Pastry brushes are a kitchen staple thanks to their versatility in all manner of recipes. From basting meats to glazing desserts, many professional chefs swear by pastry brushes as a must-have utensil. However, if you're shopping for a new one, it can be tough to know where to begin.
Luckily we've compiled all the information you'll need in this article, including tips on bristle material, handle properties and sizing considerations. Plus, we've got a list of the 10 best pastry brushes in the UK, currently available through Amazon, Tesco, Waitrose, John Lewis and ASDA.
The main consideration when it comes to pastry brushes is the bristle material. The ideal brush will be malleable, with bristles that easily absorb and retain liquid. For this reason, you'll need to choose between boar hair, nylon and silicone. Here are the key features of each to help you choose.
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The handle of your pastry brush will also impact performance as you'll need something that's easy to maintain and provides a sturdy grip. It's also beneficial if the handle does not conduct heat, which is why metal is rarely used for most kitchen utensils. The choice will ordinarily be between a wooden or plastic handle.
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As well as material, the handle length is also an important consideration. If you intend to use your brush for basting meats or hot pastries, you will need a handle that's long enough to avoid close contact. Handles around 20 cm long should be sufficient to keep your hand at a safe distance from the heat, while also maintaining adequate control of the brush.
Brush heads range from 2 to 10 cm in width. If you are mainly working across larger surface areas, such as basting ham or applying egg wash, look for a width of 4 cm or above to complete the task much quicker. For more delicate work, like glazing pastries or sealing dumplings, a thinner brush would be preferable. Its a good idea to opt for a multipack of various sizes if you will be attending to many different tasks in the kitchen
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For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() findTop | 2 ![]() OXO | 3 ![]() HEMOTON | 4 ![]() ANYDAY | 5 ![]() Chef Aid | 6 ![]() Homo Trends | 7 ![]() Go Cook | 8 ![]() KitchenCraft | 9 ![]() George Home | 10 ![]() Waitrose Home |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Pastry Brushes and Dough Scraper | Good Grips Silicone Pastry Brush | Nylon Bristle Pastry Brush | John Lewis & Partners Pastry Brush | 3 In 1 Pastry Brush | Pastry Brushes for Baking | Silicone Pastry Brush | Professional Nylon Pastry Brush | Silicone Pastry Brush | Silicone Pastry Brush |
Features | Two Brush Set With Pastry Scrapers for Chopping and Icing | A Heat and Odour-Resistant Silicone Brush With a Porous Section to Improve Absorbency | Four Brushes in Various Sizes That Are Dishwasher Safe and Easy to Clean | A Traditional Pastry Brush Composed of Sustainable Beech Wood and Boar Hair | Wide Nylon Brush With Pastry Wheel for Crimping, Cutting and Decorating | All Natural Boar Hair Brushes in Two Different Sizes | Thick Silicone Bristles for Sticky Sauces and Basting Meats | Frizz-Free Nylon Bristles Covered by a 25-Year Satisfaction Guarantee | The Benefits of Silicone Paired With the Sleek Appearance of Wood | High-Quality Construction That Will Stand the Test of Time |
Price | £14.99 | £7.49 | £11.99 | £3.00 | £2.22 | £7.96 | £4.00 | £4.95 | £1.50 | £5.00 |
Bristle Material | Boar hair | Silicone | Nylon | Boar hair | Nylon | Boar hair | Silicone | Nylon | Silicone | Silicone |
Handle Material | Wooden | Plastic | Plastic | Wooden | Plastic | Wooden | Plastic | Plastic | Wood, plastic | Plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | - |
Brush Width | 2.5, 4 cm | 6.6 cm | 2.5, 4.5 cm | 2 cm | 10 cm | 2.5, 5.5 cm | - | 4 cm | - | - |
Handle Length | 21, 21.5 cm | 19.3 cm | 19.5, 22 cm | 19 cm | 26 cm | 23 cm | - | 21 cm | - | - |
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This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Set of 4
£14.99
Bristle Material | Boar hair |
---|---|
Handle Material | Wooden |
Dishwasher Safe | No |
Brush Width | 2.5, 4 cm |
Handle Length | 21, 21.5 cm |
£7.49
Bristle Material | Silicone |
---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Brush Width | 6.6 cm |
Handle Length | 19.3 cm |
Set of 4
£11.99
Bristle Material | Nylon |
---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Brush Width | 2.5, 4.5 cm |
Handle Length | 19.5, 22 cm |
£3.00
Bristle Material | Boar hair |
---|---|
Handle Material | Wooden |
Dishwasher Safe | No |
Brush Width | 2 cm |
Handle Length | 19 cm |
£2.22
Bristle Material | Nylon |
---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Brush Width | 10 cm |
Handle Length | 26 cm |
Set of 4
£7.96
Bristle Material | Boar hair |
---|---|
Handle Material | Wooden |
Dishwasher Safe | No |
Brush Width | 2.5, 5.5 cm |
Handle Length | 23 cm |
£4.00
Bristle Material | Silicone |
---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Brush Width | - |
Handle Length | - |
KCSGPB
£4.95
Bristle Material | Nylon |
---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Brush Width | 4 cm |
Handle Length | 21 cm |
£1.50
Bristle Material | Silicone |
---|---|
Handle Material | Wood, plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | No |
Brush Width | - |
Handle Length | - |
£5.00
Bristle Material | Silicone |
---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Dishwasher Safe | - |
Brush Width | - |
Handle Length | - |
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
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