What Kind Of Grill Brush Should I Use

Find Out Which Tools Stand Up To The Task

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The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong

Whether you only barbecue in the summers or are a die-hard grill enthusiast, it’s important to clean your grill before and after each cooking session for many reasons: Frequent cleaning of your grates protects them from corrosion, rust, and residue buildup, and makes it easier to cook and handle food on the grill. Plus, your food will taste better, and your grill will last longer.

Properly cleaning your grill requires the right tools, which is where wire grill brushes come in. There are many types of these tools available depending on your needs and the type of grill, from steel to wireless to nylon.

“Cast iron grates can be tricky to take care of because cleaning them conventionally can lead to rust,”says Jess Pryles, Grilling Expert and Author of “Hardcore Carnivore.” “You need to treat them just like a cast-iron skillet, and make sure you season them and ‘seal’ them with oil to protect them between cooks.”

Here, our list of the best wire grill brushes.

Best Grill Brushes Of 2021

A good grill brush will provide easy grease and char cleanup on any grill grate surface. Their stainless steel bristles and interwoven build make them robust and reliable, making them stand out from most other regular kitchen tools. Here are 6 of the best grill brushes to help you take perfect care of your charcoal grill.

Regular cleaning is key to keep your grill running as smoothly as possible long term. The importance of a good grill brush cant be understated. Not all brushes are created equal however, and there are even some out there that can do more harm than get.

Here are 6 of the best that will have your grill in perfect condition over barbecue season:

• Kona Safe Grill Brush

Best Grill Brushes For Stainless Steel Grates

Today I want to talk about brushes for stainless steel grates.

Stainless steel is durable and allows for more sturdy brushes, making your clean up a little bit easier.

My recommendation is the BBQ-Aid because its so sturdy and versatile.

However, there are going to be some things that you want to take into consideration when looking for a brush for your stainless steel grill.

We should all know by now that cleaning your grill after each cook is necessary to keeping your grill in top working condition. It ensures your food remains free from all of the old grease and acid buildup that can develop over time.

For the most part, we all detest the clean-up phase of barbecuing. For me, it is the only part of grilling that I am not absolutely in love with. But with the right utensils and the proper technique, the clean-up doesnt have to feel so much like a chore.

Without further delay, lets get into the brushes I recommend for cleaning your stainless steel grill.

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What Kind Of Brush To Use On Cast Iron Grills

If youre one of the few who are more of a cast iron type of grill person, then welcome to the club! In this article, we are going to talk about cast iron grills. A cast iron grill is perfect for grilling as it can evenly distribute heat and is extremely durable and very tough.

This type of grill grate can overcome any type of force except for water. As rust forms when the iron comes in contact with water, a this type of grill grate can be subject to deterioration once it rusts. A cast iron grill grate which has deteriorated has rust and as far as we know, eating grilled food from a rusted grill grate is not very appetizing.

If you have rusting grill grates then its high time you replace them with a new set. Furthermore, you should ensure that the grill grate is well taken care of as to reduce the number of times having to replace them.

The cast iron grill grate is an efficient conductor of heat, which makes cooking easy on every square inch. Its no surprise that a majority of the people would choose cast iron as the type of grill that they want.

Who can blame them? Since the cast iron grill grate can transfer heat better than any steel available, the cast iron grill grate can cook food even at low temperatures and at high temperature, it sears exceptionally. With this technique, you can achieve a heavenly BBQ taste because the cast iron grate can seal that flavor within.

Below are 6 steps ensuring that your cast iron grill grates is well taken care of.

Weber Bamboo Grill Brush 6464

WeberWeber

Price: $7.99Score: GoodCRs take: This attractive brush lost a few points with our testers for its design. The brush head features a metal scraper tip for scraping individual rungs on a grill grate. The problem is that the tip also hits the back of a grills firebox when youre cleaning the grates, meaning you cant clean all the way to the edges. But our biggest problem with the brush is that it cleans well only when grates are still hot, which would be okay except that the long, flat handle isnt anglednor is the head of the brushso your hands are directly over the hot grates the entire time youre cleaning.

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Best Wireless Grill Brushes

When you are considering a wireless grill brush, there are a couple of things to consider like the shape of the brush, what the handle looks and feels like, and how many rows of cleaning material there are.

The main benefit of these wireless grill brushes is that you can use them on a hot grill, opposed to their nylon counterparts.

