What is Memphis Style BBQ?

Memphis is known for its BBQ and claims to have the best anywhere. Memphis style BBQ is celebrated every year in May at one of the largest BBQ festivals in the country. BBQ is a very regional dish and of course every part of the country claims that it's own style of BBQ is the best; vinegar, mustard, or tomato, beef, pork, or chicken, spicy or mild, dry or wet. What sets Memphis style BBQ apart from the rest of the country?

The Meat

The meat in Memphis style BBQ is always pork, most particularly ribs or pulled pork for sandwiches, but ribs most of all. The cut and quality of meat in Memphis style BBQ plays a more dominant role than in other types of BBQ. The flavor of the meat all by itself plays a big part. The favored cut for ribs is St. Louis style, which is taking a full sparerib rack and trimming it down to nice, neat ribs.

Wet or Dry?

Memphis BBQ is traditionally dry. This doesn't mean that the meat is dry, on the contrary it is juicy and succulent. It means that they are flavored with rubs and might be served with sauce on the side for optional dipping as opposed to being cooked and served "wet" or in sauce. Memphis ribs are most often smoked which gives them their own distinctive flavor. They may be "mopped" during the smoking with a mixture of the spices in the rub and juice or ketchup to add a bit more moisture. The slow cooking lets the flavors of the rub meld with the meat and create juicy, tender ribs.

The Rub

There are as many variations of rubs as there are Memphis cooks. Of course since this is where the trademark tastes of the different BBQ shops come from, recipes for rubs are well-guarded secrets! The base of all the rubs is paprika which gives that distinctive rich, red color. Add some heat, add some savory and your own imagination and you have your BBQ rub. Memphis style BBQ rubs are traditionally mild and heavily applied. The moisture from the meat mixes with the rub to create it's own thick sauce on the meat's surface.

I don't cook in BBQ competitions, but sure do enjoy grilling for my family and trying out new recipes. For more ideas and recipes for Competition BBQ recipes visit BARBECUECOOKBOOK.INFO

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