Instant Wet Marinade vs Dry Rub Seasoning: Which is Better?

You’ve planned a great menu full of fresh healthy ingredients, the grill is ready to go, and your friends and family are enjoying some quality time together in the backyard. You know serving delicious food depends on packing flavor into every bite. Dipping sauces and glazes are tasty, but you’ve already got your Jamaican seasoning working because you know serious flavor happens before food hits the flame.

Dry Rub or Instant Wet Marinade, what’s the Difference?

Dry rubs are pretty self-explanatory. They are made from a combination of dried flavorings, and you rub them on the food you want to season. Even though they are simple, the flavor profile of a dry rub can still be complex. For example, our Booyah Authentic Jamaican Seasoning is a balanced blend of dried herbs, spices, peppers, sugar, and salt. Like all dry rubs, Booyah can easily be sprinkled onto meat, seafood, poultry, and vegetables to season before cooking. Apply as much or as little as you like, rub it in, and let the food rest for a few minutes or a few hours.

Instant wet marinades from Reggae Spice are freshly prepared marinades ready-to-use straight from the jar. The addition of some type of acid to a marinade—usually vinegar — helps to tenderize tough cuts of meat as it adds flavor. For chicken, fish, and other naturally tender foods instant marinade truly means just that. Apply any one of our incredible wet marinades, such as African Curry, Thai Coconut, or Jamaican Jerk, straight from the jar and start cooking instantly. 

How to Decide between Dry Rub and Instant Wet Marinade

With adding authentic jerk flavoring, neither dry rub nor wet marinade is really better than the other. Both types deserve a place in your pantry. For vegetables and other dishes where you want just a hint of spice, sprinkle on a little Booyah dry Jamaican seasoning. It’s quick, easy, and delicious. For those times when you need to turn an economic cut of meat into a tender, juicy treat, spoon on one of our wet marinades and let it work its magic for a few hours. Want a flavor bomb that will knock everyone’s socks off? Combine our dry Jamaican seasoning with any of our instant wet marinades to enhance food even more.

Tips for Applying Wet or Dry Jamaican Seasoning

Using either a dry seasoning or a wet marinade is as easy as applying salt and pepper. But there are a few tips that will take your next meal to new levels of awesome.

• Trim away any excess fat, silver skin, or gristle from meat

• Pat meat dry with a paper towel. The natural moisture from the meat can make it harder for the seasoning to stick.

• Add about 1 tablespoon dry rub or wet marinade for every pound of meat. Use more or less to your taste—no rules!

• A dry rub should be literally rubbed into the meat. Get both sides and all the edges, every nook and cranny.

• Spoon instant wet marinade to the top of your meat, fish, or ribs and it’s ready to go.

• Allow meat to come to room temperature before cooking. (If marinating for several hours, return meat to the refrigerator after seasoning.)

No grill? No Problem 

Dry rubs and wet marinades have become a popular way to season meat before grilling, but that doesn’t mean they’re only for grilling. After all, foods cooked in the oven, on the stovetop, or in a slow cooker also need to be flavorful. Use Reggae spice curry marinades and Jamaican seasonings for a variety of dishes. Check out our recipe page for ideas that go beyond the grill.

No Meat? Still no Problem!

Whether you’re a vegan, a vegetarian, or you just like a meatless Monday now and then, you can still enjoy our authentic seasonings. Though Reggae Spice products are delicious with meat, there are a variety of flavorful ways to put a little spice into your life:

• Mix 2-4 teaspoons of dry rub or instant wet marinade into your homemade veggie-burger mix for a super savory burger that will satisfy everyone.

• Zip up store-bought chip dip with a sprinkle of Booyah Jamaican Seasoning. Works wonders in hummus and guacamole too.

• Put the devil in those deviled eggs by adding a spoonful of hot and spicy curry instant marinade.

• Turn plain old mayonnaise into a gourmet spread with a dollop of sweet and sassy or hot and spicy marinade.

• Sprinkle Booyah dry Jamaican seasoning on potato salad, on cooked vegetables, in soups and stews, and even in homemade salad dressing.

• Skip plain old salt and toss some Booyah on your next bowl of popcorn for a unique treat.

When it comes down to it, choosing between Reggae Spice instant wet marinade or dry Jamaican seasoning is easy—choose both. Use them together or separately to add authentic jerk seasoning to all your favorite grilled recipes, plus dozens of new recipes your family will love.