A friend of mine was released from the hospital today after 2 surgeries to remove a wire from her throat. It punctured her esophagus and thyroid and almost got her carotid artery. She had accidentally ingested it while eating some grilled food on Sunday. I’ve heard the warnings before but today was enough to make me act.
P.S. Took this photo after chucking brush into our big garbage bin. It was in a dark shed so I used my Iphone flash. I had no idea it would be such a an artsy photo!
by Flat-Tiger-8794
41 Comments
What did you get instead, I need to get rid of mine and all I’m seeing are those sponges and I don’t trust new fangled items
And so many people on here say, “ahhh it won’t happen to me!” And just keep scrolling. I ditched mine years ago after reading a story about a young child who experienced a very similar outcome as your friend. It’s not worth the risk when there are better cleaning options.
Grill Badger or knockoff version is what I use. Works well. The bristles wear from heat but I’m still on my first one from over a year ago. Has a scraper opposite the bristles.
https://grillbadger.com/
It works well on regular grates and GrillGrates.
Crown verity has a new brush for their stainless grills works well
I found some loose bristles on my grill before. Almost ended up in a burger. I haven’t used a wire brush since.
Now I just clean it with fire. After the cook I open the vents (or crank up the gas) and get it as hot as it will go. After 5-10 min (or when it stops smoking) I close the vents and let it cool off. The next time I cook I brush the grates with a nylon bristled brush (less than 30 seconds) and I light it up. It couldn’t be simpler or easier. Or safer.
I like a nice crumpled ball of foil for this job
You know what. I always think the same thing it won’t happen to me. I barbecue a lot and have kids around friends and family come over as well. This post made me decide to finally toss it. I hope your friend is OK.
Holy fuck I’m ditching mine now.
I just wipe the grates after using a wire brush.
All my grills/smokers except one have cast iron grates. One has stainless grates.
I still use and will continue to use wire brushes on my cast iron grates. With cast iron you need to keep them oiled. I heat them up, scrub them down, then wipe it down with oil. The wipe down with oil is my thorough check before cooking. It’s a non-issue if you check your grates.
For my stainless grate I bought a Scrub Daddy steaming brush. Hands down the best brush for stainless. No bristles, and cleans the grates extremely well and easily.
Is steel wool ok to use?
Really feel bad about your friend.
Most likely will get downvoted for saying this…
There is nothing wrong with using a wire brush for cleaning the grates.
The real issue is to make sure the grates are really clean and reseasoned after using any cleaning tool.
Please don’t use any plastic/nylon products on a hot grate!
All of these stories have taught me one thing. Other people’s grill cleaning methods are sus AF. The wire brush is not supposed to be the beginning, and the end of the process.
What’s the alternative
One of those Kona brushes is what I use. I think those are ok?
I have a Broil King Keg grill and use the multi-tool to scrape the grill. Does the job well because the cast iron grill has a triangular shaped grills that the tool wedges nicely into.
I saw some commercial a few weeks ago for the Giddy Up grill brush. I’m intrigued, but not sure how good it works.
Agreed.
I understand at the same time I haven’t decided to toss it.
My procedure that I always preheat the grill, then I brush it clean.
I want my cooking surface to be clean as possible and I always do a visually check before I put anything on it.
I didn’t even know this was an issue until I was shopping for one and my wife mentioned she almost ate one at a BBQ a few years ago from a party we went to.
It’s a very serious issue that can happen to anyone
I use a wooden paddle and two coconut bristle brushes, years ago when my Mom was working in an Ear, Nose, Throat Clinic an old neighbor of ours came in and they had bbq the night before and she swallowed a metal bristle and it was stuck in her throat, thankfully just irritated her for a few days and no bad damage but ever since hearing that story about them I immediately looked into metal brush alternatives, glad you’ve done the same
I was gifted this one, made with the help of Destin from Smarter Every Day. It works phenomenally well on my grill.
https://www.jjgeorgestore.com/the-smarter-scrubber/?srsltid=AfmBOophJCB8Rl08cB7t8GHDRVwBOkwUCr30-2D8yp7SO0RDx8LqlNef
I make them out of hardwood. Once you burn in the grooves they work maybe 75% as good as a wire brush lol.
I had a metal splinter in my lip. It’s real
Just to be clear, the coiled wire brushes are fine, right? No sharps there. I have one of those bamboo bristle brushes too and it does great.
Yeesh thanks for the PSA. Mine is some kind of hard nylon or something. Also considered getting the grill hero sponge thing
Wet paper towels. That’s all you need.
My friend got a wire in his throat while eating BBQ. Fortunately, it was not as dire a situation.
In Argentina, we set the charcoal alight under the grill, when it’s nice and hot we grab a handful of newspaper and scrape the grill with that. Works perfectly and any residual paper just gets burnt away.
Ive been using this really tough chain mail scrubber I found on amazon. I usually do it cold, but if I forget and the grills already hot, I’ll throw on one of my heat resistant gloves and go to work. Seems to work well.
I use a mesquite stick that is about 14” long, handle side is 1” thick and tapers to about 3/4”. Cut a small V shape on the end of the 3/4” side, usually after 2-3 sessions it fits itself to the grates and cleans perfectly.
Smart move!
Everything is getting made cheaper and shittier. The chances of it happening increases for everyone over time using these things.
Ball of tinfoil works great
Grill Daddy is a game changer.
Got rid of mine. I use fire to clean and it seems to be working.
Never had one, I kind of clean the grill but if there are some crusts I can’t get out, I don’t stress, I just put it in high fire and it should incinerate any pathogens, becoming only carbon.
I wish I still had the photo, but one day I was deep cleaning my grill and using one of those blue sponges… thing was *covered* in metal bristles.
I think I was lucky enough that they had all fallen between the grates, but still.
I threw them away and havent used metal brushes since.
I’ve got a red nylon brush from Lowe’s. Works when the grates are cold, and the red is bright enough to see if it falls in my food
I use this one. I wonder if it’s safer
grillart parrilla cepillo para… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F731D86?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
U gotta clean your grill, and throw your brush after a couple years. I also spray my grill with oil after I brush and wipe wish a shop towel just to make sure there is no brush debris
Is a steel wool brush ok?
They have a chain one sat Costco right now