cheat rub

Some rubs add specialty items such as real coffee and turbinado sugar to deepen flavor and help with caramelization, alongside more common spices.

Seasoning rubs are sold in ground, powdered, and granulated forms.

Rubs are offered as ready-to-use preblended seasonings, as mixes you can combine or adjust, or as granulated ingredient-style products intended for use as part of a recipe or to blend into other seasonings.

The rubs are promoted for chicken, ribs, roasts, steaks, lamb, pork, seafood and fish, vegetables, and general grilling, roasting, or smoking applications.

Some listings highlight claims such as all natural, gluten free, no MSG, salt-free, and kosher.

All-purpose rubs commonly start with a base of salt, pepper, and garlic, with balanced seasonings added to suit many dishes.