10 Best BBQ Rubs You Can Buy Right Now
If you’re a meat lover, a vast collection of ready-made dry rubs is a must for your dishes. Used for both grilling and barbecue, dry rubs are mixtures of various spices that are applied to the meat before and during grilling, depending on the meat, the cooking method, and the ingredients. So, here’s what to need to know about BBQ rubs and how to choose them.
1. Type of meat
Always read the description on the container before buying BBQ rubs because that will tell you the ingredients it contains. Also, many BBQ rubs will have cooking instructions, specifying what kind of meat they work with best. Some rubs work best with vegetables or fish, so make sure that you pick the right rub for your cut of meat.
2. The key ingredient in the rub
Many commercial rubs contain a lot of salt because it is a cheap and easily available ingredient. However, when used disproportionately, salt can ruin the balance of the other spices and ingredients in the rub. Look for rubs that have a lower salt quantity and generally avoid seasoning salt.
Also, try to find rubs that use salt and sugar just to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients. Make sure that the rub you buy is not sugar-based, as this will burn too quickly.
3. Preparation method
Grilling and barbecuing are two different cooking methods. They differ in terms of cooking time, temperature, cuts of meat, and smoking. For barbeques, cooking time varies between 2 to 24 hours. The temperature is low, about 225° F (107°C), and the most suitable cuts are large, tough, fatty meats.
Ribs, shoulder, butts, and brisket work best for BBQ. Also, barbecued meat can be smoked using aromatic wood. Grilling, on the other hand, means a shorter cooking time, between 5 and 15 minutes, and a high cooking temperature of about 500° F (260° C). The cuts of meat used for grilling are thin or ground, such as steak, burgers, or chicken breast. Because f the shorter cooking time, the meat is not on the grill long enough for it to be flavored by the smoke.
4. Your taste
Some prefer their barbecue spicy and others prefer it sweet. It all comes down to your personal choice and what your friends or family prefer. Keep this in mind when buying dry rubs, as some are spicy, some are mild, and some are sweet. Also, some BBQ rubs rely heavily on a particular spice or herb, so it’s best to choose something you like or are familiar with. For an authentic taste, go with seeds and Middle Eastern herbs.
5. Common ingredients in dry rubs
- The salt in a rub is mainly for enhancing the other flavors. That’s why the right amount is essential—if there’s too little, the taste will be bland, if there’s too much, it will be too salty.
- Sugar is also a flavor enhancer. Many types of sugar can be used, including refined or raw. The most common type of sugar found in ready-made BBQ recipes is brown sugar, which tends to add a caramel flavor.
- Pepper adds an earthy note to any dry rub, and pairs perfectly with the taste-enhancing notes of salt. The most commonly used type is black pepper, but some dry rubs will use chipotle pepper for an extra bit of spiciness.
- Paprika brings texture and a strong flavor to any smoked meat. Paprika-based dry rubs work best with BBQ, but there are also certain types of meat and a combination of ingredients that include paprika that work for grilling.
6. How to apply a dry rub
What is most important when applying a dry rub to any kind of meat is that it sticks to the meat while it is cooking. There are different approaches depending on the meat.
- For chicken or turkey, rinse the meat and then pat it almost dry. Then coat the meat evenly, making sure that all pieces are perfectly covered. You can barbecue the chicken in one piece or diced, depending on your taste and preference.
- For steaks, you must marinate the meat first. Use your favorite marinade (wine and olive oil make excellent liquid bases for marinades) and add different flavors to it. After the meat is marinated, don’t pat it dry, but add the rub directly to it. The liquid marinade will help the ingredients in the rub stick to the meat and enhance the flavor.
- For pork, use the dry rub before and during cooking. Add the first layer of dry rub before cooking, then, when the meat is at a suitable temperature but not entirely cooked, add another layer of rub, making sure it sticks to the meat.
- For fish and shrimp, sprinkle the rub on before cooking. Use a brush to add a wet base, such as oil, then dip the fish or shrimp in the dry rub, coating it evenly.
You can also leave dry rubs overnight. This will ensure that your meat retains more moisture and has stronger flavors when barbequed. If you feel the meat’s natural moisture won’t be enough to make the rub stick, coat it with some olive oil or mustard before applying the rub. You will find that a larger quantity of spices and herbs will stick to the meat. Then, wrap the meat loosely or toss it in a plastic bag, and keep it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. This way, the meat will be more tender and have a stronger flavor.
Chef-Made Dry Rub Recipes
If you ever find yourself with time to spare, you can try making your own BBQ dry rub, following Chef Harry Soo’s all-purpose BBQ rub. As he points out on his website, this is the basis for the enhanced recipe he used in over 30 grilling Grand Championship competitions.
The recipe works with all kinds of meat, and it adds a smoky, lightly spicy flavor. To 4 tablespoons of Kosher salt, add 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons California Mild Chili Powder, 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon granulated garlic, 1 tablespoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper. If you want a milder flavor, don’t use the cayenne pepper. Mix all the ingredients and store them in a cool, dry place.
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Best BBQ dry rubs you can buy right now
1. Slap Yo Daddy BBQ Rub
If you find yourself craving Harry Soo’s delicious BBQ but don’t have time to prepare the rub yourself, you can always buy it and bring that championship flavor to your food. Suitable for all kinds of meat, from chicken, to brisket, and ribs, the Slap Yo Daddy BBQ Rub also works well on vegetables, tofu, potatoes, and even eggs and popcorn.
