Best Grill Brush? I Tested Grill Rescue, BBQ Daddy, Weber, OXO, and GRILLART

You want a grill brush that cleans fast and thoroughly, is easy to use and clean, doesn’t break, and, most importantly, is safe.

But with so many options out there, it’s hard to know which one is truly the best.

To find out, I bought six of the most popular grill brushes on the market, including Grill Rescue, BBQ Daddy, Weber, OXO, and GRILLART. After using each one for several weeks, I put them through a series of controlled tests.

In this review of the best grill brushes, I quickly break down my test results. I’ll show you which ones are worth buying—and why some that claim to be safer are the ones you should avoid. I’ll start with the most affordable and end with the most expensive.

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Use the links below to navigate the review:

• Test Methods
• Weber
• GRILLART Bristle
• OXO Good Grips Cold-Cleaning
• GRILLART Coil
• BBQ Daddy
• Grill Rescue
• Bottom Line: Which Grill Brush Is the Best?

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Test Methods

To compare these grill brushes in a controlled and consistent way, I designed a series of real-world performance and durability tests. Each brush was evaluated using the same set of conditions, and I measured how well it handled specific tasks and design challenges.

Cleaning Performance:
I started by coating the grill grates with a mix of mozzarella cheese, chopped hot dogs, chicken skin, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, and oil. This created a thick layer of sticky, greasy residue. I cooked the mixture until it burned into the grates, let it sit for 24 hours, then cleaned a different section of the grill with each brush. This showed how quickly and effectively each one removed stubborn, baked-on messes.

Underside Cleaning:
I flipped the grates over and tested how well each brush could clean the underside, which hadn’t been cleaned in months and had significant buildup. This helped reveal which brushes could reach and clean neglected areas.

Bristle and Sponge Durability:
To see if bristles would fall out or sponges would tear, I scrubbed each brush back and forth 100 times using heavy pressure. I placed a sheet pan beneath the grates to catch any loose bristles or fragments that broke off.

Drop Test:
I dropped each brush six times—three times on the head and three on the handle—from waist height onto a hard surface. This simulated typical accidents and helped assess how well each brush could handle impact without breaking or deforming.

Ease of Cleaning the Brush:
After use, I cleaned each brush multiple times to see how difficult it was to remove grease, food particles, and buildup. Some were easy to rinse and scrub, while others trapped residue deep in the bristles or mesh.

Design and Usability Factors:
Throughout testing, I also evaluated key design elements that affect usability. That included handle length, brush width, reach, scraper design, and how much water each brush could hold for steam cleaning. These small details make a big difference in how easy and effective a brush is to use.

Weber 12″ Three-Sided Grill Brush

The Weber Three-Sided Grill Brush is the most affordable model I tested at just $12. It has earned top ratings for years, including being named a favorite by America’s Test Kitchen and a runner-up by Serious Eats. This is a bristle-style brush with a plastic handle and a triangular stainless steel head.

The brush head is 7 inches wide, the widest of any brush I tested, which helps cover more surface area in fewer passes. But the tradeoff is its short overall length (12 inches) and 7-inch handle. That short handle increases the burn risk when cleaning a hot grill, especially when reaching toward the back of the grates.

In terms of performance, it did a great job on the top of the grates. The angled corners make it easy to rotate and get between the bars for more precise cleaning. Because there’s no scraper, the bristles can reach the back edge of the grill. Every other brush I tested stopped about 1 inch short due to the scraper hitting the rear wall.

It wasn’t perfect. In my grease residue test, I let the grill cool and swiped my finger across the cleaned grate. The Weber removed most visible debris but left behind a thin, greasy film. It was less than some, but more than top performers like BBQ Daddy and Grill Rescue.

Durability was solid. After 100 heavy-pressure scrubs, the bristles showed no damage. I also dropped the brush six times (three on the head and three on the handle). The only visible damage was a minor scuff on the plastic.

Cleaning the brush itself was difficult. The sharp bristles trap grease and need a second bristle brush and running water to clean. It cannot be scrubbed with a sponge and is not dishwasher safe.

Safety is the biggest concern with this type of brush. Stainless steel bristles can snap off, stick to grill grates, and end up in food. According to the American College of Surgeons, about 130 people go to the ER every year in the U.S. after ingesting loose bristles. Some cases require surgery. It’s rare, but the risk is serious.

GRILLART Bristle Grill Brush

This GRILLART brush is one of the most popular options on Amazon and was named the Best Overall by Serious Eats. It features a long 17.25-inch body with a 10.75-inch handle and a 2.75-inch-wide brush head made of stiff stainless steel bristles. Unlike the Weber, it includes a built-in metal scraper for tackling tougher messes.

In my cleaning tests, it performed well. The stiff bristles had no trouble scraping away baked-on grease from the top of the grates. When turned sideways, the narrow head allowed the bristles to wedge between the grate bars for effective back-and-forth scrubbing. The scraper helped dislodge thicker, crusted-on debris, especially on the underside of the grates.

The tradeoff is that the smaller brush head doesn’t cover as much surface area per stroke. It took longer to clean the full grill than wider brushes like Weber or GRILLART Coil.

Durability was solid. After 100 scrubs, the brush showed no structural damage, and the bristles stayed intact. When dropped on both the head and handle three times each, the only damage was minor scuffing on the scraper and the end of the handle.

Cleaning the brush was a challenge. The bristles are sharp and dense, so grease gets lodged deep and doesn’t rinse off easily. You’ll need a separate bristle brush to clean it, since a sponge won’t survive contact with the wire tips. Like all metal bristle brushes, it’s not dishwasher safe.

Even though I didn’t lose any bristles during testing, the risk is still there. Metal bristles can break off, stick to the grill, and end up in food. That’s a potential safety issue with every wire brush, regardless of brand.

OXO Good Grips Cold-Cleaning Grill Brush

The OXO grill brush is designed specifically for cold cleaning and was recently named the Best Cold-Cleaning Grill Brush by Serious Eats. It has a long 18.25-inch body, a 13.75-inch soft-grip handle, and a 3-inch-wide brush head made of dense nylon bristles. A built-in scraper adds extra utility for scraping hardened residue.

This brush is only safe to use on a completely cool grill, which limits its effectiveness. Because you’re cleaning after the grease has cooled and solidified, the bristles need to do more heavy lifting. In my tests, it did an okay job on the top of the grates, and the flexible nylon bristles could reach between bars.

But they weren’t stiff or sharp enough to dislodge tough, baked-on residue. Even with firm pressure, the brush left a significant amount of grime between the grates, and I had to switch to a different brush to finish the job.

It also performed poorly in the grease residue test. After swiping the cleaned grate with my finger, I found a clear film of leftover grease.

Durability was decent. I dropped the brush on both the head and handle three times each. The replaceable head popped off on every drop, but it reattached easily and showed no signs of damage. The nylon bristles stayed intact throughout testing. If they wear down over time, you can buy replacement heads in a two-pack for around the cost of a new brush.

Cleaning the brush itself was a hassle. Grease and food particles get deeply embedded in the nylon bristles. Even after scrubbing with a second brush, it was difficult to remove everything completely.

The big upside is safety. There are no sharp metal bristles, so there’s no risk of stray wires ending up in your food. But the tradeoff is performance. You gain peace of mind but lose a lot of cleaning power, especially for stuck-on messes.

GRILLART Coil Grill Brush

This version of the GRILLART brush uses stainless steel coils instead of traditional wire bristles. It has a long 16-inch body, a 9.75-inch handle that unscrews for easier storage, and a 6-inch-wide brush head—one of the widest in the group, second only to the Weber. A built-in metal scraper includes grooves designed to fit between grate bars.

In my cleaning tests, it performed well on the top of the grates and delivered solid results between them. The rounded coils are meant to fit between standard-width grates; when they do, you can scrub back and forth to dislodge debris. If your grill grates are unusually narrow or wide, the coils may not sit properly and could be less effective.

This brush isn’t as aggressive as metal-bristle models. I had to apply more pressure to get similar results, especially on baked-on messes. Dipping the brush in water before scrubbing helped produce a bit of steam, which made it slightly easier to loosen grease, but it still required more effort than the bristle brushes.

Durability was good. The brush held up after 100 scrubs with no visible damage and survived six drops without issues. The coils stayed intact, but they can bend or break over time with heavy use. It’s important to inspect the brush regularly and replace it if the coils start to deform.

Cleaning the brush was easy. Since there are no sharp bristles, I could rinse the coils and scrub them with a sponge without damaging it or my hands.

BBQ Daddy Grill Brush

The BBQ Daddy is marketed as a safer alternative to traditional wire bristle brushes. Instead of bristles or coils, it uses a sponge wrapped in a fabric the company describes as “ArmorTec steel mesh with interwoven stainless steel fiber.” That description isn’t very transparent. I contacted the company for clarification and received a response that simply repeated the same phrase—no technical breakdown or material details.

