Heads up on potential danger involving grill brushes

Honestly, it’s something most people don’t think about when grilling. Fire up the grill and start cooking.

And in New Jersey we grill all year round. Sure, winter can pose other problems with temperatures, but there are still people who make delicious meals over a fire.

But aside from the winter slowdown, our grills are doing well. Especially during the summer it should be.

Whether in the backyard or the park, nothing beats a juicy burger cooked right on the grill or grill. Perfect finish all the way.

But most of us would like to easily clean our grill before use. Mainly grid.

Take out the grill brush and clean the cooking area before placing the next ingredient. Don’t most of us think so?

But there are hidden dangers lurking in that brush. It’s not common, but it’s possible that one of his brush bristles will fall out and remain on the grill.

I’m sure most of you never thought that this could happen. I didn’t know either until it actually happened to someone.

Luckily, they found a small thread from the brush before eating the food. That’s a good thing, because that little bristle could have caused a lot of damage inside.

But how? How could ingesting such things harm us physically? Well, it has to do with how sharp those little bristles are.

This is especially true when using metal grill brushes. If you carefully touch the underside of your finger, it can puncture and bleed almost instantly.

When I first learned about this incident, I touched the back of the brush to see how sharp it was. Sure enough, I stabbed myself.

I’ve been grilling for years and never once thought of such a possibility. But now, when it’s time to clean the grate, it always bothers me.

Well, do I still use brushes? Yes, but very rare. Then meticulously check to make sure the grate is 100% clean before you start cooking.

If you think about it, those tiny, very sharp hairs can pierce your internal organs and pierce your body. And knowing that this substance has been detected in foods cooked on the grill makes me even more aware that such things can happen.

So, are there safer options? Are there brushes that are less dangerous if hairs come out here and there?

Maybe there is. Soft brushes that are easy to touch are also on sale, so you may just need to avoid sharp metal objects.

You can also use an easy-to-wipe scraper or spray cleaner. Other options may be used instead of cleaning the grill surface.

Again, I’m not saying don’t use a grill brush. Rather, be aware that the bristles can get caught in the grill and get into your food. Also, if your brushes are old, you can probably reduce the chances of something like this happening by replacing them.

Always be careful to inspect the cooking area before placing food for cooking. Although unlikely, a simple test can reduce the likelihood of hair entering your diet.

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 Sunday morning host Mike Brandt. All opinions expressed are his own.