5 Easy DIY Meat Rubs

June 03, 2011, By Sage Kalmus 0 comments

To give their creations that special, personal taste, all great grill masters concoct a rub for their meats. Whether or not you're a "master" yet, you'll be king of your own backyard barbeque when you serve your guests meat coated with your "secret" rub. 

A meat rub is a mixture of spices applied directly to the surface of meat prior to cooking. Meat rubs are one way to season meat deeply without the use of marinades or sauces. The first four of the following five easy DIY meat rubs are all dry rubs, meaning that they contain no wet ingredients like mustard or Tabasco sauce, only dried herbs and spices. Dry meat rubs are better for grilling as they don't burn like wet rubs do, and they last longer when stored.

But first, a bit more of a primer on meat rubs in general.

Meat Rub Basics

To use a meat rub, rinse your choice of meat with cold water and pat it dry. Then take the meat rub mixture and sprinkle it over the meat to taste. Rub the mixture into the meat with your fingers and a bit of olive oil.

Once the meat rub is applied, wrap the meat in plastic or seal in a Ziplock bag and stick it in the fridge for 15 minutes to an hour to let the meat absorb the spices.

To store dry meat rubs for later use, seal them in an airtight container and set them in the fridge or freezer, depending on how soon you plan to use it. In the freezer, a dry rub can last for three to six months.

1. BBQ Meat Rub

The typical meat rub for barbecuing includes equal parts sugar, brown sugar, salt, cumin, chili powder and ground black pepper. It may also contain a half part of cayenne pepper. Of course, you can vary these proportions depending on your preference for a sweeter or hotter taste. The famous Carolina barbecue rub, designed for long, slow cooking, adds a hefty portion of paprika to the mixture. Not only does this add a fiery color to the meat but an equally hot flavor to it as well. Use this on any kind of meat, from chicken to beef to lamb.

2. Thai Meat Rub

Mix one part ground ginger, ground black pepper and dried lime peel with four parts salt. A Thai meat rub is particularly effective for grilled and broiled dishes. And it's not just for meat. You can use this rub to season vegetables for grilling or broiling as well—just don't rub as hard.

NEXT: Spicy Tex-Mex Meat Rub