America's Test Kitchen

Big Kahuna · 06-18-2010, 07:29 AM

Gentlemen, I realize this post is going to raise some strong opinions but I can't resist. I received my America's Test Kitchen weekly email. This current posting has a review of thermometers and store bought BBQ sauces. I have also enclosed another link for some recipes.
For the life of me I don't know why they didn't review the Thermapen, everyone knows the Orange one is the best.
As for the sauces please keep in mind that the magazine is run by a bunch of Yankee's. Anyway take the information for what it's worth, these links will only work for a short period, about a week.
Al.

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/equi...sp?docid=10666

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/tast...sp?docid=20160

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/reci...code=L0FN3AA00

smokedgoose · 06-18-2010, 09:58 AM

Well I disagree on the sauce big time! An interesting read on the thermometers.

jgh1204 · 06-18-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokedgoose

Well I disagree on the sauce big time! An interesting read on the thermometers.

I get that same email and I wanted to fire back a response.

Regional bias. Stubbs is a good sauce.

kcchiefdav · 06-18-2010, 10:02 AM

I don't really care for it when media outlets do these kinds of surveys on things like sauces because literally everyone likes something different in a sauce. And surveying a half dozen people around the office really doesn't do anyone any good.

1FUNVET · 06-18-2010, 10:06 AM

Stubbs over Bulls Eye all day long.Not impressed with any of the sauce selections.

SmokeJumper · 06-18-2010, 10:31 AM

I think they didn't review the Thermapen because they were reviewing thermometers to monitor grill temperature and not meat thermometers.

The sauce test results seem "in the ballpark" for common brands. Don't forget these guys are out in Vermont so they are biased by local tastes.

I'm a big fan of Cooks Illustrated but on things as subjective as BBQ sauce only you will know the final answer.

FamilyManBBQ · 06-18-2010, 10:34 AM

Think they were reviewing pit thermos...not food. In defense of ATK I've seen they give very high marks to thermapen. I'd like to suggest to them that they test each color of thermapen...that way everyone will see that black is best.

Sweet Baby Ray's is the go to bottled sauce in my house

el_matt · 06-18-2010, 11:21 AM

We still have the bottle of Hunt's that my sister-in-law brought over, last summer. I just quietly used either Stubbs or Sweet Baby Rays. She said my 'que always tastes better than theirs. We just smiled, and thanked them. My wife said it's because we use charcoal, and not propane !!

Matt

caliking · 06-18-2010, 11:22 AM

ATK has reviewed food thermo's in the past, and their favorite was the Thermapen, their best buy was something cheaper (can't remember the brand.)

Their ranking of sauces is laughable.

Ceedubya · 06-18-2010, 12:06 PM

hmmm, stubbs is not recommended huh? seems funny I have actaully used this sauce on chicken in a comp...... and WON!

MAsQue · 06-18-2010, 12:26 PM

I think that if it's not sweet, it doesn't sell in the Northeast. I find that Sweet Baby Ray's is always dependable for catering. I like my own more vinegary. Some customers will go for a vinegar or Piedmont sauce on pork, but not most.

expatpig · 06-18-2010, 12:28 PM

A"bunch of Yankees"? What the heck is that about? You sure don't have to be from south of the Mason-Dixon line to be a BBQ expert. Have you ever had a good lobster roll in Memphis?

Icetech · 06-18-2010, 12:33 PM

I tried stubbs for the first time this last weekend... and although i would not buy it again, i would take it anyday over bullseye..

deguerre · 06-18-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by expatpig

A"bunch of Yankees"? What the heck is that about? You sure don't have to be from south of the Mason-Dixon line to be a BBQ expert. Have you ever had a good lobster roll in Memphis?

I was just waiting for that one.

And, living in (not being from) Memphis...What's a lobster roll?

Big Kahuna · 06-18-2010, 01:07 PM

Sorry, I should have put a smiley face beside that comment. The last time this Canadian was in Texas I was classified as a "Yankee". But I do like Sweet Baby Rays.

06-18-2010, 07:29 AM	#1
Big Kahuna On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-19-09 Location: Ottawa, Ontario	America's Test Kitchen Gentlemen, I realize this post is going to raise some strong opinions but I can't resist. I received my America's Test Kitchen weekly email. This current posting has a review of thermometers and store bought BBQ sauces. I have also enclosed another link for some recipes. For the life of me I don't know why they didn't review the Thermapen, everyone knows the Orange one is the best. As for the sauces please keep in mind that the magazine is run by a bunch of Yankee's. Anyway take the information for what it's worth, these links will only work for a short period, about a week. Al. http://www.cooksillustrated.com/equi...sp?docid=10666 http://www.cooksillustrated.com/tast...sp?docid=20160 http://www.cooksillustrated.com/reci...code=L0FN3AA00

