What can you use to make some baby back ribs real tender?!

What can you use to make some baby back ribs real tender?

I am grilling for the first time and I really need to know a couple of things.

1. how to make my ribs tender.
2. how long should I let my ribs sit to marinate.
3. and when should I put the barbecue sauce on my ribs

To make them tender do this: marinate them with a dry rub at least 8 to 24 hours before cooking, and do not cook over direct heat, but smoke them. If you wish to add BBQ sauce (if you didnt marinate) then apply the sauce when the meat is cooked thoroughly.

I personally prefer a dry rub than BBQ sauce, make sure the rub is allowed to marinate as well. Do not cook dry rubbed ribs over direct heat!!! You will burn the rub and destroy your ribs.

You can only boil your ribs prior to cooking over direct heat. Thats for a faster cooked rib and if you dont have patience to sit outside with friends and have few beers while your gourmet hands are smoking meat like a real man. They will still be tender though, just make sure when you boil them, add a whole onion that has been split and cut a few garlic cloves in half with some salt when you boil the ribs.

If you do prefer sauce then only apply it towards the end of rib cooking, for the same reason, you will burn the sauce and mess up your ribs.

If you cook using direct heat, then make sure it is meduim or medium low heat, especially if they are baby back ribs. If you are using charcoal, that would be when the coals are completely white. But, your best bet is to smoke those puppies. Its not that hard for a first timer to smoke ribs.