The Easiest Ways to Fix Bad BBQ Sauce
I’m guilty of judging books by their covers and choosing wines by custom labels. I’ll even buy BBQ sauce if it comes in a cute bottle. I’m not proud of it, and it definitely backfires. But if there’s a way to improve the taste of bad wine , you better believe there are ways to improve bad barbecue sauce. (Sorry, I can’t help you fix a bad book.) Try these tips to make bad store-bought barbecue sauce taste less “bottled.”
How to Make Bottled BBQ Sauce Tastier
For the most part, buying bottled BBQ sauce does make things easier. Experimenting with a new recipe from scratch is time-consuming, and even after preparing all the ingredients and doing all the work, you may still find that you don’t like it. The problem with bottled products is not so much that they are “fake,” but that they are designed to attract a large regional or even national audience.
The biggest complaints I hear about BBQ sauce are that it’s too sweet, too ketchupy, or too bland. I primarily use ingredients with contrasting flavors to balance recipes. To try any of these suggestions, you can either pour the sauce into a bowl and add the extras, or if you have room in the bottle, just add a new ingredient and shake.
Your Toolkit to Fix the BBQ Sauce Fiasco:
BBQ sauce is too sweet
I like BBQ sauce with a hint of sweetness, but we’ve all had sauce that went too far. This is the type that you try and think, “Oh yeah. Corn syrup.” To curb the overpowering sweetness, use an acidic ingredient, such as a generous squeeze of lemon or lime juice. If the citrus isn’t strong enough, add a little pure white vinegar. If you don’t want to lose the thickness of the mixture, you can add a small amount of powdered citric acid. , about a quarter to half a teaspoon.
BBQ sauce that tastes too much like ketchup
Tomatoes are a key element in many barbecue sauces, adding body, acidity and flavor to the dish. In some recipes, the tomato element can begin to dominate the entire flavor profile and impart a ketchup-like flavor. Luckily, you don’t have to hide it (the tomato flavor should be there), you just need to highlight the other elements of the barbecue. You have several options for achieving balance. Try sweetening the mixture with molasses, brown sugar or honey. I like to add a little Worcestershire sauce or MSG to the umami. Give the sauce a Carolina twist by adding a generous dose of apple cider vinegar.
BBQ sauce too bland
It’s frustrating when you try a new barbecue sauce and find that it tastes thick and stringy. But as an eternal nutrition optimist, I’d like to help you focus on the bright side: almost anything will make food better. Of course, you don’t want to reinvent the barbecue wheel, so stick to some flavorings.
Hot sauce is a surefire way to add interest to a boring sauce. Add vinegar or citrus to brighten it up. Make the dish zesty and savory by adding a few drops of fish sauce and a little soy sauce. Bring your own lineup of earthy sweeteners: molasses, brown sugar, or honey.
If you have time, I highly recommend adding small doses of strong aromatics. Mix two finely chopped cloves of raw garlic, a tablespoon of grated red onion, or an inch of grated ginger root. Feel free to add dry seasonings such as minced garlic, ground cinnamon, cumin or ground ginger if needed.
Don’t be discouraged when you open another bottle of boring BBQ sauce. Adding a little umami or a little kick might lead you to a new secret family recipe.