Do NOT use wire brushes to clean your grill / smoker...

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Wow! That's pretty unnerving especially since we just had pizza for supper. I use a grill pad on my grates, sometimes on the grill I will preheat and clean with wadded up newspaper. You'd be surprised how well paper works.
 
This last week I BBQed a chicken breast for the wife unit and I, before serving it ....................you guessed it. I found a wire from the brush sticking straight up in the breast. It must have stuck to the grill when I cleaned it then transferred itself to the chicken. I'm both happy and terrified that I found it. Brushes are in the garbage. NEVER again.

Thanks for this thread.

Ron
 
I'd really like to know more about the brushes used. The one in the photo in the OP story looked more like a Harbor Freight welding brush than anything I've ever used on the grill.

Those of you who have had incidents at home… I presume you were using dedicated grill brushes?
 
The brush I had used that fell apart was from a "Big Box Store" BBQ specific, not welding application.

I now use the Stainless Steel "Brillo pad" style to clean the grill. Works great on the flat surface, but doesn't get into the slots.

What do you all use to get in between ?

Ron
 
I've found the weed burner works well on the ones for my electric box (yeah, I take them out first). if I were using the UDS I'd just drop the grates to the lowest rack setting, and stoke up the initial 'getting my coals' fire up as high as possible. a few minutes at 700F seared the grates clean and cleared off anything that might happen to have put itself on the walls.

I think, what I might do later on in the year is knock up a metal box to fit my grates into on one side, and the weed burner in the other, and that way I can give them a good torching for several minutes. actually might be good to have just in general. I wind up cleaning and reseasoning cast iron a lot... (I have other people living here that are hard on the pans) 

but in general, I find fire cleans a multitude of things... 
 
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I've taken to using my beater pocket knife to clean quickly between the grates, takes about a minute. I've learned to do it before the grill gets HOT! ;)

Ron
 
I've been using the Char Broil Cool Clean brush. It has nylon bristles instead of wire and they are red so if any get left behind they are easily seen. You clean your grates while they are cold. I found it actually works better when they grates are cold they char and junk breaks off the grates easier My grates are expanded steel so these work really well.

Been using them for a couple years now. I can add I've never seen a bristle come off.

 
The scrubber I have has a "U" shaped handle with two scrubbie pads on it . Warm up the grill (warm) and just rub, no kidding looks new in less than 10 seconds.

After about 4 BBQ hamburgers or 1 rack of ribs I clean between the bars with the beater pocket knife. I'll never use a brush again, and will give the scrubbie pads to my kids for Christmas presents along with the story of finding a wire from the old style brush in my food. Still scares me to think what could have happened.............no way your going to pass that sucker!

Any ideas about this type? I may try this style next.


Ron
 
 
The brush I had used that fell apart was from a "Big Box Store" BBQ specific, not welding application.

I now use the Stainless Steel "Brillo pad" style to clean the grill. Works great on the flat surface, but doesn't get into the slots.

What do you all use to get in between ?

Ron
I use a Scotch-Brite pad.
 
Seems there is a story like this at least once a year. I use a paper towel after the gril is hot. Works like a charm.

Note, I worked in kitchens for a long time and my hands seem to be used to the heat. Maybe not the best idea for everyone else. Lol
 
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