The 'Essential' Ingredient Martha Stewart Squeezes Into BBQ Sauce For Unbeatable Flavor

Whether she's serving a drool-worthy spread for breakfast or preparing a sumptuous Thanksgiving turkey, everything Martha Stewart touches seems to have a hint of elegance and sparkle — even her BBQ sauce, which she makes from scratch. Her Kansas City-style recipe is simple, requiring only a handful of kitchen staples, and among them is one ingredient which she calls absolutely "essential" for a good BBQ sauce: lemon.

Stewart shared her recipe for BBQ sauce on an episode of Martha's Cooking School. In it, she explains that she learned about her BBQ sauce preferences during her time as a judge at the Great Big Memphis Barbecue. "One thing I did learn down in Memphis was that lemon was essential in pretty much every one of my favorite sauces," she says. "You could detect it, and you could miss it if it wasn't there."

Stewart adds the juice of a whole lemon into her BBQ sauce towards the end of the cooking process; you'll want to be sure to do this as well, as adding it too soon can cause bitterness. It's a seemingly small addition, but it works wonders. Lemon is an acid, and acids help enhance all the other flavors within the sauce. It brightens up the sauce, too, really allowing the whole thing to shine. The results are so good, everyone will be begging to know your secret ingredient.

If you're not in the mood to whip up a batch of homemade BBQ sauce, we totally get it — but that doesn't mean you can't utilize Martha Stewart's tip. A squeeze of citrus is all you need to elevate store-bought BBQ sauce, too, and going with store-bought will save you both time and dishes. To do it, simply pour however much BBQ sauce you intend to use into a bowl, add a squeeze or two of lemon juice, and whisk it to ensure it's all blended together. Make sure to taste-test it before you add more; otherwise, you might end up with a lemon-heavy BBQ sauce. Remember that it should be there to accentuate the other flavors, not overpower them.

If you want to reap the benefits of adding an acid but don't have a lemon lying around, other citruses can work just as well to upgrade store-bought BBQ sauce. It might not be as sour, but orange juice is still an acid and can add a more mellow citrus flavor to your sauce. Its sweetness can overpower, though, so start small and only add more if necessary. Lime can bring an even brighter flavor to the sauce, and grapefruit is an underrated addition that can really balance out the intense vinegar, ketchup, and brown sugar flavors that are likely pretty potent in your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce brand. Whichever you go with, we're sure you won't regret putting a Martha Stewart spin on this classic kitchen staple.