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When it comes to freshly baked pie crust’s signature flaky, golden-brown hues, there’s no substitute for a particular kitchen tool. The pastry brush is your best bet if you want to achieve a glossy finish, beautiful color, and sealed edges. The humble pastry brush, also known as a basting brush, has long been a staple in commercial kitchens.
Made from various materials, the traditional natural bristle variety preferred by professionals offers numerous benefits, including ensuring adequate liquid gathers to create a uniform egg wash and facilitating an even layer of nappage over fruit tarts.
Additionally, silicone, nylon, boar hair, and Teflon are available, as are small, angled, and round options with wooden, plastic, or metal handle—each with a distinct advantage.
The best pastry brushes are listed below.
Is a Pastry Brush Really Necessary?
At the very least, if you bake, you will require a pastry brush. If using a boar’s bristle brush, it should be kept separate from your barbecue tools and not allowed to soak up garlicky or other savory marinades.
Nothing beats a pastry brush for applying a skinny but even coat of something wet, gooey, or sticky—egg wash, cream, hot fruit glaze, melted butter, or even water. A good brush can safely navigate porous, flaky, crumbly, delicate, moist, or dry surfaces.
A good meeting holds a lot of goop but allows for precise placement without unsightly drips—or pooled drips that can impair the rise of a biscuit or layers of puff pastry. A good pastry brush is quick and efficient to work with and be as precise as you desire.
The 7 Best Pastry Brushes For Baking Perfect Pastries.
Best Silicone 
OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush
- Heat-resistant silicone
- Soft non-slip grip
- Patented center-hole bristles hold liquids
Best Natural 
OXO Good Grips Natural Pastry Brush
- Natural boar bristles
- Thick bristles hold more liquid
- Soft, comfortable non-slip grips
Best Nylon 
Carlisle 4039700 Sparta Wide Pastry Brush with Nylon Bristles
- Wide bristle head
- Lacquered hardwood handle
- Nylon ferrule and bristles
Best with Bamboo Handle 
KitchenAid Bamboo Pastry Brush
- Smoothly and evenly spreads
- Heat-resistant to 500°F
- Sustainable bamboo
Best for Basting 
OXO Good Grips Grilling Tools and Basting Brush
- High-heat resistant silicone bristles
- Patented bristle design hold
- Angled brush head
Best Rated 
RSVP International Silicone Basting Brush
- Soft silicone bristles
- Heat safe up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
- Dishwasher safe
Also Great 
WARMBUY Silicone Pastry Brushes
- Steel rod molded inside the handle
- All one piece design
- Dishwasher safe
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Silicone | OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush |
| Check Price |
| Best Natural | OXO Good Grips Natural Pastry Brush |
| Check Price |
| Best Nylon | Carlisle 4039700 Sparta Wide Pastry Brush with Nylon Bristles |
| Check Price |
| Best with Bamboo Handle | KitchenAid Bamboo Pastry Brush |
| Check Price |
| Best for Basting | OXO Good Grips Grilling Tools and Basting Brush |
| Check Price |
| Best Rated | RSVP International Silicone Basting Brush |
| Check Price |
| Also Great | WARMBUY Silicone Pastry Brushes |
| Check Price |
#1 - Best Silicone - OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting and Pastry Brush
Key Features
- Heat-resistant silicone
- Soft non-slip grip
- Angled brush head
- Efficient transfer liquids
- BPA free
- Dishwasher safe
- Oven Safe
The OXO Good Grips Silicone Pastry Brush enables you to create pastries on par with those found in bakeries. Heat-resistant silicone bristles are easy to clean because they will not retain odors, shred, or clump.
The design is superb; the bristles are angled, which facilitates the ergonomic distribution of the wash. The patented center-hole bristles have a gap in the center that collects liquids for easy egg washes and syrups.
The tapered shape of the outer bristles enables effortless brushing of melted butter—even over thin and delicate dough.
For bread-making, this pastry brush is fantastic. Investment-wise, it was a good one. The OXO Good Grips Silicone Brush holds onto the wash with little dripping, whether brushing butter or egg wash. The pastry brush is a necessary tool for our hobby of bread making.
#2 - Best Natural - OXO Good Grips Natural Pastry Brush
Key Features
- Natural boar bristles retain softness and pliability better than synthetics
- Thick bristles hold more liquid for more efficient basting
- Angled head design ensures bristles don’t touch countertops
- Soft, comfortable non-slip grips
- Safe for non-stick and Ceramic.
The OXO Good Grips Natural Pastry Brush will benefit both sweet and savory cooks. It is constructed entirely of natural boar bristles that retain their softness and flexibility.
Each bristle is thick, allowing you to deliver more basting liquid and apply egg washes, glazes, butter, syrups, and sauces more quickly.
The angled head keeps the bristles away from the counter, which helps keep your brush and work surfaces clean. The brush’s soft, non-slip handle provides a secure grip, and the handle is dishwasher safe.
