BBQ styles around the USA

Summer is in the air. You can almost taste it, and it will be even more flavorful when people gear up for National Barbecue Day on Sunday, May 16.

National Barbecue Day falls right in the middle of National Barbecue Month, so if you haven’t dragged out the barbecue yet, there’s still time to celebrate. Maybe you’ll cook up some barbecue from around the country: Texas-style, Memphis-style, Carolina-style, and Kansas City-style, just to name a few (Types of BBQ).

Central Texas-style barbecue is characterized by indirect low slowed cooking over a wood fire outdoors. Texans usually choose to barbecue beef rather than pork, and no sauce. Instead, they prefer to use a dry rub to prepare the meats, which are actually sold by the pound at restaurants and have a normal wait time of up to two hours.

West Texas-style barbecue is a particular style to the region, distinguished by a direct open flame in hot coals outdoors.

South Texas-style barbecue is influenced by its Mexican influence, and includes meats like cow’s head and tongue. They also have a distinct thick sauce they use to moisten the barbecue meats.

East Texas-style barbecue is classified by indirect heat until the meats are falling off the bone and this is where you’re more likely to find pulled pork.

Moving toward Tennessee, the barbecue is a little different. Memphis-style barbecue is characterized by cooking in an outdoor pit, with a preference for pork. Like the Central Texas style, they use a dry rub, but they tend to add barbecue sauce during cooking or served on the side.

Kansas City-style barbecue also blends a dry rub, usually spicy, with a “sweet and tangy molasses-and-tomato mixture” as a side sauce (Regional BBQ styles).

South Carolina-style barbecue might find you barbecuing a whole pig, served with unique sides, like hash and rice.

North Carolina-style barbecue, on the other hand, might feature a thin vinegar-based sauce like this  and cooked low and slow in a barbecue pit.

Whether you are barbecuing at home or going to a local barbecue spot like Southern Smoke House Barbecue at 501 Main Street in Suisun or Maverick BBQ and Brew at 284 Sunset in Suisun, make sure you celebrate National Barbecue Day officially on Sunday, May 16.