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

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

#161

Post by dragonwriter »

jagger27 wrote: post #158
CodeWriter23 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

From personal experience as a dishwasher, old steel wool tends to lose little pieces as it gets more and more brittle. Pieces would get caught in the rivets where the pan handle attaches. I was yelled at more than once because of that—but how else do you clean a pan?

> I was yelled at more than once because of that—but how else do you clean a pan?

Steel chainmail is awesome for cast iron, and probably safe for anything steel wool is safe for. For pans with coating (enamel or nonstick) where that's not safe, soap, water, and sponge works (sponges have the same shedding problem as steel wool, but usually higher contrast and harder to miss and fail to rinse out when they do shed.)

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

#162

Post by foobarian »

overcast wrote: post #143

I switched to using a wooden scraper a couple years ago, when I first read this report. Works great! https://www.amazon.com/Great-Scrape-Woody-Paddle-Natural/dp/...

I use a steel spatula to scrape the obvious stuff off, but don't really bother cleaning a grill very thoroughly. It gets hot enough to burn off most of the funk and germs.

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

#163

Post by kevinmchugh »

SlugWithLux wrote: post #148

Does it make a difference how the wire brush is made? I know of two types, let me call one flat and the other wound. Flat is where wire bristles are inset into a flat head on a handle. Wound is were the bristles are held by wires twisting around (which often have a triangle head for BBQ brushes and are made the same as typical bottle brush). Are they equally bad?

if you're talking about these: https://www.buygrilldaddy.com/assets/images/TriBrush_other2%...

I think that's just as bad. Small enough to be easy to miss, only attached at one end. There's also this kind of wound one, where the wire is a heavier gauge, and is attached at two ends: https://smile.amazon.com/Clean-Grill-Brush-Bristle-Barbecue/...

those are, afaik safer, though I don't think anyone has studied the issue.

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

#164

Post by navinsylvester »

Robotbeat wrote: post #154

It's infuriating that articles about a problem like this don't spend just one single sentence on possible alternatives, even though the surgeons are begging. Fire the editor. Alternatives I've seen in this thread are a ball of wadded up aluminum foil, a wooden scraper, abrasive pads, and stiff plastic bristles (EDIT: and an onion). This proves once again that the HN comments section is often better than the article i…

> Fire the editor.

Seriously!.

Taking the word out to the public is his paramount duty and he did just the same.

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

#165

Post by pbhjpbhj »

simonbarker87 wrote: post #84

Just take the grill off the BBQ at the end once it has cooled and wrap it in wet newspaper, leave over night and wipe down the next day. Like new.

What is this "newspaper" of which you speak?

Seriously though, i only buy newspapers now when i need the paper for table coverings for craft activities and such.

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

#166

Post by dragonwriter »

grandpoobah wrote: post #26
pcunite wrote: post #9

These products need to be pulled from stores. Use a copper sponge with soap and water. Cleans the grill up great.

Yeah soap isn't really an option if you have a real barbeque with a well seasoned cast iron grill.

So, use steel chainmail just like for a cast-iron pan.

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

#167

Post by kevinmchugh »

VectorLock wrote: post #120

I've been using a small square of chainmail to clean my grill (and occasionally my cast iron pans) and follow it up with a damp paper towel It works well but is kind of a PITA compared to a wire brush.

those chainmail squares are often marketed for cleaning cast iron based on the canard that soap is bad for cast iron. I'd much rather use soap than steel. Steel's certainly gonna dig into the seasoning.

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

#168

Post by overcast »

zedpm wrote: post #151
overcast wrote: post #143

I switched to using a wooden scraper a couple years ago, when I first read this report. Works great! https://www.amazon.com/Great-Scrape-Woody-Paddle-Natural/dp/...

I have that scraper, and found that it really doesn't do a very good job. A balled up piece of aluminum foil works better than the wooden scrapers, in my experience. Unfortunately, the best results come from the bristle brushes.

Aluminum is just being wasteful honestly. Not sure how clean you're expecting, but this does a fine job at getting all the big chunks off (which is what you want). Heat will nuke the rest of it.

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

#169

Post by kevinmchugh »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #165
simonbarker87 wrote: post #84

Just take the grill off the BBQ at the end once it has cooled and wrap it in wet newspaper, leave over night and wipe down the next day. Like new.

What is this "newspaper" of which you speak? Seriously though, i only buy newspapers now when i need the paper for table coverings for craft activities and such.

newspaper is also very useful for chimney starters, the best way of starting a charcoal fire.

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

#170

Post by overcast »

foobarian wrote: post #162
overcast wrote: post #143

I switched to using a wooden scraper a couple years ago, when I first read this report. Works great! https://www.amazon.com/Great-Scrape-Woody-Paddle-Natural/dp/...

I use a steel spatula to scrape the obvious stuff off, but don't really bother cleaning a grill very thoroughly. It gets hot enough to burn off most of the funk and germs.

Spatula does the same thing, only problem is that you have to clean between grooves separately. Wood forms channels inline with your grill.
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