It’s hard to deny the overwhelming popularity of barbecue sauce in the United States. Partially because of just how many sauces are available. Registered barbecue sauce production exceeds nearly $2 billion per year. The one catch? This doesn’t consider the amount of home-made barbecue sauces that are made. While some of these recipes have generational history in families, other recipes are just getting their start.
Considering the number of options consumers have to choose from, they’re always left with one question: which of the sauces will accentuate my meats? What sauce will truly highlight the ribs, brisket, chicken or pulled pork that you just cooked? While most sauces will strengthen your meats, the wrong choice can just as likely ruin your meats. Finding the right sauce to pair with your creations is critical.
Luckily the featured infographic paired with this post is an excellent reference for those slow-cook masters looking for their ideal sauce. Are you a spicy or mild type of person? Sweet or acidic? Maybe a bit of everything? In most cases, the sauce you decide on is largely based on what you’re grilling and the tastes of who you’re grilling for.
The only issue is that there will be some excess overlap. Why? Well, it’s hard to say that any one barbecue sauce is wrong for any one dish. Every one’s tastes are different. For example, consider the classic Texas BBQ sauce. Typically a mainstay for a meat like beef brisket, but I’m sure you wouldn’t complain if this was the sauce you were served to be paired with a serving of ribs or a pulled pork sandwich.
This overlap of preferences will likely benefit you and your guests as well! Rather than having to identify the preferences of each of your guests, giving them sauce options to choose from with their choice of meat will likely enhance their experience. Just be sure to avoid any side sauces that would conflict with the sauce used throughout the cooking process. Conflicting palettes will likely diminish the experience as well. Providing options is the best-case scenario for these situations.
A few things to consider when utilizing this resource as a tool for your barbecue gatherings:
First and foremost, no sauce can excuse poor execution in terms of preparing and cooking the meat. Be sure to perfect your slow-cooking skills before you blame a sauce for ruining any of your creations.
After you’ve honed your cooking skills, be sure to include some variety in your barbecue sauce life. Don’t always default to one sauce. Branch out of your comfort zone and try that new sauce. Each sauce has a unique set of ingredients and flavor palette, you’ll never know which might work for you until you try them all.
Finally, reference the resource when out at your favorite local barbecue spot. Each barbecue location likely prides themselves on their own unique sauce blends, in addition to the many classics that they offer. This resource should provide you with a better idea of which sauces you might love on your orders.
For more information, be sure to check out the featured infographic below.
Courtesy of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants.
