How to Make the BEST Electric Smoker Ribs

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Is it really possible to get smoked ribs that are delicious, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone tender in an electric smoker? You betcha! Keep reading to learn how to make the BEST Electric Smoker Ribs in your own backyard.

Today, we are sharing Electric Smoker 101 tips as well as our favorite sweet and smoky pork ribs recipe for dry rub, mop sauce, AND barbecue sauce. Let’s make some lip-smackin’ ribs!

How to make the BEST electric smoker ribs

A couple of years ago, I gave my husband an electric smoker for Father’s Day. I’ll admit, there may have been an ulterior motive behind this gift! We had spent a weekend visiting with family in Arkansas and my brother-in-law served us the most amazing ribs he cooked in an electric smoker. I could see the envy in John’s eyes and just knew he would love learning how to smoke all kinds of meats — and I would love helping him eat them!

Since getting the electric smoker, John has been doing his research and experimenting with several different techniques, dry rubs, and sauces and has settled on a combination for smoked pork ribs that has gotten rave reviews from our family and friends.

Not only are his smoked ribs amazingly delicious, he’s having fun spending time outdoors and learning all the smoking tricks. I have to say, he’s a little proud of the recipe we’re sharing today!

Getting started

Obviously, the first thing you need is an electric smoker. I can’t speak for other brands, but I can tell you that we are very happy with our Masterbilt model. Regardless of the brand or model you choose, before you smoke the first rack of ribs the smoker should be cleaned and pre-seasoned.

Good-to-have accessories

• Plastic or rubber gloves — for handling the meat
• Mop — for basting the ribs during cooking
• Grill Tongs — with long handles for removing ribs from the smoker
• Digital probe meat thermometer — a digital thermometer will take the guess work out of whether the ribs are done. According to the USDA, the minimum safe temperature for pork ribs is 145 degrees, but I like to cook them until they reach 165 degrees.
• Disposable aluminum pans — deep pans are best
• Squeeze bottles — work really well for serving BBQ sauce

Cleaning the electric smoker the first time

It’s important to clean the inside of the smoker before cooking to remove any leftover paint, oil, or dust leftover from manufacturing, Wash the interior walls, racks, and water pan with warm, soapy water and rinse well. Let the interior of the smoker air dry, then proceed with pre-seasoning (also known as curing) the smoker.

Pre-season the electric smoker

Pre-seasoning the smoker will help extend the life of the smoker. Follow these steps and you’ll be ready to get to the fun stuff and smoke some meat!

• After the electric smoker has been cleaned, coat the interior with oil.
• Set the smoker to 275 degrees and heat the unit for three hours. Some manufacturers may recommend a different temperature and time, as well as venting, so it’s a good idea to confirm with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• During the last 45 minutes, add a few wood chips to the tray to help displace the metallic smell.
• After this cycle is complete, allow the smoker to cool completely before opening the door.
• Over time, grease may collect inside the smoker and you will want to repeat this process to keep the smoker in good working order and to prevent any type of rust forming.

You’re ready to start smokin’ ribs like a pro!

Selecting the meat

Finding the perfect rack of ribs for smoking takes time. No matter if you prefer spare ribs or baby backs, there are a few things to remember in order to start with the best meat for smoking:

• Talk to the butcher — any experienced butcher can maximize the rib meat in his preparation process by trimming away fat and leaving meatier ribs
• Avoid vacuum-sealed ribs — only because you can’t see how much meat is actually on the bones.
• Meat, meat, meat — look for the meatiest ribs possible
• No shiners — avoid racks where you can see the rib bone
• Good marbling — fat will help keep the ribs moist, help hold the smoke, and give them a wonderful flavor
• Avoid excess fluid — If you do purchase pre-packaged ribs, avoid any that have liquid in the package.

Types of pork ribs

• Spare ribs come from the underside or belly of the pig, which is the fatty area where we get bacon. Spare ribs have a fair amount of meat.
• St. Louis ribs are more uniform in shape and are thinner and flatter. The meat tends to be fattier than baby back ribs.
• Baby back ribs are my usual preferred cut of meat. The baby back ribs come from the pig’s back on either side of the spine and are shorter than spare ribs. Baby back ribs have more lean meat.

Prep the ribs

Smoking ribs is a process and takes some planning. The night before you plan to cook, you’ll need to rinse the ribs under cool water, pat them completely dry with paper towels, remove the membrane, and apply the dry rub.

The membrane is the skin on the backside (bone side) of the ribs. This process can be a bit tedious, but don’t skip it — removing the membrane allows for more uniform smoking and optimal tenderness.

