Sounds like your buddy hasn't had good burnt ends yet. They're the best part of KC BBQ. A few spots there make them so well it's worth the drive.

Come on, it's not that deep.

Ever try something like that? I used a similar app last week when I had random veggies, and the recipe it suggested was surprisingly decent.

Seems like unnecessary extra work for minimal payoff. I've tried it side by side and the texture just gets kinda weird and spongy sometimes. Just season it well and don't overcook it, problem solved.