BBQ Sauce: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentConsumerReports.org has the most recent and though comparison test of barbecue sauce. The taste testers even did some "pre-work," getting their taste buds used to various flavors typically found as characteristics in barbecue sauce, so that they could recognize those flavors later. After sampling 10 BBQ sauces in a variety of ways, testers conclude that some sauces are more versatile than others. Half the sauces are very good, while the other half are too sweet, too ashy or two gelatinous. Bottom line? Make your own, ConsumerReports.org says -- and offers its own favorite recipe.

Our AssessmentSerious Eats tests 16 national brands of barbecue sauce and concludes that, while homemade is better, there are still some good bottled BBQ sauces out there. To level the playing field, sauces are categorized as either spicy/vinegary, or sweeter, "Kansas City" style. The best KC style, says testers, is a tie between Trader Joe's Bold & Smoky, with its balance of tangy and sweet (although, they add, it could stand a bit more heat) and Bull's Eye with its blend of acidity, smokiness, heat and dollop of molasses (although some find it a bit too sweet). Their choice of best vinegar-based BBQ sauce, Stubb's, has a deep tomato flavor and attractively visible specks of black pepper and garlic.

Our AssessmentBBQ expert Craig Goldwyn (AKA "Meathead") chooses his own favorites and categorizes them according to regional style (Kansas City, East Carolina, South Carolina Mustard Style, Lexington, Alabama White Sauce, California and Texas). Winners include Bone Suckin' Thicker Style, with its "great balance of sweet-heat-tart components," Sweet Baby Ray's, which he deems sweet, smoky and tangy, and Big Bob Gibson Championship Red BBQ Sauce, which he praises as a "great classic American barbecue sauce."

Our AssessmentWhile BBQ guru Joshua Bousel does an excellent job of explaining his testing methodology, he does admit that the results are one person's opinion (although friends are brought in occasionally for support). Sauces are ranked from one to 10, on an individual, non-competitive basis. Among the favorites are both Bone Suckin' Original and Bone Suckin' Hot BBQ sauce, which he says has a balance so perfect, it's "hard to believe it was ever bottled." Hints of smoke, specks of spice and chunks of onion and garlic make this semi-transparent sauce "top-notch," and while the lighter consistency makes Bone Suckin' lose a point (he gives it a 9 out of 10), he admit that this thinner texture allows the natural flavor of the meat to come through and char without burning.

Our AssessmentEpicurious conducts a blind taste test comparing the flavor, consistency and appearance of 22 grocery store and gourmet barbecue sauces, which they slurped with the aid of a side dish of Jiffy Mix corn bread. Sweet Baby Ray's Original barbecue sauce wins as Best Overall, thanks to its "full-bodied smokiness," "grains of pepper," and thick, tomato-puree type consistency (although one judge deems it to be "too thick"). The runner up is KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce, which judges say is versatile enough to go on anything from pork to salmon -- although one tester says it's not quite smoky enough.

Our AssessmentIn this latest update of a four-part taste series begun in 2006, The Nibble focuses primarily on small batch, gourmet BBQ sauces, which they slather on free-range chicken. Previous favorites include Taste of Tassleberry (which tasters deem "different and enjoyable" due to its strawberry flavor) and one supermarket staple, Cattlemen's Authentic Smoke House, which is praised for its abundant hickory flavor. This update adds several regional sauces to the list, including the all-natural Smokin' Willies (which BBQ Sauce Reviews also likes), which is praised for its dark, tomato-caramel flavor, and Grumpy's Private Reserve (also liked by BBQ Sauce Reviews), which reviewers say lingers with a nice bite and a "pleasant, creeping heat."

Our AssessmentIn this undated BBQ sauce roundup, Good Housekeeping editors judge 13 supermarket brands for flavor, and give the nod to Emeril's Kicked-up BAM! B-Q Barbecue Sauce, which they like for its dark color, hickory smoke flavor and sweet-tasting heat. Honorable mention goes to Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, because of its "authentic, real barbecue" flavor.

Our AssessmentEating Well editors search for the best-tasting low-carb, low-sodium, HFCS-free bottled BBQ sauces. The Smart Choice winner is Dinosaur Sensuous Slathering Sauce, which is lowest in calories and carbs but has a tangy, bright flavor that beats out the competition.

Our AssessmentChowhound posters weigh in with their favorites in these two message threads, explaining (and sometimes defending) their choices in this website for foodies. Sweet Baby Ray's Original gets a large number of enthusiastic posts, but posters also praise Stubb's and Bone Suckin'.

Our AssessmentSurprisingly, there aren't a great number of posts for barbecue sauces on Amazon.com. Among the BBQ sauces garnering the most posts are Bone Suckin', Smokin' Joe Jones No Sugar Added, Sweet Baby Ray's and Tony Roma's. Bone Suckin' gets some of the most enthusiastic posts, with the only criticism being that the sauce is so thin, the meat shows through. Mostly, user comments verge on the rhapsodic, and one reviewer says it's so addictive they can't stop sampling it right out of the bottle -- a comment made on other sites as well. Sweet Baby Ray's gets good reviews for its flavor, as does the sugar-free Smokin' Joe Jones, which scores a number of enthusiastic posts for its sweet taste and diabetic-friendly ingredients. Tony Roma's Barbecue Sauce gets a total of 17 reviews, mostly good, but several dissenters say it tastes like ketchup.