra bite the membrane gives. Maybe I’m weird, but the mouthful is better.
carthnage_91
I take the membrane off, but that’s because i hate the texture/mouthfeel of it
Upper_Television3352
If I’m cooking them flat, I’ll remove it. But, if I’m hanging them, the membrane stays on.
Ahleron
No membrane. I don’t want to chew on the biological equivalent of a ZipLoc bag.
Simple-Purpose-899
I remove the membrane and the flap. I don’t trim anything else like you did since it’s just ribs and not a brisket that’ll be on there for ages.
Tweakjones420
scored membrane all day!
Odd_Engineering_7947
Most definitely no membrane 👌🏼👍🏼
jkpq45
I’m a stripper myself.
husky1976
I always remove unless it’s a real pain in the ass and then I’ll score. I prefer it removed
Puzzleheaded_Dog5848
Do you do anything with the trimmings?
bourbonbent
Saw people posting about the paper towel and butter knife… also start the pull at the smaller end – it pulls better in one piece when I do
ShaolinShad0wBoxing
I used to pull it off.
No I leave it and score, especially if Im smoking multiple ribs hanging in a WSM.
EmmitSan
Obviously if you’re trimming for a competition, no membrane.
If you are not, why are you trimming away all that tasty meat in the first few slices!?
YeahYouGuyz
If it comes off easy, I pull it. Otherwise, pull what I can, score it and don’t stress over it. There’s been no discernible difference.
lionboyblue
I use to pull the membrane, but I don’t bother anymore. Trim the flap and score the membrane. You don’t even know it’s still there.
PEmetallurgy
I score the membrane and it’s perfect
The_Original_Tbone
Insane in the membrane…..my mind every time I hear it. “Who you tryin’ to get crazy with ese? Don’t you know I’m loco”
Piratesfan02
I take it off as it doesn’t crisp up on my smoker.
BarackObongma
I actually think the membrane keeps the fat in and adds a nice snap to the bite. I never remove it now. First had the idea when doing beef ribs because it’s a big no no to remove the membrane on them because they dry out super easy.
49 Comments
I remove the membrane and the flap of meat on the underside. I do keep everything else you trimmed off though.
On multiple occasions I’ve smoked two (or more) slabs at the same time, one with and one without. I’m just a casual smoker, and not trying to do competition level stuff. I honestly can’t tell enough of a difference. I’ll attempt to pull the membrane, and if it’s easy and I can take it in a quick pull I’ll just do it, if I get any trouble, I’ll leave it. Personally, for us, we can’t tell enough of a difference to care.
I generally peel the membrane just because it’s what I’ve always done. I’ve had ribs from others that don’t bother and haven’t really noticed much difference. I don’t think it really matters that much.
Yeah. For the first 7 years of bbqing, I ALWAYS removed the membrane, but recently, I just started leaving it on. No real difference IMO and nobody else really seems to care.
I take it off. Scoring it works ok too but I don’t care for the texture.
At home cooks I always remove it, same with competition.
I do a big Rib cookoff every year and we cook 100+ racks usually. Scoring is the way for that I don’t have time to peel them the night before.
I usually take it off. If I am going to leave it on I’ll at least score it with the knife to break it up a little.
I try and pull the membrane off. If it’s too much of a pain then I’ll just score the membrane and cook it that way
What an insane waste. Multiple pieces cut off for literally no reason.
Time for me to come in against the grain.
I leave it on. It pulls off in a 1/4 of a second before you eat it.
I also break spaghetti noodles in half before putting them in the pot.
If it comes off easy I take it off. Leaving it doesnt really make a difference either way. Score it and move on with life.
Let the bbq try hards argue amongst themselves while you enjoy your ribs.
I dont like the rare occassions that the membrane becomes tooth floss so ill always try and remove it if i can. Its just a few minutes of extra work to save yourself the potential annoyance later. Another trick i learned is you can just score the membrane in a crosshatch pattern and it basically crisps itself off during the cook.
I just score it real good so it burns up.
I also trim my sides after the cook because it keeps the end pieces more moist.
I attempt to remove it. If it ends up being difficult I just score it.
I didn’t remove the membrane for years and recently I’ve started. I can’t tell much of a difference really.
I really don’t notice it there or not. Same with most of what he trimmed off. Sure, for competition where looks matter, it’s necessary but I do not cook for looks.
I leave it on now don’t notice it
Does everyone else cut off the ends and the “knuckles”? I just leave it all as more to gnaw on.
I do cut off the flaps though.
My family actually likes eating it. Lil snappy bits along with the tender bites. I took it off once and my youngest said “this wasn’t your best ribs” lol
I just slice it a few times
Sometimes that membrane is noticeable and just doesn’t feel right on the chew. I Always remove.
Use paper towel to pull the membrane off.
No membrane. Why leave something on that impedes flavor/seasoning getting into the meat.
I score the membrane with a sharp knife, works great and much easier than pulling the membrane.
I always just score with a steak knife.
Middle option, I cross-score the membrane to make it easier to get a little smoke through. They stay juicier and will have a bit of snap in the bite, but will tear easily. Try it.
For me at home I remove it. When I worked at a que joint we did not in fact when I showed it to my boss they said never heard of doing it lol
I always remove the membrane because I brine my ribs for a couple hours in salt, sugar and water. Will have to try one with and one without.
I stopped. Can’t tell a difference and I’m cooking for family and friends so who cares
Chewing on the membrane is my favorite part about ribs
Honestly, I kind of like the little bit of extra bite the membrane gives. Maybe I’m weird, but the mouthful is better.
I take the membrane off, but that’s because i hate the texture/mouthfeel of it
If I’m cooking them flat, I’ll remove it. But, if I’m hanging them, the membrane stays on.
No membrane. I don’t want to chew on the biological equivalent of a ZipLoc bag.
I remove the membrane and the flap. I don’t trim anything else like you did since it’s just ribs and not a brisket that’ll be on there for ages.
scored membrane all day!
Most definitely no membrane 👌🏼👍🏼
I’m a stripper myself.
I always remove unless it’s a real pain in the ass and then I’ll score. I prefer it removed
Do you do anything with the trimmings?
Saw people posting about the paper towel and butter knife… also start the pull at the smaller end – it pulls better in one piece when I do
I used to pull it off.
No I leave it and score, especially if Im smoking multiple ribs hanging in a WSM.
Obviously if you’re trimming for a competition, no membrane.
If you are not, why are you trimming away all that tasty meat in the first few slices!?
If it comes off easy, I pull it. Otherwise, pull what I can, score it and don’t stress over it. There’s been no discernible difference.
I use to pull the membrane, but I don’t bother anymore. Trim the flap and score the membrane. You don’t even know it’s still there.
I score the membrane and it’s perfect
Insane in the membrane…..my mind every time I hear it. “Who you tryin’ to get crazy with ese?
Don’t you know I’m loco”
I take it off as it doesn’t crisp up on my smoker.
I actually think the membrane keeps the fat in and adds a nice snap to the bite. I never remove it now. First had the idea when doing beef ribs because it’s a big no no to remove the membrane on them because they dry out super easy.