Why Its Important To Clean Your Grill

Wolf, author of the recently released Food by Fire, said its common for people to add fat to foods while barbecuing, like butter on steak or oily marinades on chicken. 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 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. A clean grill grate ensures a consistent cooking temperature throughout, which Wolf said ensures all sides of your hamburger, hot dogs or ribs are as done as you want them to be, equally. Clean grill grates also help create crisp sear marks on food from meat to vegetables.

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Qually United Bristle Free Bbq Grill Brush

Here’s another popular Amazon pick that uses coiled steel to clean grates rather than bristles. This one claims to be “more effective and 5 times faster than a conventional brush.” According to one reviewer, “I use this every time I grill. Those steel ‘hairs’ can reach anything I’ve done on the grill. It’s a really good product, well made, and will last.”

Lastly Do Synthetic Bristles Or Bristle

Our verdict? Absolutely! Bristle-free and synthetic bristle brushes work great. If you’re using a synthetic bristle brush, you may just need to put in a little more “umph” to get the same cleaning results. A bristle-free option, such as a wooden brush, will need to be moulded to your grill grates before it does the best it can, so be patient with it.

Some of our favourite options in this category are The Brander “Threesome” , and The Brander “Barbecue Blade.”

To check out our bristle free brushes, Click Here.

Still have questions about bristle or bristle-free grill brushes? Not to worry. You can stop by or call any of our 5 locations across Canada. We have two in Alberta, with our Calgary North and Calgary Southstores. We also have three across the GTA in Ontario with our Burlington, Oakville& Etobicoke stores. You can also ask your question in our Online Chat for an expert to help you out.

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Best Overall Kona Safe/bristle Free Bbq Grill Brush

Why youll love this:

This is an extremely good bristle free grill brush. Not only does it bring maximum cleaning power with its extra thick steel wire coils, its also safe to use on any type of grill surface, including ceramic grills. While it has a higher price than some might consider proper for just a grill brush, it more than makes up for it in how long it will last.

What We Liked

• Size: The length of this brush is perfect not too long, not too short. Its easy to clean with while being safe to use and minimizes the chances of scorching your knuckles like a small brush might. It also features a very wide head, making it able to clean most any grill in about 4 passes.
• Head: In addition to being wide the brush head is bristle free, so no worries about anything falling out or needing to be replaced. Its also incredibly stiff, so is perfect for that stuck on grease you may have been unable toc lean before.

What We Didnt Like

• Blocky: If I had to think of one gripe, its that this one isnt as good at attacking rounded surfaces, like many cheaper grills. Its wide head is usually a plus, but in more narrow rounded corners it can miss some spots.

This is by far the best brush I could find. Everything about it brings together what were looking for. Its long, but not too long an 18 inch handle provides plenty of space to protect your hands from the heat while not making it hard to apply force enough to scrub.

Why You Shouldnt Use A Wire Grill Brush

Doctors warn that using wire bristle brushes could be hazardous to your health. The risk: The brushs wire bristles can break off, remain on the grill grate and end up in the food youre cooking. Then, once you eat it, they could potentially lodge in your stomach or intestines and cause major damage.

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Best Brass Wire: Grillaholics Essentials Brass Grill Brush

• Brass bristles are softer on porcelain or ceramic grates

• Several rows of bristles for faster cleaning

• Bristles wear down faster than stainless steel

• Requires more elbow grease on tough grime

Brass is a softer material than stainless steel, so a brass wire brush like this one from Grillaholics Essentials is ideal for any grill with grates that can be damaged from hard scraping. The brush is 18 inches long with a 5-1/2 inch brush head, and its wires are made from heavy-duty stainless brass. If your grill has porcelain or ceramic grates, the brass bristles are gentle enough to prevent damage to the cooking surface, yet they’ll still scrape off any burnt-on food.

Dimensions: 18 x 3 inches | Weight: 14.4 ounces | Brush Material: Stainless brass | Warranty: Lifetime

We awarded the Kona 360° Clean Grill Brush the top spot because of its efficient design and high-quality construction: It’s able to withstand frequent, vigorous use. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly to get you through the season, our tester loved the Weber 12-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush. Her recommendation? “Buy a few.”

How To Clean Grill Grates

Cleaning your grill grates will help reduce rust buildup and ensure tasty food when you grill. You want to scrape your grates after each use, but you should also do a deep cleanse at least once a year. Cleaning doesnt have to be a chore, but depending on what type of grill grates youre using you want to be careful how you clean them.

Porcelain grill grates hold heat well and are rust-resistant, but you want to keep them cleaned and cared for. Any chips or scrapes in the porcelain will expose the metal underneath and allow water to seep in, which can create rust. So when cooking with metal tools be careful not to scrape or nick the grates. When cleaning porcelain grill grates, dont use metal or wire brushes. Use a soft bristle or a nylon grill brush. Burn off any food leftover on the grates. Then let the grates cool and scrub them with the nylon cleaning brush.

Cast iron grill grates are very durable, tolerate high temperatures and create an even cooking surface. They are tough and can withstand just about anything except water iron is prone to rusting. When cleaning cast iron grates, burn off any food left over on the grates. Then let the grates cool and scrub them with the nylon cleaning brush. After cleaning the grates, dry and saturate the grates with vegetable oil to prevent rust from forming.

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Lid And Inside Of The Grill

West said people often neglect to clean the inside of their grills lid, an area where soot can build up and flake off if its not upkept. He recommends using a grill brush to clean the inside of the lid when you notice dirt beginning to accumulate. Lyman also suggested cleaning the inside of your grill by scraping the sides, lid and bottom with a plastic putty knife. He said to avoid using metal tools, which can scratch the grill and cause premature rusting.

Best Splurge: Grand Grill Daddy Grill Cleaning Brush

• Built-in water reservoir for steam cleaning

• Two dishwasher-safe brush heads

• Expensive

A great grill deserves a great cleaning tool, like this Grill Daddy that cleans with steam without the need to dip the brush in water repeatedly. The handle design makes this look like a space-age vacuum, but it also offers a comfortable grip while you steam and scrub. Just fill it with water, turn the valve to the on position, and the brush dispenses just enough water for efficient cleaning without dousing the coals.

This brush has two different brush headsa standard brush and a crud-buster scraper brush for stubborn debris, so you can clean every nook and corner of your grates. The brushes are made from stainless steel and are removable and dishwasher safe, so you can get rid of that sticky barbecue sauce and have clean brushes when you need them.

While the brush heads are durable and long-lasting, all brushes need replacement eventually. But when you buy this brush, you don’t need to discard it when the brushes wear out since replacement brush heads are available. There are accessories available, as well, to make this even more versatile. This is a serious tool that should last for many, many grilling seasons.

The brand also offers the Original Grill Daddy, which isn’t as expensive. However, the original model is made from plastic, and its bristles are less densely packed.

Dimensions: 17 x 6 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Brush Material: Stainless steel | Warranty: Lifetime for body

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Grillfloss Ultimate Bbq Grill Cleaning Tool

Grillfloss

After trying this neat little non-bristled tool, you might give your old grill brush the brush-off. The GrillFloss is designed specifically for grills designed with cylindrical rods and comes with four interchangeable heads to snugly fit around various rod sizes. If your grate doesnt have rods, then this one isnt for you. But for owners of rod-style grills, this nifty brush alternative could be a gamechanger for your cookouts.

Should I Wash My Grill Grates

Cleaning your grill gates ensures the best result when you start grilling. However, it is not always possible to wash the grill gates. Therefore, it is advised to at least brush the grilling grates with a grill brush after every grilling session.

Maintaining grill grates is not that hard but they should be given a wash at least once or twice a year. We all need thorough cleaning at times, right?

For washing, use a mixture of warm water, dish soap, vinegar, and baking soda. Soak a sponge or towel inside the mixture and start getting that shine on your grill!

Expert advice: Avoid using toxic chemicals since they cause your grill grates to corrode over time.

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How Do You Clean Grill Brush

Fill a bucket half full with water from the garden hose. Add several squirts of dishwashing soap to the water, and swirl the water around to activate the bubbles. Place both grill brushes into the soapy water, and scrub the bristles against each other to wash the bristles and remove greasy residues.

Weber 6494 Traeger Grill Cleaner

You may wonder that it’d be better to have a grill brush with multiple sides. You can efficiently operate with either shorter or longer sides whenever you prefer.

Fear not. As Weber comes with 3 sided grill brush that has both wide and short sides. The wide side is used for cleaning the huge surfaces on the grill grate without giving too much effort.

The shorter brush is designed to clean off the edges and corners. If there are wastes or debris between the grates, you can easily clean this by the shorter side.

The bristle is made with strong stainless steel to not fall off during usage. Thus, this makes the cleaning grill part safe.

The handle is designed for effectiveness and efficiency to use and control it comfortably and thoroughly.

However, the handle is short at length compared to other grill brushes. Hence, you have to be careful while cleaning the heated grill grates. Other features are unique to overcome the short-handle problem.

If you decide to purchase this one, make sure the grill model fits with this traeger grill cleaner. You can put your model number for certainty.

Highlighted Features

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