BBQ Rub Recipes so good I rub them on myself..

BBQ Rub Recipes seem to include every ingredient in the kitchen -- including the kitchen sink. Is this necessary? Um, no.

Great BBQ rub recipes have exactly the right amount of ingredients and no more. Sometimes I think BBQ cooks think great rubs must have 20 -30 ingredients.

As in most cooking- Less is more.

For example, I don't think there is any finer dry rub, than kosher salt and black pepper .

Of course, this is for beef, but the point is, pick ingredients that go with the type of meat you are using, and don't muddy up the recipe with too many ingredients, or the diner won't be able to "get it" and the overall product will be less than what it can be. So, let me climb down off of my soap box and explain a bit more about dry rubs and what they are used for. Basically a rub is a seasoning mixture applied before smoking the meat- as much as 24 hours before- in order to build up a well-seasoned crust and enhance the flavor of the meat.

Notice I said enhance not overpower. Most dry rub recipes have a base of salt and chile powder or paprika (itself a chile powder!) and then enhanced with other seasonings, pepper, and in some cases sugar.

(BBQ rub recipes that include sugar in most cases are for pork products, and used in low temperature applications- like smoking. You need be careful when you add a sugared BBQ rub to a meat that is going on the grill- it will burn, so watch carefully.)

So, to beat a dead horse, I rarely use a BBQ rub on beef - especially big cuts intended for smoking- except Kosher Salt and Black pepper.

But (isn't there always a but?)

I do use BBQ rub recipes on beef like a bone-in ribeye cowboy steak.

I just don't do it for authentic BBQ recipes, like this beef brisket recipe...

Enough already.

If, rather than beef, you like pork and the other white meat, try my all purpose seasoning recipe for pork and chicken that I used in our bbq joint for years. (R.I.P.) Whether you use my dry rub recipe or some of the other posts, let's walk through some components of a great BBQ rub.

First, you need salt, duh. Some rubs are either salty or sweet, or both, but in most, if not all cases, salt is present.

Normally I use Kosher Salt exclusively in my cooking, but for a rub, it is important to have proportionately the same sized ingredients- for example, the actual crystals of Kosher salt are too large and settle in different places in the rub.

The rub should be somewhat homogeneous.

So- use plain Jane salt, or in my case, I use Lawry's seasoned salt because I like the taste.

Next up in many rub recipes is some sort of chile powder or powders. Paprika is very mild, unless you find the hot version or the fabulous smoked paprika.

After this, in volume proportionate to the recipe, the list expands greatly and is up to you, the pit master.

But, here are a few more rub and seasoning tips for pork:

Porky the Pig has a natural affinity for sage, and cumin.

Also, I have seen some recipes that say not to use allspice. Well, if it works for the classic Jamaican Jerk Pork (and it does) it works in a BBQ rub recipe --If you like the flavor!

Also, some cooks use lemon pepper and citric acid. While these give an interesting "kick," be forewarned, I have personally seen the acid in these spices eat through the bottom of the smoker over time. So be careful.

And, in my opinion, they don't belong in a rub. But follow your tastes.

It is rare that I ever advocate using garlic powder in anything, but rubs are an exception.

The only other hint, if you are going to use some of the recipes posted, or make up your own, is to make sure your spices are fresh- if you can grind your own great- and that once you make your BBQ rub recipe put it in an airtight container! Good luck and good rubbing.

Got Pork? Try either of these two rubs for pork!

Rubs for beef brisket You can either go bare bones, or a bit more but these rubs are magic with brisket..

Rib rub recipe A great rub especially for ribs!

Chicken and KC rubs 2 great rubs: one for chicken and one that is pure Kansas City..

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