# baby back ribs...freaking stupid question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064 "2002-10-20T04:37:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zydecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e480ec/32.png) [@zydecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zydecat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/1 "2002-10-20T04:37:52Z")
I went to a restaurant last nite and they had spare ribs and baby back ribs. My date asked the waiter what’s the difference? In a very condescending voice he said “Baby back…baby pig…” Except that I don’t quite remember it that way. I thought that they both came from adult pigs but slightly different areas. I didn’t speak up because I was uncertain. I googled but came up with only 159 recipes. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![zydecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e480ec/32.png) [@zydecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zydecat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/2 "2002-10-20T04:39:52Z")
Sorry…got cut off…what is the difference? Also, if you’ve read this far…do those smokers really work all that well? Thanks again ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/3 "2002-10-20T04:53:24Z")
According to [http://www.barbecuebible.com/wwwboard/messages/4432.html](http://www.barbecuebible.com/wwwboard/messages/4432.html) babyback ribs come from “high on the hog” (a young hog) where the tenderest meat is found. Hence the term… Although, sometimes I think the butcher just cuts the old spare ribs in half and puts a little seasoned tenderizer on them and has a sale! Either way, I like’em…esp. w/ a few Margaritas. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/4 "2002-10-20T05:04:35Z")
I’m not sure exactly what smokers are you referring to, I’m just gonna guess the “Ol’ Smokey” which is round and about 3’ tall w/ a fire pit below the grate. They’re okay if you really know what you’re doing. They are notorious for burning ribs though. I know from experience. You really need a smoker that has a firebox aside from the meat. This way you can regulate the heat, add coals or wood if needed and eliminate the worry of grease fire starting up while you’re fixing the potato salad. As far as propane cookers go, they’re allright if you just want to be able to cook outside but in no way compare to a good old fashioned pit for taste. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/5 "2002-10-20T05:32:54Z")
Starting at the backbone make a cut with a band saw. Down about 3-4 inches make a second cut with the band saw. What you just cut off is the baby backs. The remaining part of the ribs are the spare ribs. Spares can be trimmed (St. Louis) or left whole. Oh and yes smokers do work that [well](http://www.biggreenegg.com/archives/2002/messages/46757.htm) I use a ceramic version of a Japanese Kamado called [Big Green Egg](http://www.biggreenegg.com/) The difference between real smoked ribs and what you buy in the restaraunt is that in smoking the flavor is in the meat, not in the sauce. Most times I serve ribs with no sauce, just the flavor from the cooking. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/6 "2002-10-20T12:33:10Z")
> [@](#): > > babyback ribs come from “high on the hog” (a young hog) where the tenderest meat is found. The term “young hog”, though, must be a relative one, it seems to me. According to the book “When Is A Pig A Hog?” (and I’m sorry, I can’t find it now that I need it, naturally), the term hog applies to a porker when it has reached a certain weight; 400 pounds, IIRC (I’m really torqued that I can’t find the book, I’ve seen it on that same shelf a million times). Thus, a “young hog” still has to have a few miles on it, as opposed to, say, a suckling pig. I’m gonna look around a little for that book, so I can provide a proper cite. I know I’m correct about the weight thing, though. Just not the actual poundage. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/7 "2002-10-20T17:29:37Z")
Yuk! I cannot imagine ever eating any type of ribs from any hog! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/8 "2002-10-21T03:10:06Z")
Spare ribs and back ribs are from different parts of the hog. Spare ribs are from the belly, back ribs from the loin. Baby back ribs are from young pigs. [The California BBQ Association](http://www.cbbqa.com/pork/) explain this on their site which has lots of good information. If you click around the pig at [uspork](http://uspork.org/buyersguide.html) you can see where they come from. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-back-ribs-freaking-stupid-question/133064/9 "2002-10-21T07:29:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Yuk! I cannot imagine ever eating any type of ribs from any hog! Interesting, I cannot stop imagining eating pig ribs. 🙂 Mmmmmmm, ribs.