What does a mop REALLY do?

Love2<Âº((((>< · 08-11-2008, 01:52 PM

I've been looking through some recipes for different things and the more I see it the more I think about mops and what they do. I hear things like its suppose to make the meat jucier or more tender, etc. But I find that hard to believe. I mean, I imagine you mop your meat with your apple juice based mop (or whatever) and all it does is evaporate....

Anyone have an opinion on this?

wittdog · 08-11-2008, 03:06 PM

MO....it will add some flavor..and it prevents the meat from getting to dark.

Larry Wolfe · 08-11-2008, 03:19 PM

It will add minimal flavor and extend your cooking time.

Love2<Âº((((>< · 08-11-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Wolfe

It will add minimal flavor and extend your cooking time.

So you dont think there's any real benefit to doing it?

Diva Q · 08-11-2008, 05:03 PM

Nope

monty3777 · 08-11-2008, 05:15 PM

The only real benefit to a mop is it is fun to slather the meat with something that smells good. However, it is not what makes BBQ so moist. That's the cooking process - no getting round that. So, do it if you want but there is no real benefit outside the fact that it can be kinda fun.

Bbqbrad · 08-11-2008, 05:22 PM

[quote=Love2<Âº((((><]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "Larry Wolfe":1mivvxgr

It will add minimal flavor and extend your cooking time.

So you dont think there's any real benefit to doing it?[/quote:1mivvxgr]

I actually do. But my bop of cider vinegar, Jalapeños, onions, and few other strong things. We did a test once, and you could really taste the difference.

Larry Wolfe · 08-11-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diva Q

Nope

ditto

Kloset BBQR · 08-11-2008, 06:41 PM

[quote=Love2<Âº((((><]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "Larry Wolfe":1umqk0cv

It will add minimal flavor and extend your cooking time.

So you dont think there's any real benefit to doing it?[/quote:1umqk0cv]

Steve Raichlen is a big mop advocate. Why don't you call into the Radio Central Show (8/19) and ask him personally? It would be a good question to ask.

mar52 · 08-11-2008, 07:58 PM

It soaks up more than it distributes.

Kind of like a paint roller.

They're not as hard on the meat as a brush. They don't disturb what's already there.

monty3777 · 08-11-2008, 08:11 PM

[quote=Kloset BBQR][quote="Love2<Âº((((><":2j68ly76]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "Larry Wolfe":2j68ly76

It will add minimal flavor and extend your cooking time.

So you dont think there's any real benefit to doing it?[/quote:2j68ly76]

Steve Raichlen is a big mop advocate. [/quote:2j68ly76]

Makes sense....since he has an entire book dedicated to mops and such

Finney · 08-11-2008, 08:22 PM

Mops can add another layer of flavor. They also can be used to keep the bark from getting so hard.
If you are using a small smoker like a WSM, using one often enough to do what it should will greatly increase your cooking time. On a big offset it won't change your finish time nearly as much.

jminion · 08-11-2008, 08:23 PM

Competition Chili cooks know that spices can get lost while cooking so they will make three or more dumps of spices at timed intervals. Mopping can do the same. It can also inhance bark. Depending on the techniques you employ mopping can be a good approach.

Rag · 08-11-2008, 09:37 PM

To quote ncle Bubba, mopping is for cleaning the floor.

monty3777 · 08-12-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jminion

Competition Chili cooks know that spices can get lost while cooking so they will make three or more dumps of spices at timed intervals. Mopping can do the same. It can also inhance bark. Depending on the techniques you employ mopping can be a good approach.

That's an interesting point. However as I have mopped - and as I have watched others - the mop being mostly liquid tends to wash the rub off the meat. Other than spraying - where little in the way of more spice could actually get to the meat - how do you mop so that the orig. rub stays on? In my estimation if one wants to recharge the spices a second rub would work better.

Just wondering.

wittdog · 08-12-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monty3777

Quote:

Originally Posted by jminion

Competition Chili cooks know that spices can get lost while cooking so they will make three or more dumps of spices at timed intervals. Mopping can do the same. It can also inhance bark. Depending on the techniques you employ mopping can be a good approach.

That's an interesting point. However as I have mopped - and as I have watched others - the mop being mostly liquid tends to wash the rub off the meat. Other than spraying - where little in the way of more spice could actually get to the meat - how do you mop so that the orig. rub stays on? In my estimation if one wants to recharge the spices a second rub would work better.

Just wondering.

You need to wait until the rub sets up before you start to mop...

007bond-jb · 08-12-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rag

To quote ncle Bubba, mopping is for cleaning the floor.

Ditto

Love2<Âº((((>< · 08-12-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stogie

After cooking a pork butt for 18 hours un foiled the bark becomes so hard as to be inedible. The mop allows it to soften somewhat.

I notice the same thing on my butts sometimes. I may have to try it out.

wittdog · 08-12-2008, 10:35 AM

You won't get a great deal of flavor penetration on a larger cut...it's more to keep the bark from being to hard..and to get the next drop of rub to stick..you get more flavor on a thinner cut of meat like ribs.

To each there own...give it a shot and see what you like/don't like.

monty3777 · 08-12-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stogie

The other reason I use a mop is to hold my second and third application of rub. This is very similar to what we do in chili cook-offs.......add 3-4 dumps of spices at various times as Jim mentioned.

O.k., that makes sense to me

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