Best Grill Brushes 2024: Weber, Grill Rescue, BBQ Daddy & More Reviewed

Choosing the right grill brush can be crucial for maintaining your grill's cleanliness and ensuring food safety. This review dives deep into seven popular grill brushes – Weber, Grill Art (both bristle and coil versions), OXO, Barbecq Daddy, and Grill Rescue – putting them to the test to determine their cleaning power, durability, and most importantly, safety. We subjected each brush to rigorous scrubbing, drop tests, and real-world grilling scenarios to assess their performance against baked-on grime and stubborn residue. Our comprehensive analysis considers factors such as bristle type, handle length, built-in scrapers, and overall ease of use.This detailed review helps you weigh the pros and cons of each brush, considering factors like cleaning effectiveness, durability, and the very real risk of loose bristles contaminating your food. We'll explore the budget-friendly options, the high-performance contenders, and the safer alternatives, ultimately guiding you towards the best grill brush for your needs in 2024. Whether you prioritize cleaning power, safety, or a combination of both, this review will help you make an informed decision and keep your grill sparkling clean.

Pros And Cons

OXO Grill Brush
  • Long handle
  • Soft, grippy handle
  • Built-in scraper
  • Replaceable head
  • Only for cool grills
  • Nylon bristles struggle with stuck-on residue
  • Leaves behind significant grime
  • Leaves a greasy film
  • Replaceable head pops off easily when dropped
  • Difficult to clean
Barbecq Daddy
  • Great job cleaning with minimal effort
  • Leaves least amount of greasy residue
  • Large handle and flippable knob
  • Easy to clean (dishwasher or hand wash)
  • Struggles between grates
  • Scraper not very helpful in tight areas
  • Scraper bent significantly in drop test
  • Metal strands can unravel and poke out
  • Loose metal strands can poke you when squeezing the sponge
Weber Three-sided Grill Brush
  • Most affordable
  • Wide brush head (7 in)
  • Angled corners make it easy to get between grates
  • Bristles reach back edge of grill
  • Brush head held up well in durability tests
  • Shortest handle
  • No scraper
  • Leaves a light greasy film
  • Requires another brush to clean
  • Safety risk of wire bristles breaking off
Grill Rescue
  • Long handle
  • Replaceable cleaning head
  • Great job cleaning top of grates
  • Excellent durability
  • Safer than bristle brushes
  • Struggles between grates
  • Scraper doesn't have grooves
  • Handle part holding sponge snapped in drop test
  • Not fully clean after dishwasher cycle
  • Doesn't come with a hanging loop (standard model)

Read more: 10 Best Commercial Charcoal Grills: A Buyer's Guide

Weber Three-Sided Grill Brush: Affordable but Risky

The Weber three-sided brush, a long-time favorite, is the most budget-friendly option. Its triangular head and wide 7-inch design allow for efficient cleaning of both the top and sides of grates. However, the short handle requires extra caution when cleaning hot grills, and the lack of a scraper makes removing stubborn grime challenging.

Close-up of the Weber three-sided grill brush
Close-up of the Weber three-sided grill brush

While it effectively removed most residue, a light greasy film remained. The brush head showed excellent durability during testing, withstanding 100 scrubs and multiple drops. However, the biggest drawback is the inherent risk of wire bristles breaking off and contaminating food.

Testing the Weber brush's durability
Testing the Weber brush's durability

Grill Art Brush: Solid Performance with a Built-in Scraper

The Grill Art brush boasts a longer handle and a built-in scraper. Its stiff bristles effectively tackled baked-on grime, and the scraper aided in removing stubborn bits. Although the narrow head requires more passes for complete cleaning, its overall performance was commendable.

The Grill Art brush with its long handle
The Grill Art brush with its long handle

The brush demonstrated impressive durability, with no bristle loss or significant damage after rigorous testing. However, like all metal bristle brushes, it carries the risk of bristle breakage and food contamination.

Testing the Grill Art brush's cleaning ability
Testing the Grill Art brush's cleaning ability

OXO Good Grips Nylon Bristle Brush: Safe but Less Effective

The OXO brush, designed for cool grills, uses nylon bristles and a built-in scraper. Its comfortable grip and long handle make it user-friendly. However, the less-stiff bristles struggled to remove baked-on grime effectively, leaving behind residue and a greasy film.

The OXO Good Grips Nylon Bristle Brush
The OXO Good Grips Nylon Bristle Brush

While durable, the replaceable head did detach during drop tests. Although replacement heads are available, the cleaning power is notably inferior to metal bristle options. The brush's deep bristles make thorough cleaning challenging.

Testing the OXO brush's cleaning ability on a cool grill
Testing the OXO brush's cleaning ability on a cool grill

Grill Art Coil Brush: A Middle Ground

The Grill Art coil brush offers a safer alternative to traditional bristles. Its wide 6-inch head and built-in scraper allow for efficient cleaning. The rounded coils were designed to fit between most grates effectively.

The Grill Art coil brush
The Grill Art coil brush

However, its cleaning power is less aggressive than metal bristle brushes, requiring more pressure. While durable in testing, the coils may bend or break over time. Cleaning the brush itself is straightforward.

Testing the Grill Art coil brush's cleaning ability
Testing the Grill Art coil brush's cleaning ability

Barbecq Daddy: Questionable Safety and Durability

The Barbecq Daddy, marketed as a safer alternative, uses a sponge wrapped in steel mesh. While initially appearing safe, metal strands unraveled during testing, posing a potential safety risk. The cleaning performance was excellent, with minimal greasy residue left behind.

The Barbecq Daddy grill brush
The Barbecq Daddy grill brush

However, the scraper bent significantly during drop tests, and the loose metal strands were a concern. The brush head is easily cleaned, but caution is needed when squeezing the sponge.

Metal strands unraveling from the Barbecq Daddy brush
Metal strands unraveling from the Barbecq Daddy brush

Grill Rescue: The Safest and Most Durable (But Pricey)

The Grill Rescue brush, the most expensive, uses heat-resistant aramid fiber and a sponge. It excelled at cleaning the top of grates and demonstrated exceptional durability, withstanding rigorous testing without damage. The cleaning action with steam is very effective.

The Grill Rescue grill brush
The Grill Rescue grill brush

However, cleaning between grates was less effective due to the thick sponge. While generally durable, the handle attachment point failed under extreme stress. The brush is labeled dishwasher safe, but handwashing is recommended. It lacks a hanging loop unless you purchase the more expensive Grill Rescue Pro.

Grill Rescue cleaning the top of grates
Grill Rescue cleaning the top of grates

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Grill Brush

While the Weber and Grill Art bristle brushes offered superior cleaning, the risk of wire bristle ingestion outweighs the benefits. The OXO nylon brush and Grill Art coil brush are safer, though less effective. The Barbecq Daddy's safety concerns and durability issues make it a poor choice.

Ultimately, the Grill Rescue is the best overall, offering the safest and most durable cleaning experience. While more expensive and less effective between grates, its safety features and performance make it the top recommendation. Consider purchasing the optional scraper attachment to improve cleaning between grates.