you are probably aware that there are several regional specialties (four total), one of which is Memphis-style BBQ. Everyone has their own favorite of the four regional BBQ styles. Maybe you prefer a certain style of cooking or a certain sauce. If you are a fan of BBQ or Mahogany Smoked Meats in the United States.
But what makes Memphis-style BBQ specifically unique? To demonstrate what is so special about Memphis-style BBQ, let’s take a look at all four distinct regional BBQ types and compare and contrast:
What does Memphis Style BBQ Taste Like
Texas-Style BBQ
The focus of Texas-style BBQ is all on the meat. There is no focus on the sauce and only minimal focus on seasoning and sides. The meat is really the center of Texas-style BBQ and all of the choices made when cooking is made to highlight the flavor of the meat.
Texas-style BBQ generally features ribs, brisket, and sausage with a simple salt and pepper dry rub. The meat is cooked low and slow for up to 12 hours or more. The meat takes on the smoky flavor of the wood, and the wood used is generally oak or pecan.
The Carolinas-Style BBQ
This style features two subgroups, North Carolina and South Carolina. Both subgroups feature pork as the main meat. North Carolina BBQ is generally pork shoulder brushed with a spice and vinegar mixture while it is cooking and served with a BBQ sauce containing ketchup.
South Carolina BBQ usually features the whole pig and either the spice rub or the BBQ sauce highlights mustard as an ingredient, as a mustard seed is a large crop in the state.
Kansas City-Style BBQ
Kansas City-style BBQ can feature any meat. The chosen meat is covered in a spicy dry rub and then cooked low and slow. While Texas-style BBQ usually uses oak or pecan wood, Kansas City BBQ uses hickory smoke to cook the meat.
The meat is served with a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce that contains molasses and tomato. This sauce is generally what people think of when they think of BBQ sauce.
Memphis-Style BBQ
And finally, Memphis-style BBQ. Memphis-style BBQ features pork as the main meat, and you will usually see Memphis-style pork ribs and pulled pork. One element that makes Memphis-style BBQ very unique is the dry rub. Some dry rub mixes feature up to 40 spices, but almost all rubs contain paprika and garlic.
Memphis-style BBQ is generally cooked in a pit and tended to by a pitmaster. The pitmaster ensures that the meat cooks for as long as possible without applying any sauce. Hickory wood is used in the pit. When the meat is done cooking, it is occasionally served with a Memphis-style tangy BBQ sauce, which includes tomatoes.
If Memphis-style BBQ is your favorite, you may have a dream to move to the city and be near all of the best and most famous Memphis-style BBQ restaurants. In that case, there are plenty of Memphis houses for sale that will put you in the middle of this BBQ capital.
