Barbecue Grills are heating up all over the globe from the savory smells of California BBQ to the big bold taste of Texas Barbecue.
"Jake" is a Third Generation Gourmet Barbecue Cook who strives to deliver the tastiest BBQ Recipes, best natural barbecue sauce, seasonings and tips that will turn you into a better Barbecue Chef right now. Follow this blog to improve your skills.
The short answer is YES. The long answer is you really don't have to but to improve the flavor of the tri tip it should be at room temperature for grilling or roasting preferably seasoned and ready to go. Now, seasonings can come in some pretty basic forms like salt, or salt and pepper in equal part mixes. We prefer the more elaborate mixes that we make such as our Jake's Famous dry rubs.
Now we know that not everyone will rush right out and get these amazing dry rub seasonings even though you should. But for those who don't want to exert the effort we've added what we consider to be some pretty good seasoning recipes below. Whether you like the more savory or the sweeter combinations you'll want to try any or all of them.
And for this post we'll add what we consider to be the top 7 dry rub mixes we use often...and that's of course if we don't use our own blend of dry rub seasonings which you can get right here or on Amazon and if you have Prime you can expect them the next day. OK enough of the grift let's get to the recipes.
Brown Sugar Spicy BBQ Dry Rub Ribs Recipe
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1 tablespoon Kosher salt
Tri Tip Roast Rub Recipe Santa Maria
1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 cloves crushed garlic
Citrus Style Tri Tip Rub Recipe
4 teaspoons Garlic Powder
2 teaspoons Paprika
2 teaspoons Dried Orange Peel
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Homemade Cajun Tri Tip Rub Recipe
8 tablespoons paprika
3 tablespoons cayenne
6 tablespoons ground black pepper
4 tablespoons garlic ground
3 tablespoons onion ground
6 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons ground cumin
4 tablespoons dried oregano
4 tablespoons dried thyme
Santa Maria Tri-Tip Rub Recipe Basic
3 Tablespoons Granulated Garlic
2 Tablespoons Salt
2 Tablespoons Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Brown Sugar Sweet and Spicy Rub
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1 tablespoon Kosher salt
Santa Maria Brown Sugar Rub Recipe Basic Garlic
3 Tablespoons Granulated Garlic
2 Tablespoons Salt
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Garlic Dominant Tri-Tip Roast Rub Recipe
5 tsp granulated garlic
2 Tbsp Kosher salt
1 Tbsp ground black pepper
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
2 tsp mustard powder
Now these are great rub recipes. So to answer the question about seasoning or marinating overnight we course say YES. Keep in mind that seasoning overnight will mean that the first layer of seasoning will be absorbed quickly into the tri tip. Our solution for that is to layer the meat with standard yellow mustard. Following the mustard let the meat rest for two hours to absorb and aid in the breakdown of muscle fibers. One done coat the meat with the seasoning mix. This coating process should be much easier with the yellow mustard. Keep in mind it's a good idea to re-coat the tri tip about 4 hours in. This will layer in the seasoning again and will help reduce dry out and drop off of the seasoning.
Now just before say 1 hour before grilling add one last layer of seasoning. By doing this the seasoning won't easily burn up if you leave on the hot part of the grill too long. Keep in mind there is a specific process to grilling tri tip. If you are on your first tri tip or would just like to know more about how to grill tri tip the right way follow our link 1 and link 2 to directions to aid in grilling your tri tip. One other thing these links are geared toward charcoal grills so you can easily adapt the process to gas or wood grills.
The seasoning dry rubs are excellent for tri tip, as well as chicken, roasts and even fish. Give them a try.
Practical Experience.
A friend of ours Jim always wanted to learn how to season meats. So, we traded some of his delicious special recipe chocolates for our process of seasoning and marinating. He had a new grill one of those pellet types or as they say "set and forget it". He told me he tried the process but for some reason it just didn't come out the way he liked. I saw the problem right away...and pointed out those pellet grills introduce moisture into the meat so if you like your ribs or tri tip to be really juicy and liquidy (OK maybe not the best word, but it works) then a pellet grill is the thing for you. But if you enjoy meat the way you grilled it when you were a kid using just plain charcoal and hardwood then it would be pretty near impossible to replicate the process using a pellet grill. I told him to ratchet up the heat and reduce the amount of pellets that would drop in the chamber. With some adjustments the process worked like a charm. The only real downside is that the meat could not be seared as least effectively the way you would using a charcoal or wood grill. He now loves the process and we are the benefactors of some pretty sweet chocolate. I think we both made out in this deal. Given the chance we know that you can achieve just as good or better results than Jim. In fact if you follow these steps and order our dry rubs you will end of with amazing results.
