Across the states of America, barbecues have enriched our lives, bringing families closer together, filling our bellies with satisfying tastes, and giving us countless good memories to cherish.
COBB Grill America, home of the best camping grill, is proud to be part of this legacy. Now, in honor of the true American BBQ, we want to share the 4 regional barbecue styles with you so you can have some fun experimenting with the different styles of outdoor grilling and delight in a sense-awakening culinary experience.
The Genesis of American BBQ
Our nation’s rich culinary heritage was further enriched by diverse smoking techniques, playing a significant role in shaping the foundations of American BBQ as we know it today. Barbecues have become a staple in nearly every American home and an extraordinary way to combine delicious outdoor cooking with good times and special occasions.
Barbecues are not only economical by helping us to save on gas, but they also allow for maximum creativity in dining by using the simplest yet tastiest ingredients. Let’s explore the 4 regional barbecue styles that you can try on the country’s best camping grill ‒ the COBB portable grill.
Texas Style ‒ Bigger the Better
To recreate the Texan style of barbecuing, you will need a COBB grill, like the Premier Air, beef ribs, hot links, and brisket. In case you were wondering, brisket comes from the lower muscles of the cow and is usually tough and chewy. However, when cooked on the grill, Texas style, brisket is smoked for up to 18 hours until it’s dried on the outside, but the inside is tender, flaky beef.
East Texas hot links are a spicy, peppery sausage that is also smoked on the grill, usually with oak, hickory, or mesquite. For a true Texan flavor, use dry mustard and chili powder for rubs and thin bastings, or Worcestershire and hot sauce.
Memphis Style ‒ Pork Rules
Pork and pork ribs make up the best part of Memphis barbecues, so include plenty of this if you’re trying out this style on your COBB Pro Black grill. COBB is the best camping grill for cooking pork with maximum flavor and juices.
Memphis locals enjoy wet or dry ribs as well as pulled pork, but other meats such as chicken do feature on the menu as well. The cornerstone sauce of this region is usually anything tangy and thin, complemented with fresh coleslaw.
For dry ribs, simply skip the sauce and rub the meat with a mix of salt, sugar, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, ginger powder, and rosemary powder. Popular Memphis sides include french fries, corn on the cob, southern green beans, and baked beans.
Kansas Style ‒ Sweet and Slow
Over to Kansas City, the home of slow-smoked meats and sweet seasonings. For the typical Kansas taste, you will need brown sugar as the key ingredient in your marinades and rubs. When using sugar on the grill, remember to keep the heat low to prevent charring.
Barbecues in this region are also known for burnt ends, which are fatty pieces of meat cut from the brisket. You could also try meatier pieces of bacon, which are popular in these parts. A Kansas BBQ is also accented by thick, tangy sauces made from a blend of tomatoes, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, paprika, mustard, chili powder, molasses, and ketchup with red pepper flakes.
Carolina Style ‒ Happy, Saucy Hogs
The Carolina BBQ style is all about whole hog cooking, which takes 12 to 24 hours. With this style, you can enjoy three main parts of the meat, including shoulder, stomach, and neck, with the stomach giving you the most tender meat. It may take a bit of technique and practice to perfect grilling the hog in a way that softens the tough sections without charring the more tender stomach portions.
Carolina barbecues are also customized with mop sauce, which is a thin, vinegar-based sauce brushed onto the meat during cooking. Add some red slaw, black-eyed pea salad, and potato salad as true Caronlia-style sides.
Get Creative with COBB, the Best Camping Grill in the USÂ
COBB offers Americans the best camping grill to try out any of these delicious regional BBQ styles. With this versatile outdoor grill, you’re also free to experiment with vegetarian barbecue options such as tofu steaks and grilled veggie kebabs. Shop our online store now and buy your COBB portable grill from COBB Grill America, along with a range of handy accessories and a jam-packed recipe book for mouth-watering dishes and grilling tips.
