With all the types of grill brushes, it can get a little difficult to choose the best one for you. Hence, we have put down some general features to look for when you make your purchase.
Brush Type:
The material of the brush is important when it comes to safety. There are four types:
- Metal brush heads: These might be a little risky but give amazing cleaning results. They require a little maintenance to last long and give you safe scrubbing. They include Kona 360 Clean Grill Brush and Weber 6494 12-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush.
- Nylon brush-heads: These are the best friends for porcelain grills. They hug the porcelain as their own and give it a good clean. The softness of nylon makes it ideal for easy cleaning. Char-Broil Cool Clean Nylon Bristle Grill Brush is one of the many nylon brushes.
- Bristle-free brush heads: Known to be the safest for cleaning, these give you great outcomes with a little bit of effort. These brushes have no bristles, so no worries about shedding.
Although, there is no denying that bristles give a much better cleaning since they grip your grates while cleaning them. You should not completely discard them as a choice but make sure that the bristles are properly woven into the handle.
Who wants scratches on their grills? No one!
Always look for materials that suit your grill. For porcelain or ceramic grills, choose softer materials. The stainless steel and cast iron grills match with any form of brush since they have high endurance.
Avoid brushes with plastic near the bristles. Since your brushes will go near hot grills, the plastic is likely to melt which can decrease the integrity of your grill brush and cause damage.
Handle Size:
You will be dealing with hot grills while cleaning, which is why it is important that the brush handle is not too short.
The ideal size of a handle is known to be 18 inches. These handles are medium-sized and provide the perfect grip for you to clean your grill from a distance. For many people, the Kona 360 Clean Grill Brush is the perfect length and size.
Speaking of grip, make sure that the handle has a good grip and is ergonomic. Check for slippery surfaces of handles and avoid those. Always ensure that the handle is thick enough and has proper friction to hold on to while cleaning.
Scraper:
A scraper is super important when it comes to grill cleaning. This is because, while brushes do a decent job of removing any scraps of food from the grill, there are some stubborn bits and grease which are hard to pull out.
Therefore, while purchasing a grill brush, make it a priority to check for a scraper with it. We might think we do not need it, but we will need it at some point! (The GRILLART Grill Brush and Scraper Best BBQ Brush for Grill is a good example of such a brush.)
Although, some brushes have bristles that are sturdy enough to clean grills without a scraper. If you think you can go hard on your grills without a scraper, then there you have your answer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to questions people have about grill brushes.
01. What is a Good Grill Brush?
A good grill brush will not only depend on how well it cleans but also on the material of your grill. To summarise the features of a good grill brush:
- It should have properly woven bristles that do not fall off.
- It should have the ability to reach all corners of the grilling plates.
- The brush should be wide and thick to ensure the best cleaning results.
- The handle should not be too small or too long; 18” is typically the perfect size.
- The brush head should be easily replaceable.
- Avoid bristles with plastic near them since they can melt and damage the brush’s integrity.
Coming to the compatibility with grill material:
The grills made of stainless steel or cast iron gates can be cleaned with any type of brush. They are known to be strong enough for metal brushes and even for conventional brushes.
On the other hand, when cleaning a porcelain grill, it is best to use a bristle with a softer material like brass. This material will ensure that your grilling plates do not chip off easily.
02. What Kind of Grill Brushes are the Safest?
According to a report, wire-bristle grill brushes are most likely to cause injuries. We don’t want wires in our food because of obvious reasons.
It is safest to use bristle-free grill brushes or ones with brass bristles. A bristle-free brush ensures that nothing gets in your food while the brass bristles are less likely to cause harm to your body.
Although, if wire bristles are maintained and used properly, they would not cause harm. The best way to ensure that is to throw away the brush even if a single wire sticks out. Better safe than sorry!
03. Are Metal Grill Brushes Safe?
Metal grill brushes can easily come off and find their way to your food and eventually your stomach or intestine. This can cause potential harm to your internal organs and thus it is not considered safe.
However, that risk lies with all loosely held bristles. It is advised to replace the head of a grill brush every season or more frequently. Besides, you should also throw away the grill brush or replace it if you see any bristles sticking out.
To conclude, all kinds of grill brushes can be safe if they are maintained properly. To steer clear of any dangers, always make sure that you take extra precautions before using your grill brush.
04. 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.
05. What Kind of Brush Do I Use on a Stainless Steel Grill?
Stainless steel grills are more durable than other types of grills and can thus be cleaned with any type of brush. However, it is always best to have a good brush specifically suited for stainless steel grill in order to ensure proper cleaning with minimal effort.
For starters, the Weber 6494 12-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush is a good brush within the budget. It has a sturdy material of stainless steel which ensures that the bristles do not wear out while cleaning. Besides, it has longer and shorter sides to accommodate cleaning for all sides of a grill.
If you are looking for a more premium grill brush then the Grilljoy 4PC Heavy Duty Grill Brush and Scraper is surely one of the best stainless steel grill brushes. Not only does it have a sturdy material for a good cleaning, but it also comes with a scraper to get rid of any leftover grease missed by the brush.
A good brush for stainless steel is one that is strong enough to scrub hard at it without breaking off. It should also have a scraper ready to remove extra gunks.
Wrapping Up
Grilling is all about good times, good friends, and great food. The starting of all this would be to ensure having an immaculate grill!
Investing in a quality grill brush is important if you want to make cleaning sessions short and effective.
To summarize, a good grill brush should have properly attached bristles or, better, no bristles at all. Apart from that, It should also have a good-sized, ergonomic handle and the ability to carry out 360 degrees of cleaning!
Lastly, remember that purchasing a good grill brush is only the start, and maintaining it is the key to making it last longer.
Which one of these from our best grill brush reviews was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Extra tip: Always make sure to check your grill for wires or bristles, before starting the grilling session, no matter how much you trust a grill brush.
