Rubs gong sweet?

[bbqLuv]

It seems store brought BBQ rubs are gong sweet. Sugar is listed as the first ingrediency. Wonder why?
Any buddy else notice this?
I guess I will have to start making my own rub.

[Polarbear777]

Sugar and salt are the cheapest ingredients.

same goes for most sauces.

[Jerod Broussard]

I make my own and both have white and brown sugar.

[rlozinak]

The rubs I make calls for sugar

[HawkerXP]

Sugar in the rub means I don't have to sauce.

[captainlee]

Sugar is good in rubs. Sometimes i add a little extra directly on the meat. In my opinion it helps the bark.

[Murdy]

I mix my own rubs. Pork rubs get lots of both white and brown sugar, just a little in beef rubs. Love my ribs Memphis style--lots of bark, no sauce.

[JoeSousa]

I am a big fan of the sweeter rubs for chicken, ribs, and pulled pork. The Meat Church Honey Hog is great on all those and I just got some Hardcore Carnivore Sweet and it tastes great. Haven't used it yet but it would be tasty on some wings.

[Dr J]

Polarbear777 is spot on. I have heard several interviews with commercial rub makers, Meathead, and pitmasters. All say that sat and sugar are the cheapest ingredients and in order for them to make ribs affordable for people and make the manufacturing financially feasible they almost have to have salt and sugar mixed in.