The Unique Journey of American Barbecue

Barbecue holds a special place in American culture, known for its distinctive ‘low and slow’ cooking method. Though cooking meat over heat is a global practice, American barbecue stands out for making cuts of meat incredibly tender through long hours of cooking over indirect heat or smoke at lower temperatures. Sauces, often used for marinating or basting, and dry spice mixes add to its appeal. Think of ribs, brisket, and pork shoulder as prime examples.

The origins of American barbecue trace back to a time before the United States became a nation. According to Robert F. Moss, a contributing barbecue editor for ‘Southern Living’ magazine and author of ‘Barbecue, The History of American Institution,’ barbecue reflects a blend of influences. Indigenous peoples, European colonists, and enslaved Africans each contributed unique cooking methods and traditions.

‘A lot of visitors to the United States highlighted barbecue as a distinctively American phenomenon,’ Moss explains. ‘From the outset, it was recognized as different from European cooking methods.’ Over the centuries, additional factors shaped modern American barbecue. Commercial refrigeration in the late 19th century and the rise of home refrigeration in the early 20th century made it easier for people to purchase and store meat.

Regional diversity is other defining feature of American barbecue. North Carolina, Memphis, Texas, and Georgia each boast unique sauces and cooking styles. Moss notes this regional variation emerged in the early 20th century. Local cooks, who often started restaurants, would teach barbecue to their employees. These employees, in turn, opened their establishments, passing down their mentors’ styles through generations.

Moss observes, ‘You can map out these barbecue mentors who inspired other cooks, seeing how their style was inherited over time. This is how iconic traditions developed.’

This article is part of a recurring series, ‘American Objects,’ celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.