One of the most surprising thriving industries within the United States is the Barbecue Industry. One of the largest influences on the success of this market has been the development of unique sauces to pair with barbecued meats. Just how popular is this industry, though? Each year the United States is responsible for nearly $2 billion spent to develop unique and existing barbecue sauces. This value doesn’t even consider the amount of sauces concocted at home that have been passed down for generations!
Sometimes too much choice is actually an issue, especially in the case of barbecue sauces. After all, which sauce will truly accentuate the meat you love? Is it the same across all premier barbecue meats? Ribs? Brisket? Pulled chicken and pork sandwiches? Most sauces will do a great job of strengthening the meats prepared, but the wrong choice can ruin any flavors you were hoping to bring out. Which is why it’s so critical to determine which sauce is right to pair with your meats.
Aspiring barbecue enthusiasts could benefit from taking a few minutes’ worth of review of the resource featured alongside this post. Even the most experienced grill masters could learn a thing or two from the infographic. The flavor profiles of acidic, sweet, mild and spicy sauces are detailed within the infographic. In addition, you’ll find some examples of which sauces pair best with what meats. Just because you prefer one sauce on your ribs doesn’t meant that sauce will pair well with your brisket.
As a result of so many choices, hosting your own barbecue can be difficult. Accommodating to everyone’s tastes and preferences can be feel impossible. Everyone exists somewhere on the barbecue sauce spectrum but determining where can be extremely difficult. Your best bet is providing guests with a multitude of sauce options to pair with the meats you decide to prepare. Of course you’ll have to do some research of your own, as the last thing you want to do is serve a conflicting sauce with your meat.
Here are a few more things to consider before pairing your meat with any sauce:
- Even the most decorated sauce can’t excuse a poor cook job. Honing in on your slow-cook skills is of utmost importance.
- Defaulting to one barbecue sauce forever is the worst thing you can do. Find your way out of your comfort zone and try any sauce you come across. You never know, maybe you haven’t even experienced your favorite sauce yet.
- Local barbecue establishments provide some of the best barbecue education around. With their own unique sauce blends, they may have some tips and tricks for perfecting your pairing skills.
Searching for more information regarding barbecue sauces and meats? Be sure to review the infographic below. Courtesy of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants.