Silicone Pastry Brush

Avoiding the Brush-Off: Get Glazes Right Where You Want them

Pastry brushes are very likely one of the most useful tools in your kitchen, despite their specific name. While traditionally used to apply egg-washes and light glazes to baked goods, pastry brushes also come in handy when prepping baked cakes for icing (yes, you can get rid of some of those crumbs), basting meats with marinades or sauces, and even buttering corn on the cob. And thanks to a simple scientific structure, today's pastry brushes are more durable and safer than ever. Meet the silicone pastry brush.

The Brush

Standard pastry brushes are simple in construction: wooden handle, natural or nylon bristles. The design is problematic; both the handle and bristles are susceptible to stains, the bristles tend to fall out from the handle, and the brush is a prime bedding ground for potentially harmful bacteria. Silicone pastry brushes boast the same basic design as standard brushes but with plastic or rubber handles (most ergonomically designed to keep your hands in good working order) and a major upgrade: silicone bristles.

To understand the benefits of silicone bristles over natural or nylon bristles, let's take a closer look at the science of silicone.

The Science

Silicone, simply put, is a group of atoms based on oxygen and silicon atoms. Because the oxygen-silicon chains that form the base of the group's structure can be easily varied in length and linking, silicone substances can consist in liquid, gel, rubber, and plastic forms, such as lubricants and adhesives, or dishware, medical implants, and Silly Putty.

Silicone substances are highly temperature-resistant, water-resistant, oxidation-resistant, chemical-resistant and odorless. Silicone has a high melting point, does not conduct electricity, and is generally considered non-toxic.

The Benefits

Because silicone brushes come with all the properties of a plastic form of silicone, they're extremely well-suited for kitchen use.

Silicone pastry brushes can take the heat. Your silicone brushes have heat-resistant bristles that will withstand basting processes in hot ovens and grills, though you'd be best not to place them over open flames.

Silicone pastry brushes spread the love. Silicone bristles won't absorb liquids the way natural ones might, so your spreads will be evenly dispersed from the brush to food.

Silicone pastry brushes keep it clean. Silicone bristles are not the harbingers of bacteria their natural counterparts are; rather, they resist microorganisms that could harm you or your family. And because most silicone pastry brushes are dishwasher-safe, you can be sure your pastry brushes will be properly sanitized after every use.

More information on Pastry Brush