The Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) is the worldwide reference when it comes to organized BBQ competitions. Local organizations organize the event itself, but strictly follow the official KCBS rules. This ensures fair, uniform judging and an international ranking.

During a KCBS competition, each team must prepare four mandatory categories:

• Chicken
• Ribs
• Pork
• Brisket

Everything is prepared on a BBQ without gas or electricity. Low & slow is the standard, but how you approach it is entirely up to you. Pellet smokers are allowed, as are electronic temperature controllers.

Teams can compete in competitions in their own country, but also internationally. There are national, European and global rankings – all based on your performance according to KCBS standards.

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The Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) organizes competitions worldwide with one clear focus: the perfect steak. Here too, all organizers follow a fixed set of rules, which means that you end up in international rankings as a team.

RACE PROCEDURE

• There is one mandatory category: Steak
• The organization provides the steaks itself
• A draw will determine who gets to choose their steak first
• Each participant chooses two steaks – one is submitted for judging, the other is for testing or to take home
• The turn-in time is 30 minutes (instead of 10 minutes at KCBS)

EXTRA CATEGORIES & GOLDEN TICKET

In addition to steak, there may be additional categories – the so-called “ancillary” categories – with a separate ranking.

Whoever wins an SCA competition often receives a Golden Ticket : an invitation to participate in the World Championship in Texas .

Do you already have a Golden Ticket and win again? Then the invitation goes to the runner-up.

The later you participate in the season, the greater the chance that the Golden Ticket will advance – so it always pays to participate!