Pros:
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100% natural bristles made from plant fiber
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Eco-friendly wooden handle
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Metal scraper on back
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Heat-resistant
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Long bristles reach interior of grate
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Works both hot and cold
Cons:
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Not suitable for use over open flames
Whether you’re barbecuing or grilling, the Grillbadger grill brush is our top pick in terms of bristle brushes. Unlike metal grill brushes, this long-bristled brush has 100% natural bristles made from plant fibers. Another eco-friendly aspect we love is the handsome wooden handle.
This natural brush works well on hot grills and cold grills, especially thanks to the handy metal scraper on the back of the brush. Because the bristles are plant material rather than plastic or nylon, they won’t melt or warp on a hot grill grate. The wooden handle does make it dangerous to use over an open flame. That said, it easily cleans a hot grill provided there’s no flame present.
The comfortable wood handle also has a fabric tie at the end for storage. While the handle is a little long, that’s actually an advantage if you use it on a hot grill. The long handle and long bristle combo prevents burns while giving enough clearance to reach the sides of the grates and deep into crevices.
What to Look for When Buying a Grill Brush
When it comes to choosing the best grill brush to clean your grills, there are a few considerations. The first is whether you’ll be cleaning grill grates on a hot grill directly after barbecuing, or on a cold grill prior to putting on your proteins. “Mesh brushes work better than the nylon on cold grills,” says product tester Sheri Kaz, who spearheaded testing for this piece.
According to the testing team, the best tool to reach for when there’s a big mess on your hands is a steam brush. “The Steam brushes were a delight to use on hot grills. Like magic,” says Sheri. “Finding a tool that works with hot grills makes clean-up much faster and easier. Having a scraper bar with grooved edges is a nice bonus,” she adds.
Another consideration is cleanup—not the grill, but the brush itself. “Overall, it was harder to get bristle brushes clean, since the sticky stuff had more surfaces to cling to,” warns Sheri.
Prep Kitchen Manager Catherine tends to avoid brushes with wire bristles, due to an uptick in reports of loose bristles making their way into food. In our tests, we checked carefully for any evidence of stray bristles or broken bits, and disqualified any brushes that shed onto the grill. In order to avoid the dangers of wire grill brushes, always inspect your grill prior to adding proteins to ensure that your family stays safe.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our Product Testing Team has a combined decade of experience with testing and evaluating products. We conducted all tests in our Product Testing Lab under controlled conditions in order to best rate each brush’s performance.
For this piece we also consulted grilling expert Catherine Ward. A lifelong foodie, Catherine Ward heads up the Taste of Home  prep kitchen. She also lends her expertise for articles about cooking and baking techniques, as well as kitchen tools. Catherine has worked in the hospitality industry for most of her career, catering and teaching cooking classes. She is happiest when she’s cooking for a table full of friends and family.
How We Found the Best Grill Brushes
Taste of Home
In our hunt for the best grill brush, we considered brushes containing a range of different materials, from coiling meshes to scrapers to stiff bristles and spongey scrubbers. Our Product Testing Team tested all heat-friendly brushes against a common DIY grill-cleaning method: a cross-section of an onion rubbed over grill grates, which served as our control.
Overall, we spent an estimated 30 hours on this project, including researching, sourcing, intaking and testing the products. In our research and hands-on tests, we collected about 300 data points under these testing categories:
Packaging
We noted anything interesting or poor quality when it comes to the packaging, along with any extras included.
Construction and Appearance
We noted materials used in both the handle and the head. For the handle, we also looked at how comfortable and ergonomic it is during extended use. We also made a note of the surface area of the head, along with the brush’s durability and any extra features (including hanging hooks or other noteworthy additions).
Performance
Taste of Home
We tested each of the best grill brush contestants on a propane grill after grilling up steaks and barbecue ribs (for the hot grill brushes) and barbecue chicken (for the cold grill brushes), using each according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The Testing Team performed the hot tests just after the food came off the grill. For the cold tests, we waited about three days after cooking to scrape and scrub away any gunk. We noted whether each brush was heat safe and any surfaces not compatible with the brush.
From there, the team took note of how clean the grates were first after 30 seconds and then after one minute of cleaning. We noted the amount of elbow grease required on a scale of 1-5 and any broken or squished bristles. Comparing the results of the “onion trick,” the Testing Team then determined whether the brush eliminated debris better or worse than the cut onion.
Maintenance
Taste of Home
We looked at whether each brush requires upkeep, including washing or replacing the head. We then rated this upkeep on a difficulty scale of 1-5.
Value
After scoring the rest of the categories, we determined whether each pick was worth the price, keeping in mind features, performance, pros and cons.
FAQ
Is the Rescue Brush worth it?
After testing the Grill Rescue Brush against 11 competitors, our Product Testing Team notes that the spongy interior made this steam brush very effective—especially when compared to similar brushes like the Cuisinart steam brush.
“It’s by far my favorite tool to get the job done quickly with very little effort,” says product tester Sheri Kaz, noting that it’s “worth every penny!”
Should you brush your grill hot or cold?
Brushing a grill hot or cold depends on the type of brush you use and how filthy your grill is, according to Catherine. Some brushes are not heat safe, while others require steam to properly clear any debris. For frequent cleanings, we recommend snagging a brush that works both hot or cold. Deeper cleanings are more effective with the help of steam.
“Some brushes work on a hot or warm grill and others are used after the grill has cooled. For use on a warm grill, a long, sturdy handle is a must to prevent burns,” says Catherine. “For a deeper clean, some grill brushes are soaked in water, then used on hot grates to steam off grease. This is especially helpful after grilling a fatty protein,” she adds.
What is the best material to clean a grill with?
Catherine notes that whether warm or cool, a stiff brush with nylon or natural bristles quickly removes charred bits from the grate surface. It also loosens anything left in between the grates. If the brush has a blade on end that loosens stubborn stuck on pieces, even better.
Those who prefer to clean a grill without wire brushes have options like the Scrub Daddy brush, which uses a mesh scouring pad rather than wire bristles.