The people saying to cook 2 or 3 hours aren't probably cooking plate ribs with a huge chunk of meat on top. These benefit from 4-1/2 to 5 hours of slow cooking.
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Before cooking trim thick fat off top. Leave thick membrane on bottom. The marbling in a choice Angus plate rib is amazing- they don't need fat on the outside. Mix pickle juice and mustard 50/50 and coat each rib section to wet (I have used Frank's Red Hot instead). The hot sauce idea belongs to Aaron Franklin. You can't taste either liquid after cooking.
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Season with brisket rub: coarse pepper, kosher salt, seasoned salt and granulated garlic mixed 50/30/10/10 by volume. You can get by fine with just salt and pepper. Sprinkle on all sides except the bottom and don't be afraid of the pepper.
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Into the smoker at 250-300. I use cherry and pecan or pecan and hickory. This is after 3 hours at 250-275. When they get this color or a little darker I quit adding smoke wood. Check them after the 4th hour. When done they should be soft and jiggly. Probe with a thermometer or bamboo skewer. If they're soft like butter they're perfect. Take them off and let sit uncovered for 20 minutes. Cover then let rest for at least half an hour. This one of the few things I don't even think about temperature to cook.
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These were done at 4-1/2 hours.
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The finished product! Just use the time as a rough guideline and start feeling/probing them at the 4 hour mark. They'll usually take 4-1/2 to 5 hours. Be sure to cool them off a bit then cover and let rest half an hour minimum. They'll be juicy and super tender.
I like these better than the whole plate ribs. They are covered with all bark and don't take as long as the whole rib.