How to Cook Ribs Over an Open Pit

By: Bonnie Singleton

The smoky flavor that comes from pit barbecuing is one of the secrets to mouthwatering ribs that cooks in the Southern United States have used for decades. Open-pit cooking may take longer than other techniques, but it creates tender, juicy ribs that fall off the bone. With only a few tools, you can easily cook delectable ribs while camping, at the seashore or in your own backyard.

Step 1

Rub the ribs with your favorite store-bought or homemade spice mix along with salt and pepper to taste and store in the refrigerator or in a cooler for an hour or at least 30 minutes.

Step 2

Dig the pit with a shovel, if you don't have a ready-made site. Make the pit about 1 foot larger all the way around than the amount of ribs you plan to cook.

Step 3

Layer the bottom of the pit with bricks, stones or cinder blocks to help the fire retain heat like the walls of an oven and assist in cooking the ribs. Keep one end of the pit narrow enough to fit in a wire rack.

Step 4

Add charcoal or seasoned hardwood to the bottom of the fire pit, light it, and allow it to burn down to hot glowing embers. Self-igniting charcoal provides the best results; you don't have to add lighter fluid that can affect the taste of the ribs. Rake the embers with a shovel to the middle of the pit. Keep a few fresh pieces of wood or coal at the back of the fire pit to replenish your bed of coals as you cook.

Step 5

Soak wood chips -- good choices include hickory or mesquite -- for 30 minutes. Soaking the chips prevents them from catching fire, but it also boosts smoke production to infuse the smoky flavor from the wood. Wrap wood chips in foil with holes poked through for venting, and place the foil pack directly over the coals.

Step 6

Position a grill or grate over the coals, 4 to 6 inches from the heat source. Place a pan underneath to catch drippings and add enough water to the pan that you won't burn up your drippings.

Step 7

Allow the seasoned ribs to come to room temperature and then place them on top of the grill or grate. Cover the pit with a lid, which can be any large piece of wood or metal. The lid helps retain heat and allows the smoke to permeate the ribs.

Step 8

Slow roast the ribs for 30 minutes per each 3 pounds of ribs. Turn the ribs over with tongs every 15 minutes or so for even cooking and browning. Ribs are done when you poke a fork in the center of the meat, and it looks white with no pink juices. For safety, a meat thermometer should register an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit at the thickest part of the rib, away from the bone.