BBQs take center stage in many celebrations, especially the national days. From the 4th of July to Memorial Day, you can be sure to find people in their backyards as they roast BBQ ribs on grills.
As the BBQ is cooking on the grills, sides like corn, roast vegetables, and burgers are among the few options you can never go wrong with. However, for the best mouthwatering, savory, and chilled BBQ ribs, you must pick a great spice.
Since most people do not know the appropriate spice to choose for their BBQs, this article gives some great options you can explore.
Onion Powder
Herbs And Spice Seasoning Collection For BBQ
This spice comes with sweet, tangy and slightly pungent flavors that prove very desirable for BBQ ribs. Bearing in mind that onions give all food, not just BBQs, their tastes, onion powder automatically becomes a must-have spice for any BBQ. It enhances the overall flavor properties of BBQs, making it great for rubs, sauces, and marinades.
Salt
Salt is one of the many must-haves when choosing BBQ spices. Even with any food, you will still need some salt to enhance and realize the real taste of food. It enhances all other flavors by improving how they blend, thereby making it essential for seasoning. In BBQs, salt is used to tenderize the meat, to make it easier to cook, while at the same time enhancing its natural flavors.
Paprika
Paprika is sweet, a little fruity and mild. The mild nature of paprika makes it ideal for retaining the natural flavors of BBQ ribs. It is mostly used in sauces, rubs and marinades, enabled by its color and taste. It comes in three different types hot, for providing you with some heat on a quite cold evening, smoked, and regular.
Chili Powder
This spice introduces mild heat with a rich earthy taste that comes in very handy in BBQs. The mild heat is essential for providing you with the much-needed internal warmth, which comes in very handy on a bit cold evening. It also adds heat and depth to rubs and sauces. Often a blend of chili peppers, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano can never wrong with BBQs. However, before settling on this, you have to consider the kids since this spice might be too hot for them.
Black Pepper
If there is one spice that goes with all foods, not just BBQs it’s this one. It gives a strong, pungent, and mildly spicy taste. Commonly used in combination with salt for seasoning, black pepper brings out the natural flavor of meats and sides like vegetables.
Garlic Powder
Similar to onion, garlic powder also comes with a savory and Umami with a mildly sweet undertone. It is mainly preferred for adding depth to rubs, sauces, and marinades. The spice is also a great pick for seasonings, given its ability to adhere to other different spice blends.
Cumin
Warm, and earthy with a mildly bitter undertone, cumin improves the depth and intricacy of spice mixes and BBQ rubs. It is therefore the ideal way to strike a balance between the bitter and sweet undertones. This works perfectly if you have kids around.
Brown Sugar
No one likes the oily soft outer coat of BBQ meats. Everyone looks forward to achieving that crusty caramel on the exterior of the meats. Besides an appropriate cooking method, the easiest way to achieve that is through marinating it with brown sugar. Sweet with a hint of molasses, brown sugar is used in BBQs to balance out spicy and savory flavors.
Turmeric
The deep red bloody color of some meats like beef is not always appealing to everyone. There is no better way to get rid of this bloody red color than with turmeric. It adds a vibrant yellow-colored and subtly earthy taste to spice mixes and rubs.
To sum it up, the ideal spice for your BBQ will be based on the meat type you plan on grilling and personal preference, but there are myriad staples that can elevate your grilling experience. A classic BBQ rub often includes a mix of paprika and garlic powders, and cayenne amongst others for a balance of smokiness, sweetness, and heat. Additionally, herbs like thyme or rosemary can add an aromatic note, while either cumin or chili powder can bring a deeper, earthy flavor. Experimenting with these spices, and adjusting quantities to suit your taste, can help you discover your perfect BBQ seasoning mix, ensuring every cookout is a flavorful success.