I cringe every time I see a pitmaster use injection marinades on TV
Last night, I was watching a BBQ competition show and saw a pitmaster swear by injection marinades. To me, this feels like a shortcut that ruins the pure smoke flavor we work so hard for. Do other pitmasters here avoid injections, or is it just me?
Yeah I was totally against it until I tried a pork shoulder with just apple juice and spices. The middle stayed way juicier after twelve hours and the bark still got crispy. It's not magic but it does help on those longer smokes.
Totally get where you're coming from, and I used to feel the exact same way. Watched a guy inject a brisket with butter and broth once and almost turned the TV off. But honestly, on a bigger cut like that, a simple injection can save it from drying out over a long smoke without messing with the bark flavor too much. I still won't touch a chicken with a needle, feels like cheating. For me, it's just a tool, not a rule.