Pork

The McRib Re-imagined: Meet the McRob, A Barbecued Rib Sandwich

Well, like an aging rock band or musician, McDonald Corporation’s iconic “McRib” sandwich is on yet another “farewell” tour. Introduced in 1981, this assemblage of compressed pork, onions, pickles, and barbecue sauce on a hero-type bun, has a cult-like following. Weeks ago, McD’s announced it was bringing this popular sandwich back for a limited time beginning November 16. What they didn’t say was that it was available in a very small market—parts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. But you needn’t miss out.

Our version, created by our late colleague Rob Baas, is superior. Rob was a graduate of Barbecue University, a fire wrangler on Steven’s shows, and an invaluable recipe tester. He worked for McDonald’s as a teen, and knew he could create a live-fire rendition of the McRib (using actual pork ribs!). Which is why we now call the sandwich a “McRob.” It takes a little work and a longer cooking time than you might expect for pork ribs, but the results are well worth it.

His hack for deboning the ribs is genius. Thanks, Rob.

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