Grillaholics Pro Brass Grill Brush
Walmart
A gentler alternative to stainless steel, the brass Grillaholics Pro Brass Grill Brush wont scratch delicate ceramic or porcelain surfaces. Though you might need to put a little more arm power into your scrubbing, its sturdy 18-inch handle with excellent grip points stands up to the extra muscle. Because of its softer brass bristles, its better suited for use on regularly cleaned grills . A lifetime warranty allows you to replace it at any time in case you do end up using it for an extra dirty job.
Something For Everyone But No Soaps Or Sprays
This article doesnt discuss specific cleaning productswe have a separate article dedicated to the best grill cleaners.
Here, we talk about the wide range of gadgets and tools that are available to help keep your grill clean. The most important thing is that the tool removes the food residue from the grates, but without causing damage.
Another thing to look for is durability. Grill cleaning tools can wear pretty quickly if they arent made from strong materials. Unfortunately, another health hazard is ingesting pieces that have broken off from your cleaning tool.
Its estimated that between the years 2002 and 2014, around 1,700 Americans went to the emergency room due to ingested wire bristles. One in four of these got so sick they were admitted to the hospital .
So, you want to select tools that are strong and durable and will not leave broken pieces on your grates to potentially contaminate your food.
With that, next up are the top grill cleaning tools available today.
Grill Grate Grid Scrub
This thick scrubber pad with an oversized handle is made of non-woven nylon/polyester fibers to clean thoroughly and meticulously. One reviewer says, “After hearing all the issues about wire brush cleaners, I wanted to get something that cleaned the grill without having to worry about getting any loose wires in your food. Just don’t use it on a hot grill and everything is good. Cleans just as well as a wire brush.”
Read Also: How Do You Clean A Stainless Steel Grill
What Kind Of Brush Should I Use To Clean My Grill
Depending on how often you use your grill, you should have different options for materials.
Nylon bristles work best for porcelain grills, while a metal brush can work with most other grills.
You can use electric brushes for electric grills but avoid using them at very high temperatures.
You cant go wrong using a grill brush that works on any charcoal, gas, or pellet grill like the brush and scraper from Grill Rescue .
Best Overall: Kona 360 Clean Grill Brush
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Bristles can bend and break
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Not simple to clean
Kona has developed a reputation for quality grill tools, and this brush doesn’t disappoint. With three separate brushes in a side-by-side configuration, this brush fits on top of the grates and slips between them to clean the top and sides of the grates all in one swipe. The brushes are designed to flex just a little, but not bend, so they wont lose their efficient shape with vigorous use, and our tester liked that you can use the brush sideways, as well.
This brush is a full 18 inches long to keep your hands away from the grill surface, and the plastic handle is comfortable to grip, even if you need to use two hands. The bristles are made from stainless steel, so they wont rust or corrode, and the brush is designed so the bristles are less likely to come loose and stick to your grates where they could end up in your food.
The Spruce / Donna Currie
Dimensions: 18 x 4 inches | Weight: 12 ounces | Brush Material: Stainless steel | Warranty: 5 years
“The handle, made from hard plastic, was long enough to keep my hands away from the heat of the grill, and it felt comfortably squishy thanks to its hollow form.” Donna Currie, Product Tester
Recommended Reading: Can I Convert My Weber Propane Grill To Natural Gas
Why Its Important To Clean Your Grill
Its common for people to add fat to foods while barbecuing, like butter on steak or oily marinades on chicken, said Wolf, who wrote Food by Fire, a recipe book that explains how to start cooking fires and the best fuel sources. Wolf said grilling these foods is perfectly fine, but if you dont clean your grill after it gets covered in grease, you may face problems later on. Sugar an ingredient common in barbecue marinades and sauces also burns quickly and, if it sits on a grills grate, can actually cause food to have a bitter taste the next time you cook.
The problem is that heat and fat are friends, Wolf said. Having a clean grill really helps to prevent flare ups while cooking. If you dont clean your grill grate, residual fat will drip into the grill. A dirty grill grate may also prevent your barbecue from cooking food evenly, while cleaning it ensures a consistent cooking temperature throughout, Wolf said. This means that all sides of your food from hamburgers to hot dogs will be uniformly prepared. Clean grill grates also help create crisp sear marks on food from meat to vegetables, which some people like the look of on grilled food.
The Best Way To Clean Your Grill Grates
As we have seen, there arent any gadgets out there that will do the job of cleaning your grill grates for you. So, lets look at the best way to get a clean grill.
Especially if you have cast iron grill grates, the best way to keep them clean is to tend to them regularly, after every use:
If you have neglected your grill grates for some time and they have become rusty, you will need to remove the rust with either a wire brush, sandpaper, or naval jelly. Thoroughly clean off all the rust and make sure you have washed off any chemical residue left after the cleaning.
