Ok, crock pot gurus, I need help

swinsto3

So I suck at the crock pot. Nothing ever turns out very good, but I'm hellbent on making it work. Tonight's menu is for Maple Pork Ribs. I'll post the recipe below, but I already know that 6-8 hours is WAY too long. How long should I cook these ribs for? They are bone-in country style ribs. I'm thinking 4? Help a girl out - if DH has to choke down one more dried out dinner, he might cry.

Crock Pot Maple Coutry Style Ribs 

3 lbs country-style pork ribs (western style work too)

1 cup maple syrup

? cup applesauce

? cup ketchup

3 tablespoons lemon juice

? teaspoon salt

? teaspoon pepper

? teaspoon paprika

? teaspoon garlic powder

? teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix everything in your crock pot and cook on low 6-8 hours.

 

sara_c

If the ribs are thawed- I'd go for 4-5. 

 

tra_la_la

I would plan 4-5 and just keep an eye on it. Just wondering, when you use the crock pot do you put the meat in frozen or thawed?

RoxBride

If thawed I agree 4 hour on low.

BlueLikeJazz

I'm might up the applesauce and ketchup just a bit to add more liquid (and maybe an extra tbsp of lemon juice too).

I'd try 5 hours.  Do you have a "keep warm" option?  If so, I'd start them on low 6 hours before you want to eat, check them at 4.  If they are no-where close, up to high for an hour and check again.  Then decide and either keep on high, reduce to low, or keep warm as needed for the last hour.

Good luck!

BlueLikeJazz

Also, is your crock pot too big?  If I dont' have enough in the crock pot, it will dry out the food.

I now have a 4 qt and a 6 qt.  the 4 qt for meat-only dishes, and the 6 qt for "one pot meals" and soups and stuff.

swinsto3

BlueLikeJazz:

Also, is your crock pot too big?  If I dont' have enough in the crock pot, it will dry out the food.

I now have a 4 qt and a 6 qt.  the 4 qt for meat-only dishes, and the 6 qt for "one pot meals" and soups and stuff.

I have no idea how big it is (guess I should know that, huh?), but when I put in meat and whatever liquids, it fills it at least half way. Do I need something smaller? I know I can put everything in a ceramic dish and put that in there, I can do that if I need to. And there is a keep warm option, but it doesn't seem to really just keep everything warm - it seems to keep cooking. I made something not too long ago and it was perfect about an hour before we were eating. I switched it to warm, and it was dry as can be by the time we ate.

I usually put stuff in thawed, or 85% thawed. I've never put anything in 100% frozen. The ribs are almost all the way thawed right now, by the time they go in they will be thawed completely.

Thanks for the input! I'll up the liquids a bit and start at 4 hours. 

tra_la_la

I have never had thawed meat come out as well as frozen. I think this might be why it keeps coming out dry. Something frozen I still have to add extra liquid. I would try something frozen next time and see if it comes out better.

coloradogirl06

I am by no means a guru, but I have a pretty big crockpot that seems to cook hotter than the standard recipe calls for. I have more than once come home to burned food!

I always take a few hours off the cooking time and err on the side of caution when it comes to the liquid. I also have the keep-warm button, but it does still stay pretty warm, but it's better than keeping it on low.

micaela421

Sounds good, tell us a review about it

sunnytrees

I make this one frequently, usually with 2 1/2 lbs and usually cook for 8 and the meat is fall off the bone perfect. I honestly don't think 4-5 hours will be long enough. This recipe makes a lot of juice!

• 1 1/2 pounds country style pork ribs
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 dash ground black pepper

ETA: I've never put frozen meat into a crockpot! We use ours quite a bit. It's a large oval size.

 

ondrea

I just made short ribs on Monday and cooked them on low for ~ 6 hours and they were great.  you do want to use as small of a crockpot as you can to fit your meal.  too big of a pot will over cook your food.  I would do your recipe for 6 hours on low.