The Texas BBQ Forum

I always thought I knew what I was looking for with the bend test, but I'd just like to make sure. When you preform the bend test what exactly are you looking for on your ribs?

The way I use the bend test is if I start to bend the ribs and think that if I don't stop bending they will just break apart in the middle I know they are done. If I am bending and the ribs start to just curl (rubbery) and they will not just break apart when I keep bending I know they need more time. Hope this makes sense and helps.

Sorry dont use it?

FR8 Train wrote:The way I use the bend test is if I start to bend the ribs and think that if I don't stop bending they will just break apart in the middle I know they are done. If I am bending and the ribs start to just curl (rubbery) and they will not just break apart when I keep bending I know they need more time. Hope this makes sense and helps.

Yessir, that does help. It's basically what I look for. I pick mine up so that half the ribs are unsupported and basically look for them to hang at a 90 degree angle and for the bark to crack.

I don't pick mine up in fear that they may break and fall. I just pick one end up and start to raise it up while the other side is still on the grill. You will still see the bottom start to split. Either direction you bend you will get the same basic result.

FR8 Train wrote:I don't pick mine up in fear that they may break and fall. I just pick one end up and start to raise it up while the other side is still on the grill. You will still see the bottom start to split. Either direction you bend you will get the same basic result.

do you prefer fall of the bone tender or a little tug to em?

I just grab two bones and separate, if it takes too much force to pull apart they need more time.


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Falling off the bone is way over cooked I call it meat jello. I prefer to have the meat come cleanly off the bone yielding to just a slight tug.

Guess that why they win so much!!!

BigTex33 wrote:

FR8 Train wrote:I don't pick mine up in fear that they may break and fall. I just pick one end up and start to raise it up while the other side is still on the grill. You will still see the bottom start to split. Either direction you bend you will get the same basic result.

do you prefer fall of the bone tender or a little tug to em?

I like them to come clean off the bone without much tug, obviously I can't have them too fall off the bone at comps or you won't get much in the turn in box. It's a fine line but once you find it it won't be hard to repeat.

BluDawg wrote:Falling off the bone is way over cooked I call it meat jello. I prefer to have the meat come cleanly off the bone yielding to just a slight tug.

+1 on that. Thanks for the input guys.

all this bending talk is fine, but just curious here, you do remove the membrane right? i think all the bending techniques in the world won't be at its full potential without removing that darn membrane.

and since i am on a tangent, don't y'all hate it when on membrane comes off so easy and the next one keeps tearing/breaking off in little strips?

don't y'all hate it when on membrane comes off so easy and the next one keeps tearing/breaking off in little strips?

Or the butcher get slash happy with it and you have three or four strips to peel off.

I try to avoid ribs that have that dreaded "knife slash" on the backside when I can. Of course sometimes this is just unavoidable. For me I don't use the bend test or the meat pulling up from the bone thing. I prefer to touch one of the ribs in middle of the rack and go by feel. For IBCA/LSBS comps I'm of the opinion they must be slightly overcooked while still maintaining a juicy/non-mushy finished product.

n2dabluebbq wrote:all this bending talk is fine, but just curious here, you do remove the membrane right? i think all the bending techniques in the world won't be at its full potential without removing that darn membrane.

and since i am on a tangent, don't y'all hate it when on membrane comes off so easy and the next one keeps tearing/breaking off in little strips?

I absolutely remove the membrane. I'll never forget biting into that chewy mess the first time I had someone forget to remove it.