First Judging

jonobacon · Posted: Fri Jun 15 12 9:33 pm Post subject: First Judging

Hey Folks,

Tomorrow I will be judging in my first BBQ competition. I have never judged BBQ before, and I am not certified (this is a local cook off competition). I just wanted to see if any other judges had any guidance on what in particular I should look out for.

I was planning on assessing submissions for:

* Presentation
* Tenderness / Moistness
* Taste - can I taste the meat, and how does the rub, sauce, smoke, and meat balance out.
* Innovation - is what they did new and different, or the same 'ol same 'ol.

Any other tips?

gotwake · Posted: Sat Jun 16 12 3:27 am Post subject:

Judge only the meat that is in front of you. Do not make comparisons (i.e. the first rib was better than the second rib) You sound prepared, just make sure you keep an open mind and be honest.
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SoEzzy · Posted: Sat Jun 16 12 3:53 am Post subject:

Good or bad?

You know what good food is! Give anything that wow's you a high score, give anything that doesn't work for you a poor score.

Depending on the scoring system, even an average score can screw a teams chances of hitting the grand. So don't kill them if you don't like it a 5 or 6 on taste will kill a score, if it's good give it a 7 or 8, if it's excellent give it the 9 or 10 it deserves, don't give it a 2 or a 3 unless it needed spitting back out instead of eating it.

Unless innovation is part of the criteria, and you have judged a whole heck of a lot of BBQ, I wouldn't use it as a determining factor.

Only take a bite from each piece, if you are judging 6 teams per category, a bite of each then go back and eat the 1 great one, then do it again on the next meat, you will be eating about 2lbs of meat doing it that way, and take home what you want if you want, I don't take any home when I'm judging unless it is exceptional.

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EastTennQcrew · Posted: Mon Jun 18 12 10:10 pm Post subject:

I don't know about using Innovation as a judging basis. Just because something is different, does not mean it is better. Or BBQ

I would not come in with a set mind as for sweetness, or heat, or something like vinegar.. I have seen judges make the statment they were looking for more of a vinegar bite in the BBQ.

RandyE
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