How to remove the membrane

• Wear rubber gloves to allow you to get a better grip on the rack.
• Identify the middle of the rack and make a cut between the rib bones just deep enough to split the membrane.
• Use the dull side of a small paring knife to pry the membrane from the meat and ribs.
• Loosen enough membrane to grip with a paper towel (it will be very slippery) and start pulling it away from the bones until completely removed.
• Don’t get frustrated — this process takes practice and will help you up your smoking reputation!

Apply the dry rub

Apply a thin layer of the dry rub on all sides of the rack, rubbing in gently. Place the racks of ribs on a baking sheet or aluminum pan and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.

Before smoking, set the ribs out of the refrigerator for 30 minutes which will allow for more consistent cooking and penetration of the smoke.

The cooking process for electric smoker ribs

Smoking these ribs is an 8-hour process, but with an electric smoker you won’t need to tend to them all that time. Once the smoker is preheated, the ribs will cook for 4 hours without being interrupted. This gives you plenty of time to go do something else as well as make the mop sauce and barbecue sauce you’ll use in the next phase of smoking.

Pre-heat the smoker

Just like you’d preheat a grill or oven, before you start smoking ribs, you should set your electric smoker to the desired temperature. Some units may be set to a default temperature, so always refer to your recipe or a meat cooking guide for the proper temperature setting.

I cook my Electric Smoked Ribs at 225 degrees, however I initially preheat the smoker to 250 degrees to help boost the initial cooking process. That’s because some heat is lost when opening the door to load the ribs. Always remember to adjust the temperature back to 225 degrees after the ribs are loaded and the door is closed.

Add wood chips to the chamber and liquid to the drip pan

Add wood chips to the wood chip chamber to create the smoky flavor. Also, add water to the drip pan to keep moisture in the ribs. I normally add half water and half apple juice.

To soak or not to soak?

I had always soaked my wood chips because the instructions said to do so. One day, my friends was smoking wings and did not soak his wood chips. When I asked why, he just gave me a blank stare. Then he asked, “Why do you want steam on your food instead of wood smoke?” From that point on, I stopped soaking wood chips and the results have been great.

Check the smoke

If the smoker has been cleaned properly, the smoke coming out of it the first time you fire it up should be a thin, blue smoke. This blue smoke is what helps flavor the meat. We will discuss it more later, but the smoke should be coming from dry wood chips. There is no need to soak before smoking.

Also, a cloud of white smoke could indicate potentially harmful chemicals are present or that wet wood chips are building steam instead of smoke.

Smoke the ribs

• Place the racks of ribs in the smoker, close the door, and remember to adjust the temperature to 225 degrees. Don’t open the door or check the ribs again for 4 hours. This initial cooking time — and the brown sugar in the rub — will create good bark on the ribs.
• After four hours of smoking, mop or baste the ribs every 30 minutes for the next 2 hours. This keeps the ribs moist and enhances the bark.
• After 6 hours of smoking, remove the ribs and place in a deep aluminum pan and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Place the pan of ribs in the smoker for two additional hours.
• The ribs are done when they pull away easily from the bone. To be extra safe, use an instant digital read thermometer to be sure that the meat’s internal temperature is above 145 degrees (preferably 165 degrees).

Don’t skip the mop sauce

After a good bark has formed, mopping the ribs will ensure the ribs stay moist and tender during the remaining cooking time. Don’t skip this step — you’ll love the results!

Electric smoker ribs FAQs

What does bark mean when you are smoking ribs?

Bark is that dark chewy, sometimes crunchy, outside layer of smoked crust that provides the perfect balance to the moist meat inside.

How do you know when the ribs are done?

With tongs, gently twist or lift the rack from the end. If completely cooked, the meat should cleanly pull away from the bone.

Do you flip ribs over when you are smoking?

With an electric smoker you have consistent heat and smoke coverage within this chamber eliminating the need for flipping the ribs.

What makes smoked ribs tender?

Removing the membrane is one key to enjoying tender ribs. The next is allowing enough time for the ribs to completely cook. Smoking is not a sprint — it takes time.

How long should dry rub be on ribs before smoking?

For a rub to fully permeate your ribs, you should allow a minimum of 3-4 hours. Ideally, you will let it rest on your ribs overnight.

Must-Have Smoking Accessories

Perfect your smoked ribs with these must-have tools for a mess-free, flavorful experience. (P.S. These are affiliate links, so I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!)

The BEST Electric Smoker Pork Ribs Recipe

Rub ingredients, smoke, and time work together to create an amazing finish to your ribs. Enjoy the process and get ready for some good eating!