Debate: should competition BBQ teams use store bought rubs or make their own?

I was at a comp in Kansas City last weekend and watched two teams go totally different ways. One team, Smokin' Aces, uses nothing but their own blends they mix in their trailer. They got 5th in ribs. The other team, Pork Chop Express, uses store bought Killer Hogs rubs and they took 3rd in brisket. I've been doing backyard BBQ for 2 years now and I always make my own because it feels more authentic. But seeing store bought stuff beat handmade got me thinking. Is the extra effort worth it or is it just ego? Which side do you fall on?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_betty22h ago

You mentioned "authentic" but thats the trap. Nobody cares if you ground the pepper yourself if the store bought rub tastes better. I've judged comps and the real angle is consistency. Store bought stuff is the same every time batch after batch. Home blends can change depending on humidity or if you're off on a measurement by a pinch. That 3rd place team probably nailed consistency while the homemade guy had a off day on his mix and didnt even know it.

campbell.david15h ago

$100 for a salt grinder and it's still not measuring humidity? I'd be ticked too.