The Science of BBQ - Caramelization
When you put flames and meat together on your barbecue, magical things like the Maillard Reaction happen; creating the brown crust of deliciousness you love. But with the addition of barbecue sauce, things can go from delicious to disaster fairly quickly if you don’t know about the science of barbecue sauce, and the chemical reaction that is called Caramelization.
What is Caramelization?
Caramelization is what happens when sugars are heated causing them to turn brown. Well, that is the definition in the most simplistic of terms anyway. But let's go deeper. Caramelization is when sugar is oxidized through heat. The amount of heat needed depends on the sugar that you are using. That is why it is very important to know what sugars are in your barbecue sauce and rubs and when it is appropriate to use them
| Fructose | Galactose | Glucose | Maltose | Sucrose | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Plant Based | Chemical-Based | Carb Based | Malt Sugar | Refined Sugar |
| Where is it found? | Fruit, Honey | Dairy Products | Bread, Pasta | Bonded Glucose | On Your Table |
| Temperature for Caramelization | 110°C/230°F | 160°C/320°F | 160°C/320°F | 180°C/356°F | 160°C/320°F |
It Tastes Like Burning…
The first thing you should know about barbecue sauce is that once it meets the meat, and hits the flame, it will change the flavor. This is due to the sugars in the sauce caramelizing. That means, depending on the preparation and ingredients of your barbecue sauce, different sauces are better used in different ways. You also want to use caution when substituting one sugar source for another in your favorite sauces and rubs. Carmelized Onions
Take honey for example. Because the chemical makeup of honey is 38% fructose, your barbecue sauce that gets its sweet taste from honey is better suited to a recipe that is cooked low and slow so that the sauce can caramelize properly, instead of on high and direct heat. Using table sugar (sucrose) in your rub or sauce will fare better at higher temperatures because it begins to caramelize at 320°F. This means that you can finish your meal with a healthy helping of barbecue sauce while it’s still grilling if you are using a sugar-based sauce. So when using honey or fruit-sweetened sauce, you should apply it just before or right after the food has come off the heat. When using maltose or sucrose-based sugars, they can stand the heat, so get out of the kitchen, and use them on the grill.
Store Bought
If you buy your sauce from a store or the farmer’s market, pay attention to the ingredients. You should be able to judge where the sweetness comes from and use your sauces appropriately by following the guideline above. Or you can just make your own sauce.
Food For Thought
Now that you’re familiar with the chemical changes your food goes through on the grill, whether it’s the Maillard Reaction or Caramelization, you will be able to take your meals from flame + meat to something out of this world.