Bark
The charry, brown-black crust that forms on the surface of any cut of barbecue—ribs, brisket, shoulders—that’s often dry-rubbed with seasonings.
Burnt Ends
Crusty, browned morsels from the thinner ends of a brisket. Diced or chopped, they can be served alone or in a sandwich.
Dip
In Owensboro, Kentucky, a mixture of Worcestershire, broth or water, and sometimes lemon or tomato juice, that gets basted on mutton or is used as a seasoning.
Middlings
The meat on the outside of the ribs, which is especially tender and moist.
Outside Brown Meat
In North Carolina, this is the exposed flesh of the pig, typically the shoulder, that becomes well browned and deeply seasoned. Request it either chopped or sliced.
Short End
On a slab of pork ribs, this is the part of the rack that tapers. It’s the meatier half (and usually more expensive).
Snoots
In St. Louis, this refers to the face and cheeks of a pig, cooked until the skin is crispy. It is typically sauced, then eaten with rib tips or in a sandwich.
Whole Hog
A style of barbecue in which an entire pig is cooked in a pit, a process which typically takes 12 to 18 hours.