06-18-2010, 10:34 AM	#7
FamilyManBBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-30-09 Location: Redmond, WA	Think they were reviewing pit thermos...not food. In defense of ATK I've seen they give very high marks to thermapen. I'd like to suggest to them that they test each color of thermapen...that way everyone will see that black is best. Sweet Baby Ray's is the go to bottled sauce in my house __________________ [FONT=Arial Black][FONT=Arial][B]Humphrey's Pint[/B][/FONT][/FONT], [FONT=Arial Black][FONT=Arial]Weber(Go Anywhere, Smokey Joe, "Smoker Joe", 22.5" Kettles, Gasser, Q100, Q200, (2)22.5" WSM, (1)18.5" WSM (1) 14.5" WSM, UDS (Weber lid), Rib-O-Lator. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial Black][FONT=Arial][B][COLOR=black]BLACK[/COLOR][/B] thermapen...and a [B][COLOR=yellow]YELLOW[/COLOR][/B] one too!! [/FONT][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Black][FONT=Arial][I][B]Everything I cook is judged by SIX!![/B][/I][/FONT][/FONT] [I][FONT=Arial][B]Daddy and Me BBQ[/B] Competition Cooking Team[/FONT][/I]

06-18-2010, 11:22 AM	#9
caliking is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-13-10 Location: Houston, TX	ATK has reviewed food thermo's in the past, and their favorite was the Thermapen, their best buy was something cheaper (can't remember the brand.) Their ranking of sauces is laughable. __________________ [FONT=Arial Narrow][B]EZ wood handled 3 wheeler \| OTS \| OTS mod to OTG \| [COLOR=red]Ladybug[/COLOR] SS Performer \| UglyDrumTandoor \| UDS v1 \| midi UDS with [COLOR=red]red[/COLOR] [COLOR=black]nipples[/COLOR] \| SJG smoker mod \| Simpsons SJS \| [COLOR=black]Simpsons[/COLOR] OTG \| WGA charcoal \| SJP \| Stacked brick WFO \| Lodge Logic Sportsman's Grill cast iron hibachi/sigri \| [COLOR=green]LBGE \| sbge \| [SIZE="1"]mini bge[/SIZE] [/COLOR] [/B][/FONT]

06-18-2010, 12:06 PM	#10
Ceedubya Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-25-08 Location: Helena, MT	hmmm, stubbs is not recommended huh? seems funny I have actaully used this sauce on chicken in a comp...... and WON! __________________ 2 Weber 22.5 Kettles, 2 Magnum vertical cookers, and a competition backwoods clone trailer.

06-18-2010, 12:26 PM	#11
MAsQue is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-04-07 Location: Lake Grove, NY	I think that if it's not sweet, it doesn't sell in the Northeast. I find that Sweet Baby Ray's is always dependable for catering. I like my own more vinegary. Some customers will go for a vinegar or Piedmont sauce on pork, but not most. __________________ Brian Ma's 'Que Crew BBQ Team Ma's BBQ and Catering "Texas BBQ" propane tank stick burner Brinkman Cimmaron CBJ #6502

06-18-2010, 09:58 AM	#2
smokedgoose Got Wood. Join Date: 06-11-09 Location: Copley, Ohio	Well I disagree on the sauce big time! An interesting read on the thermometers.

06-18-2010, 10:02 AM	#4
kcchiefdav On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-03-10 Location: Wichita, KS	I don't really care for it when media outlets do these kinds of surveys on things like sauces because literally everyone likes something different in a sauce. And surveying a half dozen people around the office really doesn't do anyone any good.

06-18-2010, 10:06 AM	#5
1FUNVET Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-16-09 Location: Lake Charles La	Stubbs over Bulls Eye all day long.Not impressed with any of the sauce selections.

06-18-2010, 10:31 AM	#6
SmokeJumper is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-14-10 Location: San Francisco, CA and Phu Quoc Island Vietnam	I think they didn't review the Thermapen because they were reviewing thermometers to monitor grill temperature and not meat thermometers. The sauce test results seem "in the ballpark" for common brands. Don't forget these guys are out in Vermont so they are biased by local tastes. I'm a big fan of Cooks Illustrated but on things as subjective as BBQ sauce only you will know the final answer.

06-18-2010, 11:21 AM	#8
el_matt Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-08-09 Location: Turlock, California	We still have the bottle of Hunt's that my sister-in-law brought over, last summer. I just quietly used either Stubbs or Sweet Baby Rays. She said my 'que always tastes better than theirs. We just smiled, and thanked them. My wife said it's because we use charcoal, and not propane !! Matt

06-18-2010, 12:28 PM	#12
expatpig is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-20-10 Location: Cochrane, On.	A"bunch of Yankees"? What the heck is that about? You sure don't have to be from south of the Mason-Dixon line to be a BBQ expert. Have you ever had a good lobster roll in Memphis? __________________ "When I was in Canada, I had a lot of time to think."- Doug Sahm [B][COLOR=red]UDS x 5[/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=red][B]Weber Performer[/B][/COLOR] [B][COLOR=red]Napoleon Apollo[/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=#ff0000][B]GOSM[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=blue][B][I]CSBBQA, KCBS, NOBS(Northern Ontario Barbecue Society)Professional Barbecue Team. USAJFKCENMA.[/I][/B][/COLOR]

06-18-2010, 12:33 PM	#13
Icetech On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-17-10 Location: Detroit, mi	I tried stubbs for the first time this last weekend... and although i would not buy it again, i would take it anyday over bullseye..

06-18-2010, 01:07 PM	#15
Big Kahuna On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-19-09 Location: Ottawa, Ontario	Sorry, I should have put a smiley face beside that comment. The last time this Canadian was in Texas I was classified as a "Yankee". But I do like Sweet Baby Rays.