Testing Membrane on or Membrane off

APPS & SIDES

Membrane On vs Off Ribs | St. Louis Style Rib Experiment on a Z Grills

Ever wondered if leaving the membrane on your ribs really makes a difference? In this video, we put two racks of St. Louis–style ribs to the test — one with the membrane scored, and the other with it completely removed. Smoked low and slow on the Z Grills pellet grill with cherry pellets, seasoned with the same rub, and finished with a glaze of BBQ sauce, these ribs go head-to-head for tenderness, bite, and flavor. Watch the cook, see the results, and decide which method you’ll use for your next rib cook!

Ingredients

Serving Sizes

4

2 racks St. Louis–style ribs
Your favorite BBQ rub
Water (for spritzing)
Cherry pellets (for the Z Grills pellet grill)
BBQ sauce (your favorite)

Instructions

Prep

Remove both racks of ribs from the packaging and pat them dry.
Clean them up evenly, trimming any excess fat or uneven edges.
For Rack One, flip it over and score the membrane in a crosshatch pattern.
For Rack Two, pull the membrane completely off.
Season both racks front and back with the same BBQ rub.
Let the ribs rest on the board for up to 45 minutes while you fire up the Z Grills.

Grill Setup

Fire up your Z Grills pellet grill and set it to 250°F.
Load the hopper with cherry pellets for a sweet, smoky flavor.
Once preheated, place both racks on the middle shelf.

Cooking Timeline

First 2 Hours: Let the ribs smoke untouched — no peeking.
At 2 Hours: Open the grill, check for even cooking, and spritz with plain water. Close the lid.
At 3 Hours: Repeat the check and light water spritz.
At 4 Hours: Check again to make sure the ribs aren’t burning and are cooking evenly.
- Brush both racks with your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Raise the grill temp to 275°F.
- Close the lid and let the sauce tack up for 15 minutes.

Finishing Up

After 15 minutes, the ribs should be around 200°F between the bones.
Pull them off the grill, rest on the board for 15 minutes, then slice.

The Test

Now it’s time to answer the big question:

Rack One (Membrane Scored) – does it hold more moisture but leave a little chew?
Rack Two (Membrane Pulled) – is it more tender and bite-through?

Slice, taste, compare, and see if you can really tell the difference!