Mastering Barbecue by Michael H. Stines – Paperback Cookbook

Mastering Barbecue is a paperback barbecue handbook by Michael H. Stines, a former executive chef and national barbecue judge, packed with 280 recipes plus advice on equipment, fuels and technique for everyone from beginners to seasoned pitmasters. More than 100 of those recipes are rubs, sauces, mops and marinades, and it includes per-pound temperature and smoke-time charts.

The pit master's reference shelf

Stines served as executive editor of The BBQer magazine and writes for the National Barbecue News, and he gathered more than a decade's worth of recipes and know-how from grill masters, chefs and competition cooks to build this book. It's less a glossy coffee-table read and more a working manual, the kind that ends up with sauce on the pages.

What's inside

It starts with the basics for beginners, choosing ingredients, utensils, equipment and fuels, then moves into detailed technique for intermediate cooks and a few competition-level surprises for experienced hands. A glossary, a shopping guide and a history of regional barbecue styles round it out.

The rubs, sauces, mops and marinades are the standout, with more than 100 recipes to build your own flavour library. Then come the classics for beef, pork, ribs, poultry, seafood and vegetables, backed by precise per-pound temperature and smoke-time charts.

Who it's for

Beginners who want a single reference, intermediate cooks chasing consistency, and anyone who likes to make their own rubs and sauces from scratch.

About Michael H. Stines

Michael H. Stines lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and is a former executive chef who served as executive editor of The BBQer magazine. He's a regular columnist for the National Barbecue News, has judged numerous national barbecue competitions, and also wrote Food with an Attitude.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

The Smuggler gets asked for his rub ratios more than he'd like; these days he just points at this book. Stines packs in 280 recipes, and the hundred-plus rubs, mops, sauces and marinades are a flavour library you'll raid for years. Buy it and your cooks get more consistent from the very next fire. Read it with Grillstock: The BBQ Book for festival swagger and The Outdoor Cook from America's Test Kitchen for tested technique. Then try your own sauce over Three Little Pigs KC Championship Rub.

Questions answered

Who wrote Mastering Barbecue?

Mastering Barbecue was written by Michael H. Stines, a former executive chef, national barbecue competition judge and executive editor of The BBQer magazine.

How many recipes are in Mastering Barbecue?

There are 280 recipes, including more than 100 rubs, sauces, mops and marinades plus the classics for beef, pork, ribs, poultry, seafood and vegetables.

Is Mastering Barbecue good for beginners?

Yes. It starts with the basics of ingredients, tools, equipment and fuels, then builds up to intermediate and competition-level technique.

Is Mastering Barbecue a paperback, and how many pages?

Yes. It's a 200-page paperback published by Ten Speed Press in 2005.

Does Mastering Barbecue include smoking times and temperatures?

Yes. It includes precise per-pound temperature and smoke-time charts, along with a glossary and a shopping guide.