Keeping Your TexasBBQRub Fresh and Free-Flowing
We take great care to make sure your TexasBBQRub arrives as fresh as possible. Your rub is prepared and packaged close to the time of your order using fresh spices and sugars. We receive ingredients regularly so that the rub you receive has the bold aroma and flavor our customers expect.
When your package arrives, you should immediately notice the fragrance of the spices and sugars. That fresh aroma is one of the best indicators of the quality of the rub.
Why Does TexasBBQRub Sometimes Clump?
TexasBBQRub contains brown sugar, which naturally contains moisture. As the rub is exposed to air, temperature changes, or changes in humidity, the brown sugar can begin to stick together and form small clumps.
This is completely normal and does not mean that the rub has spoiled or lost its flavor. In fact, clumping is common in products made with real brown sugar.
Small clumps can usually be broken apart easily with your fingers, a spoon, or a fork. You can also apply the rub with a few small clumps remaining. They will dissolve as the meat cooks.
How to Store Your Rub
After opening the bag, press out only the excess air gently, reseal the original package, and store it in a cool, dry pantry. You may also place the sealed bag inside an airtight container for additional protection.
The three biggest enemies of spices are:
- Air
- Heat
- Light
For the best flavor and texture, keep your rub away from the stove, grill, direct sunlight, and other warm or humid areas.
Always use a completely dry spoon or measuring utensil when removing rub from the package. Even a small amount of water, steam, grease, or meat juice introduced into the bag can cause additional clumping.
Never Vacuum Seal TexasBBQRub
Do not vacuum seal the rub.
Vacuum sealing may sound like a good way to preserve freshness, but it can actually make brown-sugar-based rubs clump more severely. The vacuum process compresses the rub and can pull and redistribute moisture within the sugar, causing it to pack together into a hard mass.
Simply reseal the original bag and store it in a dry, airtight container. Do not use a vacuum sealer or FoodSaver-style machine.
How to Break Up Clumps
For light clumping, massage the closed bag gently with your hands or break the clumps apart with a dry fork or spoon.
For harder clumps:
- Place the amount of rub you plan to use in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave it for approximately 30 seconds.
- Stir and break apart the softened clumps with a dry fork.
- Repeat for another 15 seconds only if necessary.
- Allow the rub to cool before applying it to the meat.
Do not microwave the original package unless it is clearly marked as microwave-safe. Heating the entire supply repeatedly may affect the flavor and texture, so it is best to warm only the amount you intend to use.
You can also place the clumped rub in a sealed bag and gently break it apart with a rolling pin or the flat side of a spoon.
Is Clumped Rub Still Good?
Yes. Clumping by itself does not affect the safety, quality, or cooking performance of the rub. As long as the rub has been kept dry and has not been contaminated with water, raw meat juices, or other food products, it can still be used normally.
The brown sugar will melt during cooking, helping the rub adhere to the meat and contributing to the rich color, bark, and flavor TexasBBQRub is known for.
TexasBBQRub contains no MSG and is made with natural ingredients. Some settling and clumping are simply part of using a rub made with real sugars and spices.