Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016) • Hacker News Board

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#131

Post by fencepost » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:16 PM UTC

gumby wrote: post #22

mr-roboto wrote: post #7

So what are some alternatives?

Seriously you can clean them the same way you clean any other greasy cooking utensil. Those green plastic scrubbers (like scotch guard) work fine. I have a small bbq and I just take the grills off and put them in the dishwasher! That has a non-stick coating so I wouldn’t want to use a wire brush anyway. The large bbq just gets a hand wash.

If they're what I'm thinking of the green ones will score stainless steel, so consider testing first. The blue non scratching ones may not be quite as effective, but are a lot less dangerous to your pots, pans and other kitchen equipment.

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#132

Post by JohnDotAwesome » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:17 PM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #127

Serious question: how do I clean my grill instead?

I've always used aluminum foil. Just wad it up and scrub

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#133

Post by evanmarshall » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:18 PM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #127

Serious question: how do I clean my grill instead?

Steel wool works pretty well.

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#134

Post by Moru » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:19 PM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #127

Serious question: how do I clean my grill instead?

You heat up the grill real hot and then you use it normally. Heat kills most of the nasty stuff. Real men dont clean grills, or so I hear.

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#135

Post by seymour333 » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:19 PM UTC

intrasight wrote: post #100

I went to buy a BBQ brush last year and all they had were metal bristle brushes. I was surprised given all the bad publicity about this. Needless to say, I didn't buy a brush that day. Any recommendations for a good non-metal brush?

I bought one of these a year ago and it seems to do a pretty good job: https://grillbadger.com/

The bristles are a lot bigger than steel bristles, so if one did come off it would presumably be easier to notice in your food and likely less damaging than the stainless steel needles that come off of metal bristle brushes.

This one looks interesting as well: https://www.konabbqstore.com/products/safe-clean-grill-brush...

I also really like this idea: http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-Bamboo-Skewer-BBQ-Brus...

But you would probably have to wear an oven mitt if you wanted to clean a really hot grill

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#136

Post by conductr » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:30 PM UTC

striking wrote: post #63

wyattpeak wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say products that are only safe if used properly are unsafe products. Being safe is a perfectly good strategy for an individual, but it's asking for trouble on a societal level.

So do you think Home Depot should close down? They sell hammers.

As an aside on the BBQ brushes & Home Depot. This seems like a great consumer education opportunity that could build some goodwill. Surely HD, or at least the HD merchandising team, is aware of this issue.

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#137

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:30 PM UTC

davidsawyer wrote: post #95

snissn wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes they should bake and throw away two waffles to be extra sure that they get all of the bristles

"Just another put another if statement in there, you know, just in case." -Anonymous

[deleted]

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#138

Post by CodeWriter23 » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:32 PM UTC

lr4444lr wrote: post #27

Steel wool is safer, no doubt, but this shouldn't really be anything more than a freak occurrence if you clean a grill properly. The wire brush is just the first step to remove the coarse stuff. Soap, water, and some kind of fine abrasive pad or scrubbing cleaner should remove these barbs. I guess at some restaurants, they're more concerned about speed and don't take the care...

Pretty sure steel wool will have the same issue as the steel brush.

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#139

Post by jim_d » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:33 PM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #127

Serious question: how do I clean my grill instead?

I was worried about this as well and found a nice product called CharGon that I've been using since last May, no bristles and it makes short work of cleaning the grill:

https://www.amazon.com/CharGon-PATENTED-PERFORMANCE-CLEANING...

I am not affiliated with the company at all, just like the product and know it's safe

Re: Surgeons urge people to throw out bristle BBQ brushes (2016)

#140

Post by CodeWriter23 » Thu, Mar 29, 2018, 3:34 PM UTC

koolba wrote: post #68

woliveirajr wrote: post #58

The easiest way to clean it is: 1. Let the grill get hot, simple by waiting some minutes with the charcoal on fire 2. Rub with something to clean old grit, with paper, half of an onion, piece of fat from some meat and any sponge slightly wet being good.

I think you mixed up the order of step 2. The piece of fat should be at the end to lubricate the cooking service. Wetting it again after would be counter productive. Also I don’t recommend a regular sponge for the water cleansing step due to the materials involved not necessarily be heat safe. Soaked paper towels work great.

I would not use paper towels on the same basis you choose not to use a sponge.