Now you will have to re-season your grates. You can read up on how to do that here.
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How Long Will A Grill Brush Last
When it comes to how long a grill brush will last, theres no exact time frame claimed by manufacturers. However, if you start noticing bent bristles coming loose, thats a strong enough indicator to replace the brush . For added safety, its recommended you change out the brush every season.
Maintenance is key if you want to extend its lifespan because a hardened grime-coated brush isnt going to come to the rescue for too long. Itll only transfer all the gunk back onto the grill. You can knock the brush against something or brush it against a second wire brush for a quick clean. But if you still cant dislodge tiny remnants, youll want to clean the brush with warm, soapy water before leaving it out to dry. The last thing you want is for the bristles to rust and undo all your hard work, especially if youre cleaning an AOG grill. These are super hard to clean.
Best Grill Brush And Scraper Grillart Grill Brush And Scraper Best Bbq Brush For Grill
Why youll love this:
This one is largely notable for being a grill and scraper combo. Though as far as grill brushes with bristles go, this is a solid one. Very durable with a thick, stacked design that makes cleaning grills faster and more thorough than average, though it has a slim profile so youll need to make a few extra passes.
What We Liked
- Versatile: Works on any kind of grill and cleans quickly and efficiently on any surface.
- Head: Brush head is tightly woven and strong, with excellent deep cleaning power. Its going to take a while before it begins to fall apart.
- Handle: Handle is a good 18 inches long which puts you at the perfect distance to protect your hands while still being able to produce enough force to effectively scrub the grill when needed.
What We Didnt Like
- Jutting Scraper: Scraper extends beyond the brush, making it annoying to clean near the top of the grill.
This is another good model, of a more traditional variety than our winner. It is a brush and scraper combo brush, which makes it great for pushing off tough caked on stuff from the top of the grill and then getting deep in there with the brush.
This is a bristled brush, meaning deterioration is more likely, but the bristles are nicely stiff and very tightly woven, making this a long lasting and reliable brush.
Also Check: How Long To Cook Boneless Chicken Breast On Gas Grill
Best Grill Brushes As Recommended By Us
Personally, I still use a bristle brush on my grates. I just find they do a better job, are cheaper and tend to last longer. Or maybe Im just stuck in my ways?
Anyhow, I usually replace mine once or twice per year, and after going through 15 to 20 in my life, Ive been able to come up with a short list of requirements when I set out to purchase a new one:
- I want a long handle, so I dont burn my hand.
- I want the closest part to the grill to be either wooden or metal, so not to melt onto the grate like plastic might.
- I want the bristles to be stiff and secure or not have bristles at all
- And finally, I want to be able to hang the brush up when not in use.
Below is a selection of brushes that meet these requirements, and I give my thoughts on each.
- Works only with round grates.
- You may need to use a brush afterward.
- The head has been reported to loosen or fall off, but customer service will provide a replacement.
If youre looking for the perfect tool for your rounded grates, then look no further. The GrillFloss could be exactly what you need. It may require some extra patience at first, but it seems to be well worth it.
What To Look For In A Grill Brush
When it comes to choosing a good grill brush, there are a couple of important factors you should consider.
- Handle length The best way to clean grill grates is when they are hot, so you want to look for long enough handle to keep your hands at a safe distance. Anything over 16 inches should be fine and try and avoid anything shorter than 12 inches.
- Brush head material We will cover the dangers of metal bristles in a second, but for the most part we recommend avoiding brushes with bristles. Stainless steel wire is a safe choice.
- Scraping option Unless you buy a separate scraper like Chargon, it might be helpful to get a brush that includes an integrated scraping option like the one from Grillaholics.
- Avoid plastic near cleaning area You will most likely be cleaning your grill while its hot, so plastic near the grill head can easily melt and damage the integrity of the brush.
Read Also: How Long To Grill Thin Boneless Chicken Breast
Best Grill Brush Reviews
Here are the complete reviews of the ten best grill brushes in 2022. Keep reading after the reviews for a guide on what to look for when choosing a grill brush.
Thanks to its affordable price tag and grit-fighting design, the Grillart Bristle Free Grill Brush lands at the top of the list.
The Grillart is unlike other bristle brushes youve seen. There are no bristles on this guy. Instead, you get three rows of heavy-gauge wire clusters. Its a unique design, but it works like a charm.
These metal loops overlap and crisscross, creating a sort of web with a wide diameter. Because of that, you get 360 degrees of reach and lots of texture to loosen stubborn grit.
This unt measures 18 from tip to handle. It also comes with a 6.1 wide tip scraper for extra stubborn buildup.
The handle is made of ergonomic, heat-resistant plastic. The tip of the handle also has a flexible metal helix, which provides just the right amount of rigidity and bounce.
To use it, heat your grill for 15 minutes until it reaches a minimum of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn off the grill, wet the brush, and watch the grit fly.
