What does mop sauce do?
Unlike a BBQ sauce, mop sauce is used during the cooking process. Its primary role is to keep the food (usually meat) moist and tender over a ‘low and slow’ cook. A mop sauce is most commonly used during the cooking process when cooking/smoking brisket, ribs, or a whole hog.
What is mop sauce made of?
Mop sauce is most commonly vinegar based because it helps to increase the tenderness of the meat. Other liquids used are beer, Worcestershire sauce, or fruit juice help to enhance the flavor. This easy, homemade BBQ mop sauce recipe lets you cook like a true pitmaster.
Should ribs be mopped?
The moisture from a mop will attract smoke to your ribs in a good way, giving them more smoky flavor in a shorter amount of time. Also, if you are cooking your ribs low and slow—which we hope you are—a mop will help keep your meat from drying out.
How often should I mop my ribs?
After three hours, the color of the ribs will have darkened to a mahogany color and the bones should be slightly protruding from the rib meat as the meat has begun to shrink. That is a good sign. Mop Ribs: Using a mop mix and a mop or brush, apply every 30 minutes for an additional two hours.
Why is it called mop sauce?
Sometimes called a sop, a mop isn’t just another kind of barbecue sauce. It is a thin, watery solution that drips over meat adding moisture to combat the drying of an open fire. Think of it this way; a sauce is applied with a brush, like a paintbrush. A mop is applied with, well, a mop.
What does vinegar do for ribs?
Marinating ribs in vinegar helps to tenderize the meat, which is the primary reason why some chefs swear by the technique. It may also improve the flavor, although you wouldn’t want to soak the ribs in straight vinegar for too long (see How Long To Soak Ribs in Vinegar, below).
When should I sauce my ribs?
You will want to add barbecue sauce to your ribs during the final 20-30 minutes of cooking. While brushing on sauce just remember, don’t drown your ribs. If you are like me and love more sauce, there is no reason you can’t serve even more on the side.
How do you get BBQ sauce to stick to ribs?
Ribs, however, can handle more sauce applied earlier in the cooking process. Most people expect a thick barbecue sauce on ribs, so it should be layered on during the last 30 minutes to an hour of cooking. Apply several thin coatings to build layers. This is what makes for a sticky, delicious surface on ribs.
Do you mop both sides of ribs?
Immediately after you have flipped the meat, mop the side of the meat facing up while it is still sizzling and hot. This way the mopping sauce will have a chance to sit and soak into the meat. Some pitmasters prefer to spritz as they feel this won’t disturb the surface of the meat as much as mopping would.
What is a good spritz for ribs?
What is this? During the three hours I also like to keep adding moisture to the pork with a spritz. A spritz is simply a spray bottle with liquid. In our case, it’s equal parts apple cider vinegar and water (you can also add equal parts apple cider vinegar and apple juice for a little more sweetness).
What is the best spritz for ribs?
What should I spritz my beef ribs with?
Place the rack meat side up in the smoker. Combine the water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Once the rack has had at least 2 hours of smoke, spritz with the vinegar mixture every hour or so.
What do you use to mop ribs?
Vinegar is used as the mop base when you want to tenderize the meat, as you do when smoking ribs. The seasonings match the rib rub. The tool you use to apply a mop sauce looks like a miniature kitchen mop.
What should I soak my ribs in?
Soak ribs in apple cider vinegar for two hours. Remove from vinegar, pat dry, and coat ribs with rub evenly on all sides. Place meat-side up in a shallow baking dish, add enough water to coat the bottom of the dish, and wrap tightly with foil.