#3 - Best Nylon - Carlisle 4039700 Sparta Wide Pastry Brush
Key Features
- 25" brush with 2" wide bristle head for glazing or washing pastry
- Lacquered hardwood handles for durability
- Nylon ferrule and bristles for resistance to abrasion and cracking
- Tapered bristles with chisel-point trim for better surface coverage
- Made in USA
Sparta Chef Series Brushes are excellent for a variety of kitchen and food preparation applications. Each brush features high-quality lacquered hardwood handles that are ergonomically shaped for easy one-handed use.
These professional brushes feature bleached nylon or sterilized boar bristles that are epoxy-set to keep bacteria out of air pockets.
This Carlisle 4039700 Sparta brush measures 8.25″ in length and has a bristle head 2″ in width. It is ideal for glazing or washing pastry.
The lacquered hardwood handle is durable, while the nylon ferrule and bristles resist abrasion and cracking. For improved surface coverage, the bristles are tapered with chisel-point trim.
The brushes are ideal for adding washes and sauces to meat, vegetables, and baked goods due to their high fluid retention. Sparta brushes will quickly become your favorite prep, baking, and cooking tools!
#4 - Best with Bamboo Handle - KitchenAid Bamboo Pastry Brush
Key Features
- Smoothly and evenly spreads
- Use on all cookware, including nonstick
- Heat-resistant to 500°F
- Handle is made from sustainable bamboo
The KitchenAid Red Bamboo Pastry Brush evenly distributes glazes, sauces, melted butter, and marinades on meat, vegetables, and pastry dough, among other things, for flavorful meals that are effortless to prepare.
This tool is made from sustainable bamboo and durable silicone and is resistant to heat up to 500°F. While brushing, the bristles remain securely attached to the head and are safe to use on all cookware, including nonstick—only hand-wash.
Replacement is hassle-free for one year—limited lifetime warranty.
#5 - Best for Basting - OXO Good Grips Grilling Tools and Basting Brush
Key Features
- Features high-heat resistant silicone bristles for basting on or off the grill
- Patented bristle design holds onto any kind of sauce
- Angled brush head keeps surfaces clean between uses
- Long handle keeps hands away from heat
The OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting Brush enables you to create golden-brown roasts and saucy grilled ribs quickly and easily.
Heat-resistant silicone bristles are easy to clean because they will not retain odors, shred, or clump.
The patented center-hole bristles have a gap in the center that collects liquids for efficient sauce application or basting with drippings. The outer bristles’ tapered shape enables you to brush over thin and delicate foods.
The angled brush head elevates the bristles above the countertop, preventing messes. Dishwasher and microwave safe.
#6 - Best Rated - RSVP International Silicone Basting Brush
Key Features
- Soft silicone bristles designed to gently spread glazes, sauces, melted butter, and egg whites
- Heat safe up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit or 220 degrees Celsius.
- Measures 8-3/4-inches in length
- Made from durable Stainless Steel with stabilizing metal core
- Dishwasher safe
RSVP International is a privately held company founded in 1984 to provide high-quality kitchen products and cooking tools at a reasonable price. They offer kitchen accessories and cooking utensils that chefs desire to use daily.
Their kitchen tools are built to last, are reasonably priced, and are constructed from the finest materials available. From time-honored classics to innovative and fun dishes, they truly have it all for chefs of all levels.
A perfect example is the Silicone Basting Brush in Red. With ease, spread glazes, sauces, melted butter, and egg whites using the soft silicone bristles.
Durable and straightforward to maintain. 8-3/4-inch in length. It is safe to use in temperatures up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit or 220 degrees Celsius and dishwasher safe.
#7 - WARMBUY Silicone Pastry Brushes
Key Features
- Made of silicon, dishwasher safe
- All one-piece design, easy to clean
- Steel rod molded inside the handle, sturdy and no more bristle head falling off
- 4 Rows of 13 bristles each for a total of 52 bristles. Soak up a lot more of whatever you're brushing or basting onto your food
- Perfect silicone brushes for BBQ grill baking kitchen cooking, baste pastries cakes meat sausages desserts
WARMBUY Pastry Brush made of silicone with a steel core inside – there is nothing to break, and the bristle head will not fall off. A rod molded inside the handle provides stiffness for the grip.
One piece of silicone design helps NO crevices for oil, egg white, barbecue sauce, or anything else to seep into and breed germs. It also makes cleaning a snap.
It features four rows of thirteen bristles, each for a total of fifty-two bristles. As a result, it will absorb and retain significantly more of whatever you’re brushing or basting onto your food.
Heat-resistant and easy to clean on non-stick pans – you can do whatever you want without fear of damaging the pan.
It is stain-resistant and will not pick up food particles (unlike some wooden utensils).
What to Consider When Purchasing a Pastry Brush
Bristle Material
Bristles play a significant role in how well a pastry brush picks up and spreads liquids on baked goods. You want bristles that are malleable to ensure even coverage but not so flexible that they damage your delicate pastries. Stiffer bristles tend to tear paper-thin phyllo dough, while extremely soft bristles are difficult to control and may absorb an excessive amount of liquid. The majority of pastry brushes are made of four materials, each of which has a specific application in pastry preparation.
