While marinades usually apply to meat before cooking, barbeque sauces glaze meat near the end of cooking or serve as an accompaniment to a prepared dish. The active ingredient in marinades is an acid that breaks down meat and allows it to absorb flavor, usually vinegar or citrus juice. Depending on regional traditions and personal tastes, barbeque sauces vary in consistency, flavor and application.
Marinade
A basic marinade consists of an acidic liquid, oil and seasonings. The acidic liquid not only breaks down tough tissue, but also imparts its unique flavor. Common acidic additions to marinades include vinegar and citrus juice, such as lemon and lime. Common marinade oils include vegetable oils and olive oil. Seasonings usually are fresh or dried herbs. Marinating occurs before cooking. To marinate meat, submerge or coat it with the marinade mixture and allow the meat rest. In general, beef and pork are suitable for long marinating times and chicken and fish are suitable for short marinating times.
Barbeque Sauce
Whereas marinades apply to meat before cooking, barbeque sauces apply to meats during or after cooking. During cooking, barbeque sauces usually are brushed across meats near the end of the cooking period, particularly if the sauce contains sugar. Subjected to a short cooking time, the sugar will carmelize. Cooked too long, sugar will burn. A common barbeque sauce recipe includes tomato paste or ketchup, sugar and spices. Regional variations include mustard-based barbeque sauces and vinegar-based barbeque sauces.
Brine
Similar to marinade, brine is a soaking liquid that conditions meat before cooking. The term brine refers to a strong mixture of salt and water. Whereas acid is the active ingredient during marination, salt is the active ingredient during brining. Brining increases meats' moisture content on a cellular level, ensuring that meat remains moist after long exposure to heat.
Mop Sauce
Mop sauces share characteristics with both marinades and barbeque sauces. Like marinades, mop sauces usually have a thin, watery consistency and often contain vinegar and spices. Like some barbeque sauces, mop sauces apply to meat during cooking. Mop sauces usually don't contain sugar, so you can repeatedly apply them to meat throughout long periods of grilling or smoking. Mop sauces not only add flavor, but also help meat remain moist.
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