We hope you enjoy the rubs, seasonings and the process of barbecue.
Ya know when you're done with the tri tip and while the world is beginning to open up again it might be a good time to consider taking a trip. Use our travel link to get to some pretty fantastic travel sites. And of course we get a small stipend when you choose to opt in and take a trip...I know I am.
So many have heard about this delicious, succulent and almost delicately flavorful tri tip roast or steaks. For those who have not heard about tri tip we can help with a somewhat short explanation. Tri-Tipfor the most part is a triangular section primarily located in the front quarters of a steer or cow. The section resides primarily between the breast and the legs of the animal. The tri-tip is sometimes known as the "Newport Steak" or "Santa Maria Steak". The cut of meat is extremely popular in the Central California Coast region where Santa Maria Style barbecue has become synonymous. We know that there are as many claims regarding how Santa Maria tri-tip came into being as there are recipes for making the desired cut of meat. Most of the stories start with a butcher and an unwanted cut of meat sometime in the mid to late 1950s. In addition we've heard stories over the years about the cut of meat and it origins in foreign locations such as Germany, France and Spain.
While we believe that the initial idea for the cut of meat will always be in question we also believe that the results of grilling or roasting the cut will not be in question. This is an amazing cut of meat that when properly grilled or roasted produces phenomenal results. How often can a cut of meat produce the characteristics of a roast, a steak, a loin cut and more? Tri-tip is that cut of meat that is so extremely versatile and yet the way in which it is cooked is among the most basic almost "caveman" styles of cooking.
For those who know tri-tip this may be merely a rehearsal of facts and information. You've already had the pleasure of direct introductions and most likely have produced a few if not many tri-tip meals. And as for cooking, whether it be grilling, roasting or barbecue there is not 100% correct format. The format depends on your needs and the results you wish to capture. If your limited by the confines of your space such as an apartment or shared living quarters then the outside grilling process may never enter into your discussions. If your in cold or rainy confines then the same may be said of your location. However, if you have access to some method of cooking external to your kitchen stove then the results you produce will be just as good if not better than what everyone else can produce. I myself have tried oven roasting, direct grilling, barbecue, and smoking. The primary difference in the cooking methods is "time and heat source".
Oven roasting will produce wonderful results but searing of the meat may not be as easily done unless a secondary grill plate is introduced. Smoking is a wonderful format that produces incredible results however, one must have time and the correct amount of heat to produce those cherished results. The beauty of smoking is the introduction of woods and the richness that each type of wood produces. Keep in mind that the smoke is not cooking the meat, rather the smoke is flavoring the meat for the end result which of course is eating the results.
PURPOSEFUL TRI-TIP RUB RECIPES
Our purpose here in this post is to provide a new listing of tri-tip rub recipes that one can use to produce exceptional results. We've tried every recipe we list here and can easily tell if the results were decent or epic. The recipes for tri-tip rubs are not listed in degrees of preference one over another. The tri-tip rub recipes are listed similar by form.
A word about the true nature of a decent tri-tip rub. Tri-Tip Rub Recipes are meant to enhance the final taste of the meat. All that means is that when you bite into the cut portion you are able to taste the beef and the flavoring that you've added. Now, since tri-tip is a fairly thick cut of meat it can be hard to introduce flavor directly in the center portion. We know this because over the years we've tried many different ways to achieve internal flavoring.
The most basic method we used to enhance the internal flavor was by direct injection. We took our tri-tip rub recipe and mixed that in with some liquid ingredients like Apple or Guava juice concentrate then directly injected the mixture into the meat. In addition the external part of the meat was coated with a basic yellow mustard to assist in the microscopic level of tissue breakdown while also acting as a carrier for the seasoning. But first we allowed the injected and coated tri-tip to marinate in the refrigerator for about an hour. Afterward we applied our tri-tip rub generously then put the meat in a container and continued resting the meat for an additional two hours. After a total of 4 hours of marinating the meat was brought out at least 1/2 hour in advance and allowed to rest in the container on the kitchen counter to achieve room temperature. Following that marinating and resting effort we prepared our grill and began the process of producing an exceptional tri-tip.
