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Choosing sauces for grilled meat? Here’s what you need to know!

sauces for grilled meat

Choosing sauces for grilled meat? Here’s what you need to know!

We’re sure that like us, just the smell of grilled meat is enough to get your mouth watering. 

Grilled meat with sauce? Even better. 

Whether you use it as the perfect glaze or marinade, the right sauce can either make or break your favourite grilled dish. 

Choosing the right sauce, alone, is an art and an important step in fine-tuning your recipes. If you want to perfect it and understand the basics of choosing only the best glazes for your grilled meat, this post is a great place to start 🙂

Have a good understanding of the flavour profiles of each sauce

Everyone has different flavour preferences. What differentiates sauce flavours and makes them uniquely sweet, sour or spicy, are the ingredients that go into them.

  • If you want to add a tinge of sweetness to your meat, look for these ingredients: sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, or maple syrup. 
  • With ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, lime juice and wine, you’re going to get that sour, tangy flavour that will leave an imprint on your palate for hours!
  • Those who like their grilled meat flaming-hot should look for sauces with ingredients like mustard, onions, chillies, garlic, black pepper, curry powder, and cumin.

Each sauce’s taste also varies as a result of the different ingredients used in its base. Here are some of the most popular sauce bases for grilled meat!

  • Tomato-based sauce

Tomato-based sauce, which uses ketchup as the base, is an all-time favourite among grilled meat lovers. And we get it—the ingredients traditionally used in it,  including molasses, brown sugar, vinegar, cayenne pepper, onion powder and garlic powder, really pack a punch.

The sweet and tangy flavour combined with the thick consistency from the ketchup makes it the perfect choice to dress various types of meat including pork, beef, chicken and lamb. 

  • Vinegar-based sauce

If a thick ketchup base is not your go-to choice, then a vinegar-based sauce is sure to get your taste buds in a frenzy!

These are thinner compared to tomato-based sauces and are one of the spiciest sauces on the market. What’s great about the spiciness is that it’s ideal for meats like pork to balance the fat. 

Vinegar sauce uses white wine vinegar and cider vinegar and is always coupled with a range of spices like red pepper, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and hot pepper sauce. For extra spice, a vinegar-based sauce like the Killer Hogs Vinegar Sauce is an excellent choice!

  • Mustard-based sauce

Don’t like sweet sauces for grilled meat? Try a mustard-based sauce made with plain yellow mustard that adds a rich, spicy, and tangy flavour with next to no sweetness. 

That said, just keep in mind that you won’t always find mustard sauces without sugar. Brown sugar is a common ingredient in these and is the perfect flavour for meats like pork or chicken.

  • Mayonnaise-based sauce

As any bonafide mayo lover will be able to attest, the unique flavour of a Mayo-based sauce can leave you marvelled at how much taste and zing it can add to grilled meat. 

Given that most types of mayonnaise are mixed with lemon and vinegar, it’s often the perfect pairing for an appetizing grilled meal! 

Add your sauce in at the right time

While the right sauces for grilled meat can add mouthwatering flavours to your dishes, you need to add them in at the right time when you’re preparing your meal or adding the final touches. 

The best time to glaze your meat is right before you remove it from the grill or after removing it completely from the heat. This is because sauce often contains sugar, which will burn if cooked at high temperatures. 

Use the right sauces for grilled meat to create unforgettable meals!

A good sauce is kind of like the icing on a cake—it’s the perfect final element that brings everything together. 

The next time you’re on a cooking spree and are preparing grilled meats, choose your sauce wisely. Wait till the right moment to add it in and voilà! You’ve got a hearty and delicious meal for you and your loved ones. 

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