American Barbecue: Food, Fire, and Fun
American barbecue, or BBQ, is a popular way of cooking meat slowly with heat and  ribsIndigenousAmericansaucescompetitionsflavourpublic eventsbeefrubsmokelowgrillsocial activityoak. People often cook pork,  oakpublic eventssmokeAmericanflavoursaucesribscompetitionssocial activityrublowIndigenousbeefgrill chicken, turkey, or sausages. The meat is placed inside a barbecue cooker or on a covered  Americanoaksocial activitylowgrillcompetitionssmokeIndigenousbeefribsflavourpublic eventsrubsauces. It does not usually sit directly over a large fire. Instead, it cooks with  grillsaucesribssocial activitycompetitionsbeefpublic eventsIndigenousAmericanoaksmokerublowflavour heat for many hours. Wood or charcoal gives the meat a special smoky smell and  oakIndigenouslowbeefsmokesocial activityribsgrillflavourpublic eventscompetitionssaucesrubAmerican . Popular types of wood include  smokepublic eventsrubIndigenoussaucesgrilloakribssocial activitybeefflavourlowAmericancompetitions, hickory, apple, and cherry. Before cooking, people may cover the meat with a dry mix of salt and spices. This mix is called a  lowflavourpublic eventssocial activitysmokegrillIndigenousAmericanoaksaucesrubribsbeefcompetitions. They may also put barbecue sauce on the meat during or after cooking. Slow cooking can make a hard piece of meat soft and tender. Barbecue is different from quick grilling because it needs more time, patience, and careful attention.
Barbecue has a long history in the United States. Different cooking traditions helped create the food that Americans know today.  beefrublowoaksmokepublic eventssaucescompetitionsflavourAmericanribsIndigenousgrillsocial activity peoples, European settlers, Caribbean communities, and African American cooks all influenced  lowAmericanIndigenousflavourpublic eventssocial activitysmokecompetitionsgrilloaksaucesbeefribsrub barbecue. In the past, people often prepared large pieces of meat outside over a fire. Barbecue became an important food at family celebrations, community meetings, festivals, and  flavoursmokeIndigenousbeefAmericanruboakpublic eventscompetitionsribsgrillsocial activitysauceslow. Today, many American families have barbecue parties in their gardens or backyards. Friends and relatives talk, listen to music, play games, and enjoy food together. Common side dishes include corn, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and bread. Some people drink lemonade or iced tea with their meal. Barbecue is not only food; it is also a  saucesrubsmokebeeflowoakgrillpublic eventsflavourIndigenousribsAmericancompetitionssocial activity that brings people together. Large barbecue  beefpublic eventsflavourribslowsaucesrubsocial activityAmericangrillcompetitionsoaksmokeIndigenous are held in different cities, where cooks prepare their best dishes for judges and visitors.
The United States has several famous regional barbecue styles. Texas is well-known for beef brisket, which can cook for many hours until it becomes tender. Memphis is famous for pork  smokeribscompetitionsflavoursaucesoakbeefrubAmericansocial activitygrillpublic eventslowIndigenous. The ribs can be “wet” with sauce or “dry” with a spice rub. Carolina barbecue often uses pork with a thin vinegar sauce, while South Carolina also has a yellow mustard sauce. Kansas City barbecue can include beef, pork, chicken, or sausages and often has a thick, sweet tomato sauce. A fun fact is that barbecue  beefIndigenouspublic eventsribscompetitionsrubsocial activitylowsaucesoakflavoursmokegrillAmerican can be red, yellow, white, or brown. Alabama is known for a white sauce made with mayonnaise and vinegar. Another fun fact is that some barbecue cooks start working very early in the morning because the meat needs a long time to cook. The cook who controls the fire and prepares the meat is sometimes called a pitmaster. Every region has different recipes, but people everywhere want their barbecue to be smoky, tender, and delicious.