What's a rub?
A rub (sometimes called a dry rub) is a mixture of herbs and spices that is spread over the outside of beef, pork, poultry and fish several hours before cooking. A rub can be a dry mix, or the herbs and spices can be combined with a small amount of liquid to form a paste. Sometimes rubs contain sugar to caramelize the food as it cooks. If you're watching your sodium intake, salt-free rubs are an ideal flavor-enhancer.
Making a rub is simple: just blend together your favorite herbs and spices and press the rub onto the outside of meat, poultry or fish. Rubs "stick" better if you first lightly-coat the food with olive oil, or make a paste by adding a little oil or citrus juice to the rub.
As an alternative to making your own, try one of our Rancher's Reserve® rubs-already blended to perfection for you! Our three varieties - Cowboy Blend with Coffee, Savory Roast, and Classic Steak Rub-are sure-fire crowd pleasers. Look for them on a rack at the full-service counter in our meat department.
Our Nutrition Experts are registered dietitians who hold master's degrees and are members of the American Dietetic Association and several specialty nutrition groups. They combine over 40 years experience in food and nutrition science, communications and counseling, the culinary arts and the development of nutrition education materials. They are quoted frequently in the national media and have written about nutrition for many major magazines, newspapers, and newsletters.