Boar hair
This natural bristle material is by far the most preferred by professional chefs. They readily absorb liquids and are supple enough to glaze any pastry smoothly while remaining dense sufficient to soak a cake in syrup. They work equally well with thick and viscous liquids and thin and runny liquids, and drippage is almost non-existent. The disadvantage of this material is that bristles may be shed over time, and the majority of them must be hand washed.
Nylon
While nylon bristles provide the same flexibility as natural bristles without the risk of shedding, they do not hold liquid as well. While nylon is excellent for spreading thicker liquids such as glazes or barbecue sauces, it is stiffer than natural bristles, tearing delicate pastries. They retain liquid better than silicone and are an excellent compromise if you’re looking for something that does not shed but allows for more excellent absorption.
Silicone
There are numerous reasons to love silicone brushes, though they are far superior for basting meats than brushing pastries. Silicone is typically resistant to high temperatures, odors and is dishwasher safe. Silicone models usually have more prominent bristles and fewer of them than other materials, which results in thinner liquids dripping right off. They are more maneuverable with thicker sauces and marinades and are frequently used when grilling or roasting at high heat. Bristles are securely attached and will not shed into your food.
Teflon
Teflon is another high-temperature material that works well when greasing or cleaning hot appliances. While Teflon bristles are highly durable, their stiffness makes delicate pastry work difficult. They typically have fewer bristles than nylon or natural material models, which means that liquids do not hold as well. They are durable enough to clean your waffle iron but not ideal for spreading a delicate chocolate glaze on a torte.
Material of the Handle
Pastry brush handles are available in three materials: wood, plastic, and metal.
Wooden handles provide a secure grip and are frequently seen on natural bristle brushes. Choose a grip that fits comfortably in your hand, and keep the job in mind. While a longer handle is necessary when grilling and basting, shorter handles allow greater precision when buttering delicate puff pastry. Generally, wood handles are not dishwasher safe.
Plastic handles are typically used with nylon or silicone bristles and provide the added benefit of being dishwasher safe. Another advantage of plastic handles is that they generally are more comfortable than alternative materials. Bristles on these handles are frequently molded into the handle, eliminating the possibility of bacterial growth, and they are typically more durable than other models.
Metal-handled brushes are less common. They are typically more expensive and more challenging to grip.
Size
Choosing the appropriate tool for the job requires consideration of its size. Bristles less than 2 inches in length typically provide the best balance of coverage and versatility. While longer bristles enable access to all crevices on pastries, such as fruit tarts, they can be challenging to maneuver when a more delicate touch is required. While shorter bristles lack the swoosh factor of longer bristles and cover less area, they can aid in detailed work and are ideal for smaller pastries or doughs.
Along with bristle length, another critical factor to consider is the brush head’s density. With more bristles, it can capture more liquid, requiring fewer reloads.
FAQs
The first step is to read the manufacturer’s instructions thoroughly. Beyond that, it becomes a matter of bristles selection.
Silicone models generally require a quick rinse to remove any lingering liquids before being placed in the dishwasher.
Natural fibers and the majority of nylon models require additional care. If you choose boar hair bristles, a quick soak in lemon juice and dish soap will dissolve any remaining liquid. Then, for maximum durability, hand wash and dry them.
Nylon requires slightly less labor. A quick wash of the hands in warm, soapy water should suffice. Brush bristles can become hardened or rancid if debris is left on them, so be sure to wash them after each use.
Again, this is model-dependent. When it’s time to replace a natural bristle brush, it’s easy to tell—if it’s shedding, it’s time. If your pastry brush continues to smell after washing, it’s time to replace it. Odors and stains can accumulate, and you do not want to impart them on your pastries.
While silicone and nylon are more durable, they can become stained or even melt if used repeatedly in high-heat situations. Examine the bristles for signs of degradation to determine when it’s time to replace the brush.
To avoid cross-contamination, you should first designate your brushes for the tasks you use them for before we even talk about their adaptability. At the same meeting, don’t coat your pie crust with egg wash and barbecue sauce simultaneously.
A pastry brush can be used for a variety of tasks, including preventing cross-contamination. In addition to sealing dough edges, applying egg wash, decorating cakes, and glazing, the pastry brush can also be used to remove the extra seasoning from proteins; brush excess flour from your work area or pans; remove citrus peels from zesters; clean out errant coffee grounds from grinders and makers, and soak cakes with syrups.
While you can use your pastry brush as a basting brush, we prefer to keep them separate (or have two) for flavor reasons.
Frequently, when basting meat, more robust ingredients such as garlic and spaces are used. Because a porous pastry brush absorbs flavor (and is difficult to clean), it is not always desirable when performing an egg wash or when using it for sweet pastries.
Choose distinct colored handles to help you distinguish between sweet and savory ingredients and avoid cross-contamination.
We recommend purchasing a pre-softened pastry brush. They are softer as the quality increases. Brushes can become stiff if they are not properly cleaned or rinsed, so it is important to care for your tools after each use.
CONCLUSION
Many people love the pastry brush that we have recommended above. The soft, durable bristles are excellent at spreading butter or cream across your baking projects, and the handle feels sturdy enough to ensure that you won’t accidentally bend it when using it. If you want a pastry brush so you can bake delicious treats for yourself or others, this is one of the best choices on the market.
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