BBQ Rubs Add Tons of Flavor

A dry rub is a seasoning mix containing spices, fresh and dried herbs, garlic or onion powder, salt, pepper, and a little sugar used for balancing savory flavors. The benefit of using a rub is that it both flavors and tenderizes meat, poultry, ribs, and can even be used on fish.

Rubs are very easy to make at home and are a healthy alternative to thick sauces which usually contain high levels of corn sweeteners, fats, preservatives and salt. A rub seasoning can be tinkered with to produce hot and spicy or tangy and sweet flavors. More subtle rubs with lots of fresh herbs are ideal for the mildness of fish and vegetables.

The trick to a good rub is balancing ingredients correctly. Use higher amounts of herbs and spices that have a subtle flavor and smaller amounts of stronger flavored ingredients such as salt, cayenne pepper, garlic and sugar. Rubs with high portions of salt and sugar can over-dry meats if left on too long. Rubs should be applied to meats and poultry only about one hour before going on the grill. It’s important to apply the rub evenly so that the flavor is consistent in every bite. You may only see a thin coating of seasonings on the surface, but they can pack a potent punch of flavor in your mouth. The crowd will usually prefer the taste of meat when a rub is used compared to a sauce because the rub penetrates the meat better for more mouth-watering flavor. BBQ gift sets for men make a great gift idea during the summer season when people crave being outdoors.