Smoke spare ribs the classic way — with the 3-2-1 timing and how to tell when they're done.
Spare ribs at 225°F take about 6 hours using the 3-2-1 method: 3 hours smoking, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour glazed. They're done at 195–203°F, when they pass the bend test — the rack cracks on the surface when lifted.
Smoking is the method where the clock lies most: weather, smoker swings, and the stall all move the finish line. The time above is for planning your day — cook to the target internal temperature with a probe thermometer, and pull when it's probe-tender.
Smoking a different cut? Use the full smoking time calculator.