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I've heard the same feedback on apple juice usage. Today I'm trying a mixture of 3 to 1 of apple juice to water (more apple juice) with ribs. Will be anxious to see if taste is differed by the use of the juice
Im using applejuice on my brisket today...tried to do a Applejuice, with a little bit of rub mixed in..worked well for a while, til it clogged up my sprayer..so I had to go to just plain juice...have used it before on ribs...and they turned out GREAT!
I also smoke ribs using Apple wood...so the two went well together
The sugars in the juice caramelize as the meat cooks, adding to the dark color, and/or bark. I usually use a mix of 3 parts apple juice to 1 part Captain Morgan's Original Spiced rum on pork beef and chicken. (The sugars in the rum also caramelize also!)
If you are using it as a mop it will add sweetness and a glaze. We use it on our turkeys and venison. We also inject the turkeys with apple cider which imparts the apple taste and a real smooth sweetness.
I have had great results using it as a mop in bowl and also as a spray........Adds a lot to the color and taste........I have even used it when grilling.........
I use 1/2 apple juice 1/2 cider vinegar with a dash of soy sauce. I think the vinegar helps break down the fiber in the meat. The dash of soy is more for color than anything else.
Jimbo
It won't "add moisture". But it sure helps with the bark, as Meowey said.
If you apply the rub and let the meat smoke an hour or so, then spray with apple juice (or your choice), every hour, it will work with the rub as it caramelizes to produce a nice bark that is delicious.
The bark on these ribs was killer.
Definitely try the pineapple juice too... I don't like it as much by itself, but find it's really good mixed 75/25 with apple juice (mostly apple juice).
If I don't have any apple juice around I just mix up alittle apple cider vinegar, water and brown sugar together to make a sweet apple tasting elixer. Nobody cares.