When to put rub on chicken before smoking

Last Updated on: 29th May 2023, 08:43 am

Rubs are applied to chicken as it is being smoked to improve the flavor of the meat.

They enhance the flavor of the meat while also assisting us in obtaining a lovely crispy peel.

Nonetheless, there are several fallacies surrounding the application of rub to chicken.

One of these fallacies is the usage of rubs during smoking.

Smoking is a sensitive process, and even little mistakes might result in an undesirable taste.

This article will go through all of the specifics of applying a rub on chicken.

When to massage your chicken is a question that cannot be addressed in black and white.

We assume that the rubbing time for chicken during smoking might be anything between 10 minutes and 6 hours. Some pitmasters could disagree with us.

As an eager pitmaster, I am constantly confronted with these situations.

while using a dry rub, I massage the chicken for 10 minutes to two hours, and two to six hours while using a wet rub.

Before selecting the rub duration, the meat texture should preferably be considered.

You may decide how long to massage the meat for. There is no absolute rule in this regard.

You should try a variety of possibilities before settling on your favorite.

As a result, it is recommended to apply for a shorter amount of time and then, if necessary, expand it.

Some people like to massage the meat the night before smoking to ensure that it properly absorbs the flavor.

However, we believe that rubbing chicken for a whole night is unnecessary since rubs often reach the meat’s pores when cooked.

Factors Influencing Rub Time

Rub time is a fiercely discussed issue in the smoking business, and many pitmasters have conflicting perspectives on it.

The length of time that the chicken is rubbed before smoking varies on a variety of factors.

Meat texture and rub type are typically included in these characteristics.

It may be required to rub the meat for a longer amount of time if you want to smoke brisket as it will take longer for the rub to properly enter the flesh.

Rub time for such beef might vary from 3 hours to overnight.

Similarly, if you are using rub on lean and soft meat like chicken, then it’s best to apply rub for a shorter length since applying rub for too long might impair the look of meat.

Some folks even like to apply the rub shortly before placing it in the smoker.

So it’s advisable to give it some time so that the rub can sink in and attach well to the meat surface.

The rub time for lean meat like chicken may vary from 10 minutes to 6 hours .

That will give the rub enough time to soak in without compromising the look of the meat.

While selecting the rub time , you should consider taking into consideration the rub kind that you are intending to utilize.

There are two primary kinds of rubs used in smoking : dry rub and wet rub.

Each of them take varying lengths of time to sink in correctly.

When to apply dry rub

As clear by the name dry rub is dry and is rubbed over the meat to achieve a better taste and generate nice bark on the chicken.

The most frequent rub time for a dry massage may vary from 10 minutes to 2 hours.

Some pitmasters like to apply dry rub for a longer period to allow it appropriate chance to soak in.

However in our view, providing extra time is not essential since the dry rub seeps into the flesh as the meat is cooked and the pores of the chicken open.

After opening the pores of the chicken , the rub seeps in and clings to the surface of the flesh .

Providing longer time when applying dry rub may turn the chicken reddish.

The aesthetic of the smoked chicken is as essential as the taste. You may put a dry rub to lean and soft meat shortly before inserting it into the smoker.

To make sure that the rub thoroughly permeates in ,it’s advisable to allow at least 10 minutes before inserting it into the smoker.

However, applying dry rub on the hard meat is tricky. Hard meat is thick and dry rub can stay on the superficial surface, due to which the deeper meat can become tasteless.

Thus it is advisable to give it a little longer time to allow the rub attach to the meat properly and absorb in as deeply as possible.

An excellent tip for putting dry rub on hard meat is to massage it forcefully while applying rub.

You should try twisting your hand into a fist and pounding the meat with your knuckles.

It will enable the rub to permeate into the flesh.

However if you are smoking lean meat, then you should avoid pounding it with your knuckles since it might damage the texture of the flesh.

If you are having a trouble putting the rub onto the surface of the meat, then you might try adding olive oil to the meat before applying the rub.

When to apply wet rub

The second sort of rub that is used most commonly when smoking hard meat is wet rub.

As is evident from the name, it is in liquid form and the meat is dipped into it to allow the rub to sink into the flesh appropriately.

It is also used to enhance the flavour of chicken . It doesn’t have much affect on the texture of bark, but it is widely used to improve the suppleness of meat.

Hence it takes extra time to penetrate into the chicken and boost its wetness.

A wet rub is usually placed on the hard meat as hard meat could dry up when smoked for a lengthy time.

The sweet spot for wet rub duration may range from 2 hours to 8 hours as it takes more time for the wet rub to soak through and attach to the meat.

Can you leave a rub on too long?

There is no black and white solution to this subject since many individuals have varied perspectives throughout time.

Thus a lengthy time for you may be a standard rub time for someone who wants to obtain more flavor from the rub than flesh.

• Typically, you should apply the rub on your chicken for 10 minutes to 6 hours.Yet it’s a personal option to apply for an even longer duration.
  
• It depends on whether you want to appreciate chicken taste or whether you are using chicken as a vehicle to experience rub flavor.
  
• It’s widely recognized that applying the rub for greater time leads in more taste . Yet it may damage the look of the meat if left for too long.
  
  You should take into mind the aesthetic since no one wants to taste a great slice of meat that appears untidy.
  
• Additionally, applying rub for a longer length of time might result in the conversion of the rub to a paste-like substance.
  
  The rub drains the interior moisture of meat , which means chicken might dry up throughout the smoking process.
  
• Sometimes you should think that little is more. So if you rub lean and soft meat for a long period, you may end up with reddish chicken along with more taste of rub than flesh.In any scenario, you can’t go wrong with it.

If you are still interested in using rub for a longer period, then you should examine the following considerations.

• Initially, you should consider using a rub with a low salt level since if the salt concentration is greater, it might result in absorbing the moisture of the meat owing to which chicken can dry up throughout the smoking process.

• Secondly, you should only apply rub for a longer duration if you are smoking hard and thick meat.
  
  Since lean meat doesn’t take much time and applying rub for greater time on the thick meat generally results in boosting the taste of the meat.

Personally, we would suggest always being mindful with rub time since it may improve or damage the taste of chicken.

You should consider applying the rub at the proper moment to acquire the greatest taste possible.

When establishing the rub duration for a meat, consider both the rub kind and the meat texture, as indicated above.

You might leave the rub on your steak for too long if you are confronting terrible weather conditions.

Final Verdict

When to massage chicken before smoking, there is no right or incorrect timing.

You may use the rub for roughly 10 minutes to 6 hours or even longer if you want to.

You should rather try various rub times yourself and select what suits you.

You should bear in mind that overnight rubbing will not boost the taste of chicken .

In our experience, the flavor of chicken rubbed overnight and that massaged for a couple of hours is precisely the same.

But rubbing overnight doesn’t decrease the taste either.

It’s your own discretion to decide which one to go with.

if you are interested in learning more then make sure to check our article on When to rub meat before smoking