The 6 Best Basting Brushes of 2023, Tested and Approved

How We Tested

We sent these products to be tested in the home kitchen of our product tester. She spent weeks working with the basting brushes, grilling meat and marinating with sauces to thoroughly test their performance ability. She assessed the brushes' durability, shedding of bristles, how comfortable the brush was in the hand, ease of cleaning, and how well they held and brushed liquid. Afterward, she rated each brush on its design, liquid retention, heat resistance, and overall value.

Other Options We Considered

Carlisle Sparta Galaxy Nylon Pastry Brush: The nylon bristles on this basting brush are soft and flexible enough to not damage delicate pastries while providing easy, full coverage of the surfaces of any baked good. However, since it is a pastry brush, it fell short while testing on the grill. The short handle meant it was less safe when reaching over the grill and the nylon bristles are not designed for high-heat use. While it could be used on the grill if there was no other choice, save this one for egg-washing pastries.

What to Look for in Basting Brushes

Uses

Before you purchase one, think about how you would use it. Are you looking for a multitasking brush? Or do you primarily use brushes for marinades on meat? Maybe you're a baker, and so you're looking for something that's more geared toward pastry needs. Do you want something sturdy that you're not going to have to replace? Is it a regular item in your cooking and baking rotation, and so therefore something you'll want to invest a little more in, or will it be buried in your drawer until you look for it (in which case, buy a colorful one!)

Cleaning

This kind of item can get messy, fast. It's so easy for sticky marinades with finely chopped herbs or garlic to get trapped in between the bristles, or not come completely clean. Sometimes, brushes get stained with the color of whatever they're used for. One that can come completely clean, easily, is ideal; if you can put it in the dishwasher, that's an even better guarantee that it'll come out looking good as new. Keep in mind that not all designs are dishwasher safe, so weigh the pros and cons based on your needs.

Materials

A brush is only as good as its materials and the bristles are probably the most important part of the brush. You want ones that are pliable enough so that you can get even coverage, but close enough together that they don't leave a trail of unbrushed food that you have to keep reapplying with a brush. You'll also want to make sure that bristles aren't going to damage delicate baked goods, or that they are strong enough to hold up to thick marinades or sauces for meat; people tend to like silicone brushes for the latter because they tend to be thick. Natural bristles (such as boar) are used frequently by professionals, and nylon can offer some pliability, too. You'll want to look for boar or nylon bristles

FAQs

What's the difference between a basting brush and a pastry brush?

A basting brush is used for meats, poultry, and vegetables that are being roasted or grilled or otherwise cooked with dry heat, typically. Pastry brushes are usually only used on pastries and baked goods. Often, although not always, the bristles on a pastry brush are more delicate and those on a basting brush tend to be sturdier. But the simplest answer is that the difference between these two is pretty straightforward: you keep two separate ones for two separate purposes—one for sweet, the other for savory—and this way the flavors don't commingle. The terms are often used interchangeably, based on use.

How do you care for a basting brush?

The best way to take care of your brushes is to wash them right after using them. Run them under hot water and, if they're able to, put them in the dishwasher. Otherwise, a good old-fashioned hand washing works. Clean your brush gently with a little bit of dish detergent—whether it's used for pastry or basting purposes.

What can I use instead of a basting brush?

In a pinch, you can use a clean paintbrush that you've never used before. Sometimes people also use their clean fingers, because they can be more precise—especially if you're dabbing a tiny corner of, say, a piece of pastry or dough that needs to be filled and sealed.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Karen Resta is a writer specializing in food culture and history, cooking, pastries, and restaurants. She's also a former pastry chef and has traveled to Budapest, Kyiv, and Paris during their Fashion Weeks as a photographer and writer, always finding the best authentic pastries along the way. She now spends a lot of her free time baking at home and recommends quality within your given budget. Having the right tools available and knowing how to use them well (it can take practice, like anything else) makes all the difference, and she curated this list with that in mind.

Donna Currie, who updated this article, is a freelance food writer who specializes in product reviews and recipes. Her work has appeared on Serious Eats, Fine Cooking, and her own recipe blog, Cookistry.com. She's also the author of "Make Ahead Bread," a cookbook meant to simplify the bread-baking process.