This rub is very versatile and goes well on all kinds of meat so that you don’t have to buy lots of rubs for different meat.
2. Totem Tea and Spice Gourmet BBQ Rub Kit for Red Meat and Burgers
A completely different type of BBQ rubs, the Gourmet BBQ Rubs Kit from Totem Tea and Spice on Etsy is one of the best-sold products of its kind on the website, with over 5,000 reviews.
It is a 6-flavor set, with a unique design and special handmade blends of organic spices. The Memphis Rub is a mildly spiced sweet rub originating in Memphis. The Java Love Rub has a chili powder and espresso base that enhances the flavor of steak on the grill.
Southwest Chipotle Rub is based on Chipotle chilies and has a smoky flavor, best suited to rib eye or a T-bone cut. The Ancho Chili Rub is suitable for rib-eye steaks or beef kebabs. On an exotic note, the African Berbere Rub comes with a hot and earthy flavor combination, and the Mexican Rub lends a smoky flavor. Buyers on Etsy were thrilled with the flavors and the beautiful packaging.
As promised, it was perfect. My finance is definitely a skilled BBQ-er and he loved the gift. Can’t wait to use it in summer. Very aromatic.
A buyer
3. Gusto Spice Kansas City BBQ Dry Rub
Gusto Spice, the Kansas City BBQ Dry Rub, is one of the top BBQ blends produced by a family-owned BBQ spice company in Western Massachusetts, USA.
Apart from the Kansas City blend, Gusto Spice also offers Memphis, East Texas, Kansas City, Santa Maria, Georgia, Louisiana, and Beef and Steak blends. The Kansas City blend is ideal for beef and pork ribs. These are best slow-cooked and served with a thick, sweet sauce. The ingredients of this blend include dry mustard, brown sugar, garlic, and chili powders.
My family uses the Kansas City rub for absolutely everything! It’s our favorite! So far my personal favorite was using it on a smoked tomahawk steak. We love it so much that we decided to gift a pound to a family member for Christmas! He loves it! Team Gusto kindly sent us a sample of the Memphis rub and it also tastes amazing, especially on chicken! Will be placing another order soon!
4. Hardcore Carnivore Black: Charcoal Seasoning for Steak, Beef, and BBQ
The Hardcore Carnivore Black BBQ rub is a beef seasoning consisting of activated charcoal that gets a lot of rave reviews on Reddit.
It can be used on all red meats, such as brisket and other BBQ meats, for vivid color contrast and a wonderful taste. It is an MSG-free, gluten-free, and Keto-friendly dry BBQ rub made in Texas. Although the black charcoal is the central feature of this rub, the mix of dehydrated garlic and onion, makes this a very special rub. The steaks not only look crispy and seared but also taste great.
5. Bad Byron’s Butt Rub Barbeque Seasoning
Used by champions in grilling competitions and by professional chefs, Bad Byron’s Butt Rub is one of the best bbq rubs out there. It is a balanced blend of onion, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and chipotle (smoked jalapeno).
It as an all-purpose seasoning, suitable for all sorts of meat. However, according to most Amazon reviewers, it works best with ribs and brisket.
6. Meat Church Holy Gospel BBQ Rub
A BBQ dry rub that works best with beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables. The product is a combination of two types of BBQ rub from the same manufacturer, the Holy Cow Seasoning and the Gospel All Purpose Rub.
The product was developed based on customer feedback, balancing the amount of black pepper used in the prior flavors. It turned out to be a hit.
7. Stubb’s BBQ Rub
With a real sea salt base, paprika, garlic, and hickory smoke flavor, Stubb’s BBQ rub is a great BBQ rub choice. The mix has a Texas-specific flavor, suitable for brisket, steak, pork, chicken, or vegetables.
The recipe is inspired by the original rub, created by C. B. Stubblefield in 1968 in Lubbock, Texas. Stubb’s BBQ Rub is suited to almost anything that can be grilled or prepared on a BBQ.
8. Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning
Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning is considered the best choice for roast chicken or BBQ poultry. With a blend of paprika, peppers, tomatoes, and other spices, the seasoning is the perfect addition to any chicken meat.
The seasoning works perfectly on chicken, no matter if it’s barbequed or baked in the oven. Other reviewers mention using the seasoning on meat substitutes such as tofu.
9. Pride of Szeged Steak Rub
A Hungarian-style sweet paprika-based steak rub, the Pride of Szeged rub stands out among other BBQ rubs as its key ingredient is not salt but paprika. Also, it contains no sugar. Besides paprika and salt, the other ingredients are onion, celery seed, and spices.
It’s a must BBQ rub for all Hungarian food lovers out there.
10. Memphis Rib Rub
A handmade BBQ rub, it was developed by Pinch Spice Market as a tribute to the Memphis Tennessee style of dry ribs. The dry rub has a sweet and savory taste and a mustard and ginger flavor. It is a sugar-based organic rub, which includes, besides brown sugar and cane sugar, paprika, sea salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, ginger powder, ancho chili, rosemary, and mustard powder.
All ingredients come from organic farmers who use no pesticides and chemicals and the products are additive and gluten-free.
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