I love to cook. When I have the time, which isn’t very often, I prefer cooking everything from scratch. It helps to hone my skills.
However, most of the time I am in a hurry so I don’t take the time to flavor everything with my own secret ingredients. It is then that I turn to great ready-made products like McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub.
While rubs are generally thought about when grilling, the truth is they are just as good for baking, broiling or even pan-frying. McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub is no exception.
I particularly like this product because it is flavored with natural ingredients. I try to avoid as many chemicals and preservatives as I can when it comes to cooking.
McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub provides an unusual savory sweet taste with just a hint of smoky flavor. It also contains a hint of sweetness along with some spice. Ingredients include: apple cider, applewood smoke flavor (all natural), chili pepper, mixed herbs and spices, garlic, maltodextrin, molasses, onion, red pepper, salt, sugar and vinegar.
While perfectly made to complement pork, McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub can be used on other meats like chicken or beef. It even works for seafood like salmon or shrimp. In truth, the only limitation is your own imagination.
The rub is easy to use. Just be sure to coat the meat before hand with olive oil. This gives the rub a surface on which to adhere.
Sprinkle on a little or a lot of rub and pat it into the meat. Then cook by whatever method you choose.
Keep in mind, if you take the time to properly heat the pan before adding the meat that will ensure a good sear. Searing helps to keep the meat’s natural juices and flavors inside during the cooking process.
Let’s talk nutrition. A serving size of McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub is about 2 tsp., which is about 5 grams. There are about 25 servings of McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub in each 4.41-oz jar.
Each serving represents 15 calories. None of those are fat-related. The rub also contains no cholesterol.
McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub is; however, high in sodium content. It contains a whopping 350 micrograms per serving. It also represents 3 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of sugar.
Unfortunately McCormick Grill Mates Applewood Rub contains no other nutritional value. It offers no protein, fiber, vitamins or minerals.
Used alone or in connection with other McCormick marinades and spices, this rub will turn an ordinary meal into an event. For the money, this is one of the best rubs on the market today. Here is my summary review:
Taste: 5 stars. The taste is unusual and rich. There is a hint of spice with just the right amount of sweetness thrown in.
Appearance: 5 stars: Whatever you cook with McCormick Grilling Mates Applewood Rub will look just as delicious as it tastes. Take a picture. It will look just that good.
Nutrition: 3 stars. The salt content is a bit high and 3 grams of carbohydrate may give some people pause. The fact that it isn’t counterbalanced with nutrients and vitamins is also disappointing.
Ease of use: 5 stars. This rub is easy to use. Best of all, if you want some new recipes for it, all you have to do is visit the McCormick website. They have tons of suggestions for using their product and I haven’t found a bad one as of yet.
Green rating: 5 stars. The jar is recyclable.
Packaging: 5 stars. McCormick Grilling Mates Applewood Rub comes in a clear jar with a black top and red and white trim. The McCormick and Grill Mates logos are pictured along with a photo of rubbed meat. The packaging looks professional and is eye catching, making it easy to locate on the supermarket shelf.
Ease of storage: 5 stars. The jar is small at just about 2 ½” in height and diameter. It should easily fit into any cabinet, pantry, or kitchen drawer.
Availability: 5 stars. McCormick products can be found at most local grocery marts. It is, after all, the leading brand of spices, marinades and rubs available today. However, if for some reason you cannot locate his rub through that method, it is also available online.
Price: 4 stars. The cost is reasonable at about $3. This rub goes a long way and will keep for a long time.
Product purchase probability: 5 stars. I love all things McCormick and this rub is no exception. It always has a place in my kitchen cabinet.
Final rating: 4.7 stars. This is THE rub to always have on hand.
RATING SCALE:
5 stars – outstanding
4 stars – good
3 stars – average
2 stars – below average
1 star – poor
