| Go to any grocery store, specialty food shop, or | | | | quality. This is due to their higher concentrations of |
| food show, and the shelves will be overflowing with | | | | the pungent oils that give them flavor. Obviously, the |
| dry rubs and seasoning blends. Many of these have | | | | higher the concentration of oil, the greater the flavor, |
| names and packages that will either leave you smiling | | | | and of course, the higher the cost. |
| or scratching your head, but the sad part is, 99% of | | | | Because of this increased cost, most dry rub |
| these have two things in common - lack of originality | | | | manufacturers will simply use whatever ingredients |
| and flavor. It is the same old same old - a few | | | | are available at the lowest costs. Needless to say, |
| different spices thrown together to create something | | | | this robs the dry rub of ever achieving a superior |
| that smells and tastes like Shake and Bake. | | | | flavor. Prime point, try comparing true Hungarian |
| But, it is that remaining 1% that truly go out of their | | | | paprika with the standard off-the-shelf variety...there |
| way to create a blend that is uniquely theirs. For | | | | is no comparison. |
| them it is more than just a way to make a dollar - it | | | | As a further cost saving measure, many |
| is a passion. A passion for achieving a top notch | | | | manufacturers rely on additives and flavorings to |
| product that truly stands out from the crowd. It is | | | | reduce their costs. For example, rather than actually |
| through the use of better ingredients that they are | | | | use products that have been slow smoked, many |
| able to make this happen. | | | | manufacturers will use smoke flavorings to give their |
| Most dry rubs and seasonings begin using a similar | | | | products an "off the grill" flavor. While this is a cost |
| formula - a mixture of paprika, peppers, salt, sugars, | | | | efficient way of producing a rub, it is not how you |
| and other spices. Depending on the flavor the | | | | produce a quality product. While very good at coming |
| manufacturer is trying to achieve, they may also | | | | close, additives and flavorings very rarely equal the |
| include very specific and sometimes unusual | | | | flavor of the real ingredient, robbing you of flavor (I |
| ingredients. This is where most dry rubs fall short. | | | | won't even get into the health concerns of additives |
| When working with a computer, if you put junk in, | | | | here...that's a whole other article!) |
| you get junk out, and dry rubs are no different. Use | | | | So the next time you are in the grocery store and |
| a less than quality ingredient, and you end up with a | | | | are about to purchase that bottle of dry rub, put it |
| less than quality product. Most people are unaware | | | | down and take the time to reward yourself with a |
| that virtually each and every spice used has varying | | | | truly high quality product. You won't regret it, and |
| levels of quality. For example, let's look at black | | | | who knows, you may even discover flavors you |
| peppercorns. There are a wide number of varieties, | | | | never knew existed! |
| some of which are well known as being of higher | | | | |