There is no arguing that well looking Meat Bark is something very desirable in the world of BBQ.
Sweet and crunchy Bark of complex flavor is a very important aspect of smoked meat, right next to the great smoky flavor and the smoke ring.
In most cases, we judge food visually, then check the smell, and then finally the flavor. Very good bark can make you unable to think of anything else but eating such meat.
The appearance remains in memory for a long time, which makes it a good idea to learn how to get the best results when it comes to Bark.
7 Steps to Get a Good Bark on BBQ
Below I present few steps that will make your bark much better. You may already know some of them but try to take the rest of them into account the next time you smoke meat, and you will surely get much better results.
The right temperature – As I already mentioned before, the temperature can’t be too low or too high ( like 300+ degrees F ). In both situations, you won’t get the kind of results you expect or the bark simply won’t be there. Take care of the right temperature from the very start all the way to the end of smoking.
Excess fat – Always cut down the excess fat in your meat. Never remove it entirely, but instead try to reduce its amount to the minimum. Of course it is required for the bark to be formed, but too much of it will result in reduced melting and in not enough of pellicle on the fat underneath.
Tinfoil – Keeping the meat in tinfoil for too long can generate a large amount of steam, which will result in turning the bark into complete mush. I know that it is used often to make the smoking process faster, but such solution can sometimes be risky.
Rubs – A very significant element that is necessary for the bark to be formed. There’s a lot of types of Rubs which is why I absolutely advise you to experiment and try out which combination of condiments suits you the best.
Smoke – Soluble ingredients of the rubs combined with the smoke give a dark bark effect, which looks as if the meat’s surface got burned except that it is not the case ( in reality, dark bark tastes great ). You want to get the best effect possible? The meat has to be smoked slowly and in the right temperature so that the smoke has the right conditions and time to stick to the dissolved ingredients of the rubs.
The right placement of the meat – It happens sometimes that some people place the meat in some container to prevent the grease from dripping etc. I advise against this type of solutions mostly due to a limited smoke flow over the entire surface of the meat. Just place the meat directly on the grill grates and optionally place a water bowl underneath for the grease to drip to.
Meeting all the above recommendations will allow you to get a great bark in your meat. Of course I still suggest for you to experiment when it comes to the rubs so that you can match not only the appearance of the bark but also the flavor.
If you prefer watch video about BBQ bark then I suggest you one great film below.
As you can see, the slightly complicated theory isn’t in fact anything difficult. Great looking BBQ Bark is a valuable skill that everyone who sees your food will appreciate, which makes it a good idea to get educated on the topic.
