The barbecue industry continues to boom in the United States. One of the most impactful aspects of the industry’s success are the seemingly endless amounts of barbecue sauces available in the United States. With nearly $2 billion spent per year developing and producing these sauces, this becomes a bit less surprising. What is surprising, however, is that this value doesn’t even consider the home-made recipes that are crafted. For many consumers, all of these choices pose a few questions. The primary one being: which sauce is for me?

This question only becomes harder to answer as the number of unique sauces continues to grow. Not only do you have to decide which sauce you most prefer, but you have to determine which sauce pairs best with your favorite barbecue meats. For example, will the sauce you choose for your brisket be the same sauce you choose for your ribs? Most likely not! While it’s true that an amazing sauce can elevate your meats, making the right decision in regards to sauce can be difficult. Choosing the wrong sauce can go on to ruin any barbecue experience you may have.

For those who have faced enough trouble in regards to pairing their meats and sauces together, the infographic coupled alongside this post can be a great resource. All of your spicy, mild, sweet and acidic sauces are detailed within the infographic. As a bonus, some meat and sauce pairs are also detailed as determining what sauce is best often starts with the meat you’re preparing and who you’re preparing it for.

Gauging the best meat and sauce pairings for yourself is certainly easier than gauging them for others. As every individual’s preferences will be different, your ideal pairing might not be suitable for someone else. From the perspective of a host, this can be rather difficult to accommodate toward. The best way to do is by providing as many sauces as convenient for the meats you’re serving to your guests. Remember to be mindful of the fact that the wrong pairing can ruin even the most beautifully prepared meats.

Before hosting your very own summer barbecue, remember these tips:

• Practice makes perfect. The preparation of the meat is arguably more important than the sauce it’s paired with. No sauce can salvage the worst cooked meat.
• The key to appreciating various flavors is by trying them. Step out of your barbecue sauce comfort zone and try even the most unique sauces for a better understanding of certain meat and sauce combos.
• Local Barbecue spots are some of the best resources. Trust the professionals and see what pairings they’ve created to serve to their customers. You may be inspired by what you find.

For more information regarding barbecue mastery, check out the featured infographic below. Courtesy of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants.