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The 7 Best Bbq Grill Brushes of 2023

Stephen G. Hein
  Mar 27, 2023 9:06 PM

When you think about grilling, you probably see tending the grill and dishing up flame-broiled deliciousness to loving friends and family – you probably don't think of the cleaning afterwards. Scrubbing the grill is a filthy, hot job that is far from the most glamorous aspect of cooking. Nonetheless, regular cleaning keeps your barbecue happy. It extends the life of your grill, keeps the heat flowing, and keeps food from sticking. It also enhances taste and reduces the risk of food-borne disease. The grill brush is the instrument of choice for this activity.

Grill brushes, although appearing basic, are not all made equal. BestForHomes (bestforhomes.org) sought the assistance of two grilling specialists to help us traverse the market's many design and material options. Maxcel Hardy, chef and owner of Detroit's COOP and Jeds, and chef Brandon Rice, owner of Ernest in San Francisco, both chimed in on the variables that distinguish grill brushes.

Continue reading to find out why and how to choose the best BBQ grill brushes for you.


Reviews

Grillart Grill Brush and Scraper

Pros:

  • The multiple heads expedite the cleaning process, and the adjustable scraper blades make it simpler to remove difficult residues.

Cons:

  • The scraper head may get in the way of detailing the edges of your grill, and if you apply too much pressure to the brush, the handle will bend.

The race for Best Overall attracted some tough opponents. After assessing the benefits and drawbacks of several brushes, the Kona 360° Clean and the Grill Art Grill Brush and Scraper were chosen for the test.

Each include three cleaning heads, an 18-inch handle to protect your hands away from the heat, and 360-degree cleaning. We determined that the Grill Art Grill Brush and Scraper was the finest after thorough evaluation.

In addition to the characteristics listed above, the Grill Art has two scraper blades for difficult-to-remove deposits. The first is a larger, flat-headed scraper with grooves at the edges for removing oil and burnt-on particles, while the second blade has notches in a variety of forms to match the curves of practically every grill grate.

While not in use, the 18-inch stiff stainless steel handle includes a non-slip grip and a hook for hanging. The braided wire design extends the brush's life and efficiency while reducing bristle loss.

 

Grillaholics Pro Brass Grill Brush

Pros:

  • The cleaning process is sped up by five rows of brass bristles, and the expanded handle enables for two-handed cleaning.

Cons:

  • The bristles are softer than stainless steel and might bend when subjected to severe pressure. Because of its design, cleaning this brush may take longer.

Cleaning ceramic or porcelain-coated grates without harming them requires great care; always follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions to prevent voiding your warranty. To clean these more fragile surfaces, use a brush that is softer than stainless steel.

Nylon is great, but it cannot be used to clean a hot grill. Excluding any manufacturing constraints, we prefer brass for this work. Brushes made of brass, a softer metal than stainless steel, are less likely to harm the coating of your grill when cleaning its hot surface.

We picked the Grillaholics Pro Brass for this purpose. The brush has five vertical rows of bristles that enable for quick cleaning of the grates. It also has lots of bristles around the edges to reach the more tough places of the grill. Unlike other designs, the wooden handle spans the majority of the brush's length, allowing for two-handed cleaning if needed. Because of the softer brass bristles, it may take a little more pressure, but that's a minor price to pay to preserve your grill's grates.

 

Grillaholics Pro Palmyra Grill Brush

Pros:

  • The bristles will not peel the seasoning from your cast iron grill, and the 360-degree design allows for easier detail and edge cleaning than other palmyra brushes.

Cons:

  • Palmyra bristles are softer than metal, so cleaning your grill will take more time and effort. If you use the brush near an open flame, the bristles will burn.

Cast iron does need special maintenance, but don't get too worked up about it. Essentially, you want to season your cast iron grill grates but don't want to remove the seasoning. As a result, metal brushes will be too firm for the task, while nylon brushes will be too soft.

We prefer a palmyra brush since it is firm enough to clean while being soft enough to retain your seasoning. To remove any stuck-on food or oil, just brush your hot grill without flames using natural bristles bathed in hot water.

Most palmyra brushes are square in shape, which is sufficient for cleaning the main, flat area of your grates. But, it falls short when it comes to cleaning edges, between grates, and precise work. As a result, we suggest the Grillaholics Pro Palmyra Grill Brush.

It has the same 360-degree head shape and edge bristles as many of the brushes discussed here, and it fills the demand for detail and edge cleaning without the use of metal. It also has an extendable wooden handle that allows for two-handed cleaning, and any bristles that come off will burn.

 

Char-Broil Safer Nylon Plastic 17.5-in Grill Brush

Pros:

  • The grit-infused nylon bristles will not harm stainless steel, and it lasts a long time for the price.

Cons:

  • The nylon bristles should not be used on hot grills. The pricing for a nylon brush is also a bit expensive.

Stainless steel grates are simple to clean but need particular care. Since they are thin and easily damaged, stainless steel bristle brushes may not be the ideal option, as the majority of the bristles will miss the grates. Because of their hard composition, they may harm the finish, causing food to cling and rust to form. We recommend utilizing a nylon or brass brush for this task. We suggest the Char-Broil Safer 360 Grill Brush when considering these choices.

The brush's grit-infused nylon bristles make it ideal for cleaning stainless steel grates without damaging them. The brush is designed to last around 15,000 strokes before the bristles break or fall off. Red bristles increase the visibility of any stray bits that fall or break off the brush and stay on the grill, reducing the possibility of inadvertently eating them. The angular shape enables for cleaning large stains on the grill as well as detailing hard-to-reach areas.

The main disadvantage is that the bristles are not heat resistant and should not be used on a hot grill. Cleaning is not a problem if you allow the grill to cool after cooking and then use the Safer 360 Grill Brush with hot soapy water on the cooled grill.

 

Weber 21-Inch Three-Sided Grill Brush

Pros:

  • The extra-long handle protects your hands from the heat, and the triangle form makes cleaning tiny places simple.

Cons:

  • If too much pressure is exerted, the longer handle may bend, and the bristles have a shorter lifetime than the others described here.

Are you seeking for the greatest return on investment per dollar spent? The Weber may seem simple, yet it has all of the attributes that Rice and Hardy seek in a brush. The triangular form supports their preference for a tiny head for detail cleaning.

Detail cleaning in narrow crevices and between grates is made easier by the bristles at the brush's corners. They both like a metal handle since it will not catch fire or melt in high-heat usage, while wood or plastic do, and the stainless steel handle with non-slip grip checks that box as well.

The Weber wins our Best Value category because to the wide-angle side of the brush head that enables for cleaning wider portions of the grate, the corner bristles for precision cleaning, the longer handle for avoiding heat, and the comparatively cheap price.

 

Kona Safe/Clean Grill Brush

Pros:

  • Most grills can be cleaned in four to five passes with the wide head, and the handle length allows for two-handed cleaning.

Cons:

  • Since the head is a bit blocky, it is useless in confined places and detail work.

Metal bristles adhering to your food is a legitimate source of worry. It takes time to inspect brushes for loose bristles or those that may have fallen on the grill. For those who want a bristle-free grill brush, we recommend the Kona Safe/Clean Bristle-Free Grill Brush.

It has three rows of vertically stacked metal coils to reduce the number of strokes required to cover your grill. It also has the 360-degree design of several of the brushes discussed here, enabling you to clean in tight spots with ease.

The handle has a larger grip to allow for two-handed cleaning while keeping your hands cool. It is also suitable for all grill kinds, including coated, infrared, stainless steel, and cast iron.

 

Grill Rescue Grill Brush with Scraper

Pros:

  • The handle does not take much force to operate, and the cleaning pads are dishwasher safe.

Cons:

  • The head is blocky, making cleaning in small spaces or details difficult. Also, the scraper positioning makes cleaning the rear edge of the grill more difficult.

We looked at a variety of non-metal scrapers made of wood, nylon, and palmyra before settling on this brush from Grill Rescue. This brush is made of heat-resistant synthetic aramid fibers and uses steam to clean, requiring less human effort on your side. Moreover, a scraper attached on its head allows you to chip away at tough deposits first.

The handle design lends itself well to the no-force concept; just soaking the head with water and rubbing it across the hot grill is sufficient. It's one of the more costly alternatives on our list, but the handle and cleaning heads are both long-lasting, and extra cleaning heads with fresh scraper blades are available if yours wears out.


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1
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    9.6
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    GRILLART
2
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    Grillaholics
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    Char-Broil
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    Grillaholics
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    Weber
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  • Brand
    Kona
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Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying Guide

Suggestion from the Grill Manufacturer

Cleaning instructions will be sent with your grill. Failure to follow those directions may nullify your guarantee on the grates, so double-check before buying a grill brush.

Head of the brush

For many years, the classic grill brush had a square head that was roughly 4 inches on each side. Its design is adequate for cleaning vast sections of the top of the grates, but it is ineffective for cleaning all angles of a grill. Both Hardy and Rice advocate using a small-headed brush to clean all of the angled surfaces of your barbecue grates.

Several of the brushes featured here have a large head with angular parts that allow you to reach between grates and other challenging areas. This combination enables you to undertake intricate work without having to use a little brush to clean the vast top surface. Following that, decide if nylon, stainless steel, brass, or natural fiber is the ideal material for you.

Handle

The handle should be long enough to keep your hands away from the heat without flexing when you apply pressure. Depending on the design, the sweet spot seems to be between 15 and 20 inches. Choose materials that are neither flammable or meltable. You will, no matter how cautious you are, lay your brush on the grill and distract your attention.


FAQ

What is the most effective way to clean a grill?

Although some chefs leave food residue on their grills until they are ready to use again, this practice shortens the life of the grill grates and may lead to food-borne diseases. After cooking, we suggest cleaning your grill.

Don't attempt to clean the grill immediately quickly after cooking for general cleaning. You'll end up spreading sticky food or sauce all over the grill and having to do more cleaning than required. Let it burn instead. After cooking, keep the heat going for a few minutes to enable the stuck-on pieces of food to harden. The parts may then be brushed away with a dry brush or dipped in water to generate steam when it comes into contact with the grill. Rub the grill grates with a lightly oiled paper towel after wiping both sides and surfaces of the grates and diffusers (if using a gas grill). This last step eliminates leftover grit and reduces the likelihood of bristles clinging to the grill if they fall off the brush.

Should you clean your barbecue using a wire grill brush?

For a long time, wire brushes were the norm. Additional caution is required to examine the brush for any stray bristles that may come off and cling to the grill, posing a hazard if ingested. Before using your brush, inspect it and replace it if it exhibits symptoms of wear or is missing bristles.

What can you use instead of a wire brush to clean your grill?

Alternative materials and procedures are accessible in a variety of forms. Scott Moody, CMO of PK Grills, detailed a way of generating steam by scraping the grill with half a raw onion, followed by a palmyra brush. In a pinch, he and others we talked with have been known to use a balled-up piece of aluminum foil as a scrubber.


Final Decision

With so many brush materials and patterns to choose from, the option is in the brush's structure. The stiffness and cleaning power of stainless steel are provided by the Grill Art Grill Brush and Scraper, whilst the Grill Rescue Grill Brush and Scraper provides outstanding cleaning power with the confidence of a non-bristle head.

There are so many alternatives out there that it can be tough to choose one, but BestForHomes (bestforhomes.org) hopes that our evaluations have helped you narrow down your options and discover the best BBQ grill brushes for your requirements!


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