Vinegar-Based Mop Sauce
This vinegar-based mop sauce for pork ribs is a simple, flavorful sauce designed for mopping during the cook. Made with apple cider & distilled white vinegar, butter, brown sugar, and seasonings, it keeps ribs moist, balances smoke, and doesn't burn like sugary sauces at higher grill temperatures.
Equipment
- saucepan
- Whisk or wooden spoon
- Mop brush or basting brush
- Airtight storage container
Ingredients
- 8 T (1 stick) butter unsalted
- 1 small sweet onion sliced
- 2 T garlic paste
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- ¾ C distilled white vinegar
- ¼ C Worcestershire sauce
- 2 T hot sauce
- 2 T BBQ rub of choice
- ½ C brown sugar
- 2 T hot sauce
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 12 oz. amber or dark lager
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add in the onions and sauté until tender. Add the garlic paste and mx in until fragrant.
- Add in the remaining ingredients and simmer. Allow the mixture to cook until reduced by ~⅓, stirring as needed making sure that all the sugar has dissolved.
- Set the mop sauce aside to use immediately. Or let the sauce cool to room temperature, store in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- When to Use Mop Sauce: Begin mopping once the bark has started to set, usually after the first hour of cooking. Apply lightly every 20–45 minutes depending on grill temperature.
- Best Cooking Temperatures: This mop sauce works especially well when cooking ribs at 275–325°F. Its vinegar base handles higher heat better than thick, sugar-heavy barbecue sauces.