I feel like now, more than ever, people are worried about how to properly wash their fruits and vegetables. (You can click here if you are in need of a general breakdown for how to wash your fruits and vegetables.) When it comes to washing root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, it is recommended by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) that we use vegetable brushes to clean them. So, I decided to try out some of the most recommended brushes to determine which is the best vegetable brush.
Table of Contents
(This post contains affiliate links. Please read the disclaimer.)
What Are Vegetable Brushes & Why Are They Used?
Vegetable brushes are designed to provide a deeper clean compared to just washing vegetables with your hand. I will be the first to admit that I have never used a vegetable brush before doing this review and I eat a pretty good amount of potatoes each year, with the skin on. I will also add that I was completely shocked at the difference in appearance between a potato, and even a sweet potato, that was scrubbed with a vegetable brush compared to one that was not. I honestly do not think I have ever seen a potato look like that!
Vegetable brushes are commonly used with potatoes, but they can be used to scrub the outside of all root vegetables, which are classified as those that grow underground. As you can see in this sweet potato harvesting example, when potatoes are full-grown, they are still underground and do not pop up above the soil. This same concept applies for radishes and carrots.
Benefits of Using Vegetable Brushes
- Less Worry – By using a vegetable brush, you do not need to worry about whether or not your potatoes, or root vegetables in general, are clean.
- More Nutritious – If using a vegetable brush gives you the clarity you need to keep the skin on your root vegetables, then you will be getting a more nutritious meal, as the bulk of the nutrients are located in the skin.
- Save Time – Another benefit of using the vegetable brush and keeping the skin on, is that you can save time by not having to peel the potatoes, or any other root vegetable. (However, if you scrub your vegetables and plan on peeling them afterwards, click here for my recommendation of the best vegetable peeler.)
Different Types of Vegetable Brushes
When selecting different vegetable brushes, there were three main differences that I noted (which also helped in my selection of brushes to try):
- Vegetable Brush Bristle Material
- Vegetable Brush Handle Material
- Shape of the Vegetable Brush Handle
1. Vegetable Brush Bristle Material
The three different bristles that I tested out were:
- Nylon
- Coconut
- Plant (Tampico) Fiber and Recycled Plastic
There is a clear difference between the three different types, but I found them all to be effective. The only issue was when it came to cleaning the bristles near where the bristles connect to the handle.
2. Vegetable Brush Handle Material
There were two different types of handles between the four brushes (although one option does not technically have a handle):
- Plastic
- Bamboo
There were no notable differences in use, but the plastic ones did feel like they would hold up better over a longer period of time.
3. Shape of the Vegetable Brush Handle
Between the two different types of handles, the three brushes that have handles all have a different design:
- Three-section design – To be able to “accommodate” different shaped vegetables
- Plastic non-slip – Generic handle that fits in your hand
- Bamboo ring – An actual ring-shaped holder
All of these different-styled handles are meant to help you grip the vegetable brush while using it. While testing out the different handle shapes, the basic plastic non-slip and the brush with no handle were the easiest to grip. The other two were really awkward and did not fit properly in my hand to serve their special purpose.
The 4 Vegetable Brushes that I Purchased & Reviewed
1. Cuisipro Flexible
- Bristle Material – Nylon
- Handle Material – Plastic (with a little bit of silicone included)
- Handle Design – Three-section design that is meant to make it easier for you to clean misshapen produce
- Ease of Use – It works, but is the most effective when you hold it without utilizing the three-section design
- Can it be Cleaned – It can go in the dishwasher, but the top of the bristles that connect to the handle never get clean (you can see the accumulated soil where the bristles connect to the handle)
- Pros – It works to clean the vegetables
- Cons – The three-section design does not work and when using it that way, it doesn’t fit properly in your hand; the bristles never get clean, no matter how many times you wash it; and when I purchased the vegetable brushes, this was the most expensive option but was not the best brush
2. Tawashi
- Bristle Material – Coconut Fiber
- Handle Material – N/A, there is technically no handle, just a piece of wire holding the fibers together
- Handle Design – N/A
- Ease of Use – It works well, and it fits in your hand like a sponge (which is weird at first, but is similar to how the other brushes fit into your hand)
- Can it be Cleaned – It can go in the dishwasher, but it does absorb a lot of water, so you just need to make sure to let it dry out before putting it away
- Pros – It works really well (this one was my favorite), it can go through the dishwasher easily
- Cons – When you first take it out of its packaging, it looks a little scary (not a con!) and sheds a little bit. I thought this would be foreshadowing, but it was just an initial issue and the brush stayed intact while using it.
3. Full Circle Ring
- Bristle Material – Plant (Tampico) Fiber and Recycled Plastic
- Handle Material – Bamboo
- Handle Design – Bamboo Ring
- Ease of Use – It works, but you have to really figure out how to use it with your hands because the ring design makes it very difficult to strategically place your fingers to be able to actually scrub
- Can it be Cleaned – It can go in the dishwasher, and comes out looking clean
- Pros – It works to clean the vegetables, it can go through the dishwasher easily
- Cons – The ring design is really uncomfortable and you would not be able to comfortably use it on multiple vegetables sequentially, the bristles on this brush appear as though they would be the first to soften and not work properly out of all of the options
4. OXO Good Grips
- Bristle Material – Nylon
- Handle Material – Plastic
- Handle Design – Plastic Non-Slip
- Ease of Use – It works well (the ease of use with this one is tied with the Tawashi vegetable brush)
- Can it be Cleaned – It can go in the dishwasher, but the top of the bristles that connect to the handle never get clean (you can see the accumulated soil where the bristles connect to the handle)
- Pros – It works to clean the vegetables, it is easy to grip in your hand (if it washed properly, this would have been my favorite)
- Cons – This seemed to be the most practical and easy to use, until I washed it and found out that it cannot ever be washed good enough to be cleaned. That not only took the rating down to second place, but makes it so that I do not want to use the brush again, because I worry that pathogens will accumulate where the soil is between the bristles and the handle.
To see an overview of my test with these four brushes, you can see the before and after pictures with potatoes and sweet potatoes below, as well as the review video.
BELOW
AFTER
The Best Vegetable Brush!
Out of the four different options tested, my favorite was the:
If you enjoyed this post, please share it!
Hi Megan,
Nicely done!
I have searched high and low for a good vegetable brush, and have found them all lacking. I will try the Tawashi however.
In the absence of a good brush, I have been using scotchbrite scouring pads. I have found them to be pretty good.
Have you heard of a scotchbrite being used this way? Is there anything you can think of why they might be a problem?
Thanks,
Brad
Hi Brad!
That’s awesome, let me know how you like the Tawashi! I haven’t heard of the scotchbrite pads being used that way, but two things to consider is the materials in which they are made and whether you want those to be introduced to your produce, and whether you are using it solely for your produce and not to clean anything else. Any sort of brush or material used to clean vegetables should only be used for that sole purpose.