4 Styles of Texas Barbecue

Any BBQ pitmaster will tell you that there isn't one single style of Texas barbecue. Texans from all over the state have their own distinctive preferences, which is why a barbecue joint or smokehouse might serve something very different from a BBQ stand. As a general rule, there are four main styles of Texas barbecue: Central Texas barbecue The meat is smoked for many hours at low temperatures, typically over mesquite, pecan, or oak wood. The meat rarely comes on sandwiches—it's usually presented on a plate or on a piece of butcher paper—although white bread may be served as a side dish. East Texas barbecue Like Central Texas BBQ, East Texas BBQ involves slow smoking via indirect heat. However, East Texas BBQ is known for its "falling off the bone" quality, which means very long cooking times, almost always over hickory wood , which grows readily in the state. It tends to come marinated in a sweet tomato-based sauce. Beef and Lamb are equally popular in East Texas—wh...