All-Purpose BBQ Mop

By Todd Martin July 4, 2024 4 mins read 181 Views

Elevate your Pitmaster skills with this all-purpose BBQ mop recipe. Whether you’re savoring pulled pork, brisket, or chicken, this versatile mop sauce will infuse your favorite proteins with delicious flavor and added juiciness.

Try this versatile all-purpose BBQ Mop on your next pork shoulder, barbecued brisket, lamb, ribs, smoked chicken, or whole hog. We guarantee that it will be well worth the effort!

Should you use a BBQ mop sauce?

Using an All-Purpose BBQ Mop is a personal choice. The rich flavor of barbecued meats comes from the delicious crust (bark) that develops during the smoking process. Some Pitmasters believe that the rub is all you need; other backyard cooks spray or brush on a thin flavored liquid called a BBQ mop. This concoction typically includes a little oil, an acid, and the rub used to flavor the meat.

You can experiment with your mop by substituting the cider vinegar with other ingredients such as brewed coffee, vegetable broth, or pickle juice. But be mindful that the mop sauce should remain thin and watery. Use a small BBQ mop brush or a food-safe spray bottle for the job.

Ingredients

Apple cider vinegar
Beer, we recommend a lager or ale for this BBQ mop
Oil
Worcestershire sauce
Paprika (not smoked)
Coarse salt
Garlic powder
Brown sugar
Black pepper
Red pepper flakes

How to Make It

Gently simmer the all-purpose BBQ mop ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until the salt has dissolved and the BBQ mop has warmed through.
Cover, and let the mixture stand for 5 minutes before using.
Transfer mixture to a food-safe spray bottle, or keep in the saucepan if using a mop brush
After smoking the meat for 2 hours to develop a sufficient bark, apply or spritz a thin layer of the mixture onto the meat every 2 hours until it is time to wrap.
To free up time, make the mop the day before. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and rewarm on your stovetop or microwave until warmed through. Use as directed above.

Using a BBQ mop

First and most importantly, keep your BBQ mop warm! You can achieve this by setting your bowl (or spray bottle) of mop mixture in warm water right before using it. Doing this will help raise the temperature of the liquid. A cold BBQ mop can cause the meat temperature to drop.
Use this All-Purpose BBQ Mop in one of two ways: First, use it as a regular mop by gently dabbing the mop mixture onto the meat during the second half of cooking.
Second, pour the all-purpose brisket mop into a kitchen-safe spray bottle and spritz the liquid onto the meat.

Do I need to use a BBQ mop?

No. You don’t need to use a mop, but it can be an important building block of flavor. I don’t always use a BBQ mop on my briskets and pork shoulders. The decision lies entirely with the flavor profile I’m trying to achieve. There are no hard and fast rules for barbecue. Experiment a little and have fun with it.

Other recipes to try!

The Brisket Buying Guide