What does a "smoke ring" indicate in BBQ?

The presence of a "smoke ring" in BBQ is an indicator that the meat was cooked using smoking methods. This is a chemical reaction that occurs when nitrogen dioxide produced during the burning of wood interacts with myoglobin in the meat. As the meat absorbs smoke during the cooking process, the resultant chemical reaction causes a pink band to form just beneath the surface, which is the smoke ring. The degree of this ring can vary based on the type of wood used, the temperature of cooking, and the duration of exposure to smoke. Thus, spotting a smoke ring is not just a visual cue indicating the method of cooking, but it also suggests that the smoking process was successful in infusing flavors into the meat.