Cooking Tips and Articles

What is the Difference
Between Barbecue Sauces?

A sauce is not the same all across the country. What is your favorite kind and have you tried them all?

When people think of barbecue sauces, they all have a different kind that comes to mind. In fact, many people don't even realize there is more than one kind. Certainly, we all know there are those with different flavors, such as garlic, lemon, and spicy, but most of them seem to be the same to most people. However, that is not the case.

Barbecue and grilling sauces vary in different regions of the U.S. Some are tomato based, some are vinegar based, and others are mustard based. There is even a mayonnaise-based sauce that is popular in Alabama.

Manufacturers often combine the different facets of a sauce to come up with something unique, but purists typically shun this and stay with their own favorite. In fact, many purists make their own barbecue sauce.

Tomato-based Barbecue Sauce

If you guessed that the first ingredient in this is tomato, you are right. These sauces usually contain tomato sauce, and often have tomato paste and tomato catsup, as well. Many things can go into the sauce after the base is created, namely sugars, spices and sometimes vinegar. Regions of the U.S. that are well known for tomato-based sauces include West Carolina, Kansas City and Memphis.

Vinegar-based Barbecue Sauce

The purest of these have no tomato product in them at all. They also double as a marinade. If you have never tried one of these, you should do it right away. You will be surprised at how good a sauce can taste without tomato in it. Another characteristic of this sauce is lack of sugar. It is based on vinegar, cumin, salt and pepper, and then whatever variations a cook or manufacturer adds. Regions that have made this sauce popular include East Carolina and, to an extent, Texas. Texas cooks still often add just a little bit of tomato product for texture, but not much.

Mustard-based Barbecue Sauce

These are interesting and tart, and they are guaranteed to make you smack your lips. The base is mustard, and the add-ins are vinegar, hot chili pepper and regular pepper. This is popular in parts of South Carolina.

Other Variations

If you can think of it, it has been done. If it hasn't, you are on your way to wealth. Many sauces that stray from tradition have ingredients such as mayonnaise; sweet glazes made from sugar, especially brown sugar and molasses; fruits, such as raspberries and apricots; and even things you might not think of, like chocolate. Novelty sauces can be quite good for a change of pace, but there is so much variety in traditional barbecue sauces, you might not need a change.