For those of you who don't know we prefer the sear first then roast method. This method is easy to do and produces exceptional results. Just sear your marinate tri-tip on each side for about 4 to 6 minutes then move the seared meat to receive indirect heat. More simply said, move the seared meat away from the primary heat source either to a cooler section of the grill or a section in which one of your burners is turned off if barbecuing outside. For those who are roasting their tri-tip after searing simply moderate your temperature to around 225 degrees.
There are two schools of thought regarding searing of Tri-tip. The first says one should sear the meat prior to grilling, barbecue. The second school of thought says that one should sear the meat after the roasting process. Searing is the direct effect of the Maillard process and is intended to create a texture differential between the outer surface of the meat and the inner softer material. Direct searing will produce a brown or brownish crust sometimes known as caramelization and will as many call it "lock in" or "seal in the juices" of the meat. Reverse or the second form of searing is intended to all the roasting of the meat first so that the internal meat is balanced in cooking. Afterward the reverse searing method is applied and the is cooked at a high temperature to achieve caramelization. We opt for the first method because as a practical matter the charcoals may have burned down to such a level that little if any charcoal is left to produce the high heat required. In fact to get the level of heat necessary you may have to add additional segments of charcoals which after the sear process will be wasted and unused. Your choice of searing method is dependent on how evenly you want to achieve the doneness of the inner roast.
How to know if you're using the right amount of wood for smoke. The use of wood and the amount of wood related to smoking tri-tip is critical. Over the years we've used all kinds of wood and wood types. We've used red oak, and hickory, along with pecan, and alder and peach, apple and various other wood types. The one thing we've come to know is just how much wood to use and when to introduce wood into the barbecue process. The average person may get their charcoal source going then immediately add wood into the process. There are a couple of reasons that you may not want to do that. First, wood smoke is a coating, it does not cook the meat. Only heat from the burning of wood or charcoal or other product will cook the meat. So, when it comes to wood one must first determine what they want the end result meat to taste like. You must also realize that all woods are not the same, especially in the rate of their burning and also the amount of wood smoke they can impart.
The simplest way to manage wood smoke is just by using a very small amount until your personal confidence rises. Meaning, after two or three barbecues you will begin to learn just what it takes to properly use wood smoke. We've found that using too much wood can produce an extremely strong almost acidic taste in the meat, so strong that it almost cannot be eaten. And over time we learned that a very light use of wood produced the best results. To help with smoke management and for those that are smoking at home the soaking of woods is a very good way to slow down the burning process and thus truly manage wood smoke. If this was a commercial operation then by no means would it be possible to soak the wood beforehand. But for those working out of their homes it may be possible to soak the wood in a container or kitchen sink.
As for the amount of wood we've found that 5 - 6 Ounces and no more is the right amount of wood. If you should use 1 lb or more then you will most certainly over smoke the meat. As for placement we've found that smoking will depend on the length of cooking time prescribed for the meat. If you intend to cook the meat for 5 hours as in a set of baby back ribs then within the first three hours of the 3-2-1 cooking process is the best time for smoking. We will arrange our soaked 5 Ounces of wood such that as the charcoal burns somewhere just after the first half hour our wood will begin to smoke. The wood source will continue to smoke when soaked for about 40 minutes to an hour. We've found that the application of smoke over that period will deliver the best natural wood smoke flavor to the meat.
So, let's get to the tri-tip rub recipes we believe will produce some awesome results for you.
Brown Sugar Tri Tip Rub Recipe
teaspoons Kosher Salt
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1/2 teaspoons cumin
Herb Grilled Flattened Rolled Tri Tip
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 Tablespoons butter
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 cup sour cream
2 cups herb seasoned croutons
1/2 cup hot water
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
2 Tablespoons hot vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
2 Tablespoons Jake's Tri-Tip, Steak and Rib Dry Rub
While making various Tri Tip marinated roasts
we set out to create an entirely new version of our famous balsamic
tri tip grill. In this version we take the essence of red wine and pair
that with tart, savory mustard to create a world beaters recipe called Balsamic Tri Tip with Red Wine Mustard Glaze.
This is an awesome combination of all the great things meat lovers
love. The salty acidic flavors of balsamic vinegar combined with the
round body of red wine topped off with subtle but tart mustard all
reduced down to a luscious coat worthy glaze.
Let's get down to making this wonderful treat using our spices and
seasonings along with some everyday combinations of ingredients.