On close inspection, you can see fine metal strands woven into the fabric. Initially, they feel smooth and don’t poke like traditional bristles. But after a few weeks of use and a round of durability testing, some of those metal strands started to unravel and poke through the surface. I was able to grab one with my finger and pull it loose. It’s not as stiff or needle-like as a standard bristle, but it’s still metal and sharp.

This brush is designed for steam cleaning. You dip it in water and scrub while the grill is hot. The steam helps loosen grease and soften food bits, and in my tests, it worked very well.

It required minimal effort and left behind the least amount of greasy residue of any brush I tested. I also liked the ergonomic handle and the rotating knob that lets you apply extra pressure when using the scraper.

Between the grates is where it struggled. The sponge is too bulky to wedge between bars, and the scraper wasn’t much help in tighter areas. For fine-detail cleaning, it fell short.

Durability was another concern. When I dropped it from waist height, the metal scraper bent significantly. It was the most damaged brush in my drop tests.

Cleaning the brush is straightforward. The head detaches and can go in the dishwasher or be rinsed by hand. But you need to be careful when squeezing out the sponge, because loose metal strands can poke your fingers.

The BBQ Daddy clearly tries to present itself as a safer option, and it does avoid the traditional risks of detached wire bristles. But it still contains metal, which can start to break down under stress.

Grill Rescue Grill Brush

Grill Rescue is the most expensive brush I tested and, like BBQ Daddy, it’s marketed as a safer, bristle-free alternative. It has a long 15.25-inch body with a 10.5-inch handle and a replaceable cleaning head made from heat-resistant aramid fiber wrapped around a foam sponge. Aramid is the same material used in firefighter gear, so it’s built to withstand high temperatures.

This brush is meant to be dipped in water and used on a hot grill. In my tests, it did an excellent job cleaning the top of the grates. The steam, combined with the coarse fabric, removed grease quickly and with minimal effort.

Between the grates is where it fell short. The sponge is thick and can’t wedge between the bars, and the scraper has no grooves, so it’s not effective in tighter spaces.

Durability was one of its strongest features. It showed zero damage after being dropped on both the head and handle three times each. I also ran 100 aggressive scrubbing passes, and while the fabric was stained afterward, it didn’t tear or wear down.

Grill Rescue makes some bold claims — and not all of them hold up in practice.The company says the handle can survive being run over by a car. I tested that, and while the main handle stayed intact, the part that holds the sponge snapped in half.

Despite being labeled dishwasher safe, the brush didn’t come out fully clean after a cycle. I recommend hand washing it instead. The fabric is easy to rinse and scrub manually.

One frustrating design flaw is the lack of a hanging loop. The standard model doesn’t include one, and if you want a hook, you’ll need to pay extra for the Grill Rescue Pro or buy a separate accessory. Most other brushes include a hook or loop by default, so this felt like a cheap omission on an otherwise premium product.

Grill Rescue is a durable and effective option for cleaning the top of grates and offers a much safer alternative to metal bristle brushes. But its high price and limited versatility between grates prevent it from being a complete solution.

Bottom Line: Which Grill Brush Is the Best?

Now that you know the pros and cons of each grill brush, which one is the absolute best?

The Weber and GRILLART bristle brushes were the most effective from a cleaning standpoint. They removed grease and food from both the top and between the grates better than any other brush. But I don’t recommend using a metal bristle brush, even from a reputable brand. The chances of ingesting a stray bristle might be low, but the consequences are serious enough that it’s not worth the risk.

The OXO nylon brush and GRILLART coil brush are both safer options. They don’t contain sharp metal bristles but require more effort and don’t clean as thoroughly. You’re trading performance for peace of mind.

I really wanted to recommend the BBQ Daddy. I even did in a mini review last year. The steam cleaning function works well, it includes thoughtful features like a rotating knob and bottle opener, and it holds more water than the others. But after extended testing, including pulling loose metal strands from the mesh, I can’t recommend it in good conscience.

That leaves Grill Rescue as the best overall grill brush. It isn’t perfect. It struggles to clean between grates and doesn’t include a hanging loop. But if you want a safe, durable brush that still does a great job on the top of the grates, it’s the one I recommend. If you need something for between the bars, Grill Rescue sells a separate scraper attachment with grooved edges that fits into most grate designs.

If you want to read customer reviews or check current prices, you can find each brush on Amazon below:

• Weber
• GRILLART Bristle Grill Brush
• OXO Good Grips Cold-Cleaning Grill Brush
• GRILLART Coil Grill Brush
• BBQ Daddy Grill Brush
• Grill Rescue Grill Brush