No bark

[Rain]

Used my Traeger Pro 575 first time yesterday. I used the 3 2 1 method, but no bark. 3 hrs at 180, 2 hrs wrapped at 225 and 1 hour with BBQ sauce. Not what I was expecting. Please tell me how to get Bark.

Thanks

 

[CMTiger]

Smoke tube?

 

[Rain]

Don't know what smoke tube is, does it give me bark? I smoked ribs

 

[JayHog]

Try using 2 smoke tubes (I use the 12 inch A-Maze-N) filled with wood chips. Pack them down tight and let it smolder. It will smoke for about 3 to 4 hours. You'll get some nice bark. These are photos from a few days ago cooking 2 slabs of ribs.

Using this method, I'm also getting even better smoke flavor than on my WSM. I know it's hard to believe, but if I can get this flavor with wood chips, I won't be smoking on my WSM any more.

Also, it's important to go by temperature for tenderness. The fat renders around 200-204 degrees. The probe that came with your Traeger will help with determining that.

 

[Rain]

Thanks. Do you spray with apple juice etc?

 

[Jnutt]

Used my Traeger Pro 575 first time yesterday. I used the 3 2 1 method, but no bark. 3 hrs at 180, 2 hrs wrapped at 225 and 1 hour with BBQ sauce. Not what I was expecting. Please tell me how to get Bark.

Thanks

This might help, https://grillagrills.com/what-is-bark-and-to-build-bark-on-brisket-ribs-pork-butts-and-more/

 

[JayHog]

Thanks. Do you spray with apple juice etc?

I don't spray with apple juice. I do put the meat side down, though. It seems to take the smoke better and create bark. After about 3 hours I brush with BBQ sauce, wrap them in foil, and then cook until they are done.

 

[dflaher]

Another option would be to cut the amount of time in the wrap phase. While wrapped the ribs are essentially steaming (braising) in a liquid. This can reduce the bark created in the 1st phase.

 

[Big Man Dan]

Also, it's important to go by temperature for tenderness. The fat renders around 200-204 degrees. The probe that came with your Traeger will help with determining that.

I agree that it's good to cook to a specific internal temperature but I would warn that the probe that comes with the trigger tends to be fairly inaccurate. I use inkbird equipment which is fairly inexpensive comparatively and I've been very happy with it. The instant temp probe is 20 bucks on Amazon. I would use the $20 instant probe in conjunction with the Traeger probe and get an understanding of how far off the Traeger probe is. Then you can adjust for it. Down the road you may want to pop for the Wi-Fi 4-channel inkbird temperature monitor but, for getting started, the instant probe is enough.

 

[JayHog]

Yes, I've seen others post about the Traeger probe problem. Mine works fine, so far. It's within 3 degrees of other probes I've tested. You're right, it's good to test!! Glad you mentioned that.