Barbeque Rubs

Barbeque ribs are the most common variety of spice rub. They are comprised of a variety of spices that are ground together. The resulting mixture is then used to coat meat prior to grilling it. Ribs, chicken, steaks, and pork chops are all commonly cooked with a rub. The composition of a rub is heavily dependent on the type of meat you intend to put it on.

The simplest barbeque rubs are just salt and pepper. Most grill masters however use a highly guarded secret blend of herbs and spices in their rubs. Almost every rub will feature salt and pepper as a foundation, and build on it with flavors such as chili powder, mustard, garlic, or herbs like basil and thyme. Just about any flavor combination you can picture on meat can be made into a rub, and experimenting can bring about fantastic results.

Many barbeque rubs also add sugar, to allow the rub to caramelize under heat, rather than just charring. This is the foundation behind many glazed rib recipes. As the heat cooks the meat, the sugar liquefies, creating a delicious coating that barbeque lovers can’t resist.