The Tool That Gives Baking that Artistic Finishing Touch
Are you looking for a way to improve your baking skills? As any cook knows, baking is a rather precise art. And the savvy baker knows just what tools to use to give their work that artistic finishing touch.
For instance, a good pastry brush. I came to the party a little late: Back in the day, I used to butter the tops of my fresh-out-of-the-oven rolls using a wad of paper towel dabbed in butter. Messy and inefficient. (I know, you’re thinking “DUH!”) I’ve since learned that a good pastry brush makes some jobs fast, easier, and neater.
And then there’s coating your unbaked pie crust with a mixture of egg white and water so it bakes with that nice glossy sheen we all like. Nothing does the job like a good pastry brush. And don’t we love to baste our grilling veggies, kabobs, steaks, etc. with our favorite marinade or sauce? Again, a good pastry brush does a thorough job of this, too.
But did you catch the key word here…“good”? The idea is a little overwhelming, what with all the brands and types to choose from. How do you know if the one you’re thinking of buying is “good?”
Well, the bottom line: You want one that will efficiently hold the basting liquid and do its job without hairs, fibers, strands, etc. falling out of the brush head and onto your food.
But still, bottom line or not, how do you know which brush will perform that way? Thank goodness for independent research that cuts through all the marketing hype. Here’s what test reviews turned up:
First of all, you want top quality, so you can expect to pay a little more for any pastry brush that performs well. Next, there are essentially two camps—the folks who prefer a silicone brush and those that want a natural boar bristle brush.
In the silicone arena, three brands kept showing up:
Oxo Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush. It’s $8.99 on amazon.com and the description says its multiple layers of tapered silicone bristles don’t retain odors, nor clump during cleaning. Dishwasher safe and heat resistant to 600 degrees F, it’s angled brush head keeps bristles off the countertop.
Ipstyle Basting & Silicone Pastry Baking Brush. Also $8.99 on amazon.com, and also dishwasher safe, it’s heat resistance only goes up to 446 degrees F. The handle has a solid internal steel core that increases its durability. Its description says it’s great for vinegar, hot butter, egg whites, oil, all sauces, and glazes.
Consevisen Silicone Heat Resistant Pastry Brushes. And also $8.99 on amazon.com. Like the brands mentioned above, this is BPA free. Similar to the Ipstyle brush, it only resists temperatures up to 446 degrees F. Its description claims “Our pastry brushes stand out from cheap silicone brushes on the market.” This dishwasher safe brush has 52 soft and flexible bristles and is suitable for delicately basting rolls/cakes without dragging the dough or scratching the pan. Works great on meats, pastries, cakes, and desserts.
Overall, silicone brushes don’t remain greasy, dry fast with no odor or residue, and protect against cross-contamination.
Now to the natural boar bristle brush. If you are a traditionalist, you may find that silicone pastry brushes just don’t make the grade. Most chefs polled felt natural bristles are really the only way to go. While there are lots of brands available, the favorite pick was:
Tezzorio Set of 2 Pastry Brushes. These long natural boar hair bristles are heat resistant up to 500 degrees F, and are designed to retain liquid especially well (due to their several layers). Reviewers felt the only real drawback to this brush was that it isn’t dishwasher safe.
Finally, if you ever run on to a nylon brush, run away. Every reviewer advised you nix the nylon, as it melts if your liquid is too hot, etc.
As with all products, reviews are mixed. Lots love silicone brushes, and lots love natural bristle brushes. And lots carped about silicone brushes, and lots carped about natural bristle brushes. Basically, it boils down to personal preference. But whichever camp you’re in, now you know the brands that overall, tested the best. Armed with this information, you can now find a “good” pastry brush, which will help give your baking that artistic finishing touch!
blog comments powered by Disqus
For instance, a good pastry brush. I came to the party a little late: Back in the day, I used to butter the tops of my fresh-out-of-the-oven rolls using a wad of paper towel dabbed in butter. Messy and inefficient. (I know, you’re thinking “DUH!”) I’ve since learned that a good pastry brush makes some jobs fast, easier, and neater.
And then there’s coating your unbaked pie crust with a mixture of egg white and water so it bakes with that nice glossy sheen we all like. Nothing does the job like a good pastry brush. And don’t we love to baste our grilling veggies, kabobs, steaks, etc. with our favorite marinade or sauce? Again, a good pastry brush does a thorough job of this, too.
But did you catch the key word here…“good”? The idea is a little overwhelming, what with all the brands and types to choose from. How do you know if the one you’re thinking of buying is “good?”
Well, the bottom line: You want one that will efficiently hold the basting liquid and do its job without hairs, fibers, strands, etc. falling out of the brush head and onto your food.
But still, bottom line or not, how do you know which brush will perform that way? Thank goodness for independent research that cuts through all the marketing hype. Here’s what test reviews turned up:
First of all, you want top quality, so you can expect to pay a little more for any pastry brush that performs well. Next, there are essentially two camps—the folks who prefer a silicone brush and those that want a natural boar bristle brush.
In the silicone arena, three brands kept showing up:
Oxo Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush. It’s $8.99 on amazon.com and the description says its multiple layers of tapered silicone bristles don’t retain odors, nor clump during cleaning. Dishwasher safe and heat resistant to 600 degrees F, it’s angled brush head keeps bristles off the countertop.
Ipstyle Basting & Silicone Pastry Baking Brush. Also $8.99 on amazon.com, and also dishwasher safe, it’s heat resistance only goes up to 446 degrees F. The handle has a solid internal steel core that increases its durability. Its description says it’s great for vinegar, hot butter, egg whites, oil, all sauces, and glazes.
Consevisen Silicone Heat Resistant Pastry Brushes. And also $8.99 on amazon.com. Like the brands mentioned above, this is BPA free. Similar to the Ipstyle brush, it only resists temperatures up to 446 degrees F. Its description claims “Our pastry brushes stand out from cheap silicone brushes on the market.” This dishwasher safe brush has 52 soft and flexible bristles and is suitable for delicately basting rolls/cakes without dragging the dough or scratching the pan. Works great on meats, pastries, cakes, and desserts.
Overall, silicone brushes don’t remain greasy, dry fast with no odor or residue, and protect against cross-contamination.
Now to the natural boar bristle brush. If you are a traditionalist, you may find that silicone pastry brushes just don’t make the grade. Most chefs polled felt natural bristles are really the only way to go. While there are lots of brands available, the favorite pick was:
Tezzorio Set of 2 Pastry Brushes. These long natural boar hair bristles are heat resistant up to 500 degrees F, and are designed to retain liquid especially well (due to their several layers). Reviewers felt the only real drawback to this brush was that it isn’t dishwasher safe.
Finally, if you ever run on to a nylon brush, run away. Every reviewer advised you nix the nylon, as it melts if your liquid is too hot, etc.
As with all products, reviews are mixed. Lots love silicone brushes, and lots love natural bristle brushes. And lots carped about silicone brushes, and lots carped about natural bristle brushes. Basically, it boils down to personal preference. But whichever camp you’re in, now you know the brands that overall, tested the best. Armed with this information, you can now find a “good” pastry brush, which will help give your baking that artistic finishing touch!
Sources:
- www.jenuinehome.com
- www.pamperedchef.com
- www.amazon.com
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
