Can I use maple syrup on the BBQ?

With summer now on the horizon, barbecue season will soon be in full swing. Families getting the grill on might be wondering what maple could bring to their BBQ experience, and whether pure maple syrup is a good fit for this famous outdoor cooking style. The good news is that authentic maple syrup is a great ingredient for raising your barbecue game and impressing garden guests. Here, we offer some of the best ways to use this classic condiment, along with some professional advice on optimising your enjoyment.

How to use maple syrup on the grill

Extremely versatile, maple syrup can glaze, marinate and infuse your scratch-made sauce. To create a glossy, caramelised glaze, brush meats like ribs, burgers, steaks and sausages with maple syrup mixed with melted butter and your best BBQ rub. Vegan-approved maple glazes can also be added to corn on the cob, pineapple and peaches for your pals on a plant-based diet.

In a marinade, maple syrup pairs well with miso, soy sauce and apple cider vinegar. These acidic and savoury ingredients can help balance the syrup’s sweet flavour, while the marinating process tenderises meats like pork and chicken.

Grill masters who love making their own BBQ sauce often keep a bottle of syrup at the ready. An ideal alternative to honey or brown sugar, maple syrup’s unique flavour lends itself well to rich sauces, bringing depth and character. It blends brilliantly with sauces like ketchup and Worcestershire, and a range of spices from cayenne pepper and bird’s eye chillies to cumin and oregano.

Professional tips for barbecuing with maple syrup

To avoid the sugars in maple-glazed items burning, it’s best to either grill them over indirect heat or delay glazing until later in the process, typically in the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking.

It’s worth noting that some syrup grades are better than others for the barbecue. If you’re hunting for a lasting flavour that holds its own among the spices and smoke, choose a dark robust maple syrup (https://puremaple.co.uk/product/new-organic-dark-robust-pure-maple-syrup-236ml/) or amber rich pure maple syrup over a golden delicate syrup.

Organic, additive-free and suited to a range of uses, 100 per cent pure maple syrup is an outstanding new secret weapon for your summer BBQ arsenal.