Hot take: The local competition guy tried to tell me my brisket needed more smoke ring to score higher

I was at a small backyard cookoff in Austin last summer, and this dude who's won a few ribbons comes up. He pokes at my brisket, says there's not enough smoke ring, and that I should use more wood chunks next time. I asked him if he actually tasted it first, and he just shrugged. I mean, I get that presentation matters, but if the flavor's there and the texture is right, who cares how deep the pink goes? Has anyone else run into judges or competitors who fixate on looks over taste?

2 comments

2 Comments

blake_black477d ago

Bet that dude forgot the most important ingredient is taste, lol.

blair6267d ago

Oh man, @blake_black47 is totally right. And honestly, a smoke ring isn't even a sign of good flavor - it's just a chemical reaction from the combustion process. You can fake one with curing salt if you really wanted to (which would taste terrible, so don't).