Ingredients Balsamic Tri Tip with Red Wine Mustard Glaze
1 Tri Tip Roast approximately 2 lbs
3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Honey
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 Cup Red Wine
3 Tablespoons Yellow Mustard
1 Tablespoon Rosemary chopped
2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
2 Garlic Cloves diced
1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
3 Tablespoons Jake's Tri Tip, Steak and Rib Rub
Directions to cook Tri Tip:
1. Thoroughly wash and clean the tri tip roast.
2. Pat dry with paper towels or lint free towel.
3. Rub Tri tip with Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4. Coat and Rub Tri tip with Jake's Tri Tip, Steak and Rib Rub.
5. Set seasoned roast aside in refrigerator to marinate.
6. Collect a medium sized bowl and combine all ingredients including
the Balsamic Vinegar, Honey, Mustard, Red Wine, Kosher Salt, Rosemary,
Garlic, Black Pepper, and Orange Juice.
7. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until blended.
8. Place blended ingredients in a pot on medium high heat.
9. Bring the ingredients to boil stirring continuously as material will stick to pot if not stirred.
10. Once boiling reduce heat to medium low and allow ingredients to
reduce for 15 minutes until syrupy glaze forms on a large spoon.
11. Once glaze is formed remove from heat and allow glaze to rest in pot.
Directions to Grill Tri Tip
We prefer the Santa Maria Style grilling method
when making tri tip. Having made hundreds of tri tips we find that
this method is the easiest and best way to ensure the tri tip is grilled
uniformly and the flavor delivered in a perfect way.
To get started with the grilling process first ensure that you've got
two cooking zones on your bbq grill. The grill should have a medium
high to high heat zone as if you were going to grill a steak. This will
be the sear zone. The second zone will be the indirect cooking or
roasting zone. In addition the grill must be able to have a lid that
can close for the roasting effect. If you want to use a smoking wood
during the grilling process you can as a bit of red oak, hickory, pecan
or mesquite will certainly enhance the flavor of your Balsamic Tri Tip with Red Wine Mustard Glaze.
After the grill is started and especially if you're using a charcoal
or lump charcoal to grill the roast remove the tri tip from the
refrigerator and place on a container on the kitchen counter. This will
allow the roast to bring itself as close to room temperature as
possible. It's best not to cook with a cold tri tip which will take
longer to finish in the process.
With the tri tip relaxed and the grill ready, bring the tri tip first
placing it on the medium high to high heat zone. Allow the tri tip to
sear on the zone for at least 5-6 minutes. Rotate the tri tip and sear
the opposite side for an addition 5-6 minutes. Then rotate the tri tip
again to sear until all sides are seared. At this stage you can leave
the lid open as the searing does not require the fully enclosed state.
Once the tri tip is seared move the roast onto the medium heat zone.
Close the lid and allow the tri tip to grill for 15 minutes. Check the
roast with a meat thermometer. When checking the temperature always
insert the thermometer from the side and never from the top. Insert the
gauge at least half way into the roast to get the most accurate
reading.
See our range chart below to help you determine if you're roast is
cooking too fast or too slow. Now each time you check for temperature
you will turn the roast on the opposite side until you've roasted the
tri tip all the way around. Pay special attention to the lid ensuring
that the lid is closed after each measurement.
Once the tri tip roasted is grilled to the temperature you want
remove the roast and place in a covered container. DO NOT serve or cut
the roast right away. Allow the juices of the tri tip to reabsorb into
the meat to increase the overall tenderness of the roast. Allow the
roast to rest for at least 15 minutes then serve.
To properly cut the tri tip ALWAYS cut across or perpendicular to the
grain. Cut segments at least a 1/4 inch thick. Cutting in this
fashion will ensure that the tender tri tip does not become chewy or
stringy.
**Special tip: Before grilling cut off a 1-2 inch portion of the
roast and cook in the same process as the larger roast. This smaller
portion will be a gauge as to how will the larger portion is grilling.
It's important to NOT cut into the larger portion during grilling. If
cut the moisture will drain out of the meat and the roast will become
dry.
Using the Balsamic, Red Wine, Mustard Glaze
Once the tri tip roast is completed and rested and sliced take a
medium size ladle and pour the glaze over the slice portions. As an
option you can coat the entire uncompleted roast about 5 degrees before
finishing then simply roast the tri tip with the glaze on the meat. If
this method is chosen you will still need to REST the tri tip after
grilling. You can then ladle on as much Balsamic Tri Tip with Red Wine Mustard Glaze as you desire.