The Grillart Bristle Free Grill Brush is sturdy, affordable, has a lifetime warranty, and works quickly without loose bristles. Whats not to love?
The Grillinator 18 BBQ Grill Brush is built like a tank. The handle is made from reinforced stainless steel and has a contoured, rubberized grip for increased control and comfort.
Why Should You Clean Your Barbecue Grill Regularly
At best an unclean grill looks unsightly, smells of old nasty fat residue, and will put you off your next bbq adventure. The nasty blackened char on the grill invariably will come off the next bbq if you dont clean up! Not nice! Youll end up searching for how to clean a dirty and rusty old bbq
On the serious side of the spectrum an unclean grill can and will turn out to be the breeding ground for insects. Youll attract mice, rats, and depending on where you live, almost certainly foxes as well. The smell carries and if you train these critters to come, its a tough reversal process. Thats where sensible maintenance, cleaning, and crucially a bbq wire brush comes in!
Read Also: Temp To Grill Pork Tenderloin
Our Reviews Of The Best 5 Grill Brushes
Now that weve covered everything about grill brushes and cleaning, its time to feature some of the best products on the market.
Here are the five best grill brushes you can buy right now:
The Grill Rescue Brush and Scraper is the best grill brush on the market.
Its simple to use:
- Using metal bristles is dangerous and can be a health hazard
- These bristles dont do well in high heat. Let your grill cool before using.
Why You Need A Grill Brush
Grill brushes are the tool designed to remove food debris and grease from your grill grates. Keeping your grates clean can also extend the life of your grill. Some grilling experts say that the secret to grilling the best-tasting food is to always cook on a clean grate.
One common problem with grill brushes happens when bristles break off, end up on your food and then in your throat. To avoid this, replace your grill brush often if you can pull out a bristle, its time to replace the brush. Here are five excellent, highly rated grill brushes for you to consider.
Recommended Reading: Traeger Grill Vs Gas Grill
Bbq Cleaning Brush Buying Faqs
Unsurprisingly theres a few pretty obvious questions thatll help you in picking the best bbq cleaning brush. Youll find theres two types of brush as we touched on earlier, one with flex, and the other for straight grate cleaning which are much more solid. If you understand how to clean your bbq with a brush thats safe then itll be easier to make your choice. Of course itl be good if you read through the review to find out if theres a brush thatll meet your requirements without necessarily going for the most expensive and best. After all, thats the whole point of this guide to connect you with the right tool!
Use Soap Vinegar Or Steam
Soap
After thoroughly scraping the grates, its best to soak them in soapy water for an hour.
It sanitizes and cleans the grill further.
After rinsing, return the grates to the grill and warm them. Do some additional scrubbing to clean the remaining residue.
Vinegar
If youre not a fan of using soapy water, an alternative is a mixture of vinegar and water.
Use equal amounts of each and place them in a spray bottle.
After spraying, let the mixture sit on the grill for 10 minutes before cleaning it once again with the grill brush.
Steam
Another option is to steam your grill.
After heating it, place a large tin can filled with water onto the grates.
Then close the lid to let the steam flow through the grill for the next half hour.
Also Check: Ideal Temperature For Grilling Chicken
How To Choose The Most Popular Best Food Brush
There are three most important factors to keep in mind while deciding on a product: pricing, quality, and popularity.One obvious consideration is price. You must make sure that the price matches your budget.To get the greatest product, you need to pay attention to the quality of the things you are purchasing.When it comes to acquiring new clients, popularity is just as important as pricing or quality, if not more so.
The Danger Of Wire Bristle Brushes
As we mentioned at the outset, wire bristle grill brushes carry inherent dangers.
If the wires fall out, which they often do, they can get stuck in the throat, or further down in the digestive tract.
A study published in 2016 found that between 2002 -2014, it is estimated that 1698 visits to the emergency room nationwide were the result of a wire bristle injury.
While its unlikely to happen, you need to ask yourself if its a risk worth taking.
Injury from wire-bristle grill brush is uncommon but prevalent during certain seasons. Awareness among consumers and product manufacturers is necessary to promote safety.
If you decide to keep using wire bristle grill brushes, there are a couple of things you can do to protect your health and the health of your loved ones.
For starters, if you notice even just one bristle fall out, throw the brush out immediately.
Unfortunately, once one bristle falls out, they will just keep coming.
Granted, it can be very frustrating if bristles start shedding within weeks, or days, of buying a new brush, but continuing to use the brush is a real hazard.
Even if you have not noticed any bristles falling out, you should still take measures to thoroughly check your grill surface in case any stray bristles escaped your notice.
One way to do this is to wipe down the grill grates with a damp cloth after you have cleaned them off.
Wrapping it up
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Recommended Reading: How To Clean A Stainless Steel Bbq Grill
