A Grillmaster Recommends This Tool For Grill Cleaning
Eco-cleaning professional and Hudstone Home founder Elizabeth Davis previously told HuffPost that food and grease buildup on a grill can cause foodborne illness because it attracts bacteria, including Salmonella, E. Coli, and Listeria. While that's reason enough in our eyes to be cleaning your grill regularly, there are also other factors to think about: Old debris like dirt and crumbs can be a fire hazard, and going too long without cleaning can cause rusting, damaging your — no doubt expensive — appliance.
When it comes to the best product for cleaning your grill, we trust the experts. Meathead Goldwyn, founder of AmazingRibs.com, a BBQ Hall of Famer and the author of 'Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling,' told HuffPost that his favorite tool for cleaning his grill is this scraper brush by Grill Rescue.
Grill Rescue was founded by Anthony Tranchida and Scott Mobley. Mobley has years of experience as a firefighter, and also cooked at the firehouse, inspiring him to make this scraper brush.
The brush is notable for a few reasons. First, it's bristle-free, so you don't have to worry about bristles breaking off, and can safely use the brush on gas, charcoal, porcelain and other surfaces. It instead has a layer of aramid fiber, which is used in firefighter gear and can withstand heat up to 600 degrees.
There's a metal scraper on the head to get at bigger gunk, but the pad also uses steam, aided by the grill's heat, for effective cleaning. 'To use the Grill Rescue grate cleaner, I dip it in a bucket of water for a few seconds, and then I wipe it across hot grates,' Goldwyn wrote on his website. 'The water boils and steams off the grease. The pad gets black quickly but it you can wash it by hand or in the dishwasher and it works like new for many, many uses. When worn out, you can replace the pad.'
You can buy the pad replacement either with or without the scraper.
Reviewers are similarly impressed with the convenience and effectiveness of the brush. One proclaimed, 'This is the best product I have ever used to clean [my] grill,' while multiple others vouch that the brush works as advertised. The safety aspect of being able to clean without wire bristles was also a hit among reviewers.
Keep those nasty bacteria off of your grill with this steam-cleaning, firefighter- and grillmaster-approved tool by clicking the link below, or keep scrolling to read more glowing reviews from happy grill owners.
Get it from Amazon for $38.21 (refill pads also available).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lupita Nyong'o Revealed She Has Painful Uterine Fibroids. Here's What That Means.
Actress Luptia Nyong'o shared on Instagram that the same year she won an Academy Award for her role in '12 Years A Slave' (2014)she was also diagnosed with chronic uterine fibroids, a common yet understudied medical issue in women — and particularly, Black women. In the Instagram post, Nyong'o said she had 30 fibroids removed only to be told there is nothing she can do to keep them from coming back. Her post is part of a campaign to raise awareness for uterine fibroids, support research funding and push forward Congressional bills. Nyong'o shared this news as a way to break the 'silent suffering' that's forced on women. And while Nyong'o is a well-known person dealing with the often-painful condition, millions of other women deal with it, too. Both in silence and at endless doctor's appointments. For instance, Tanika Gray Valbrun started experiencing extremely heavy periods early in her teen years. 'I was that girl who always had to carry pads with her, felt like I was always on my period, had to wear two panties and biker shorts, always had an extra bag with me,' she told HuffPost. In addition to the heavy bleeding, Valbrun also experienced painful periods, her abdomen protruded and she felt a constant need to use the bathroom. It wasn't until she was about 25 that she received a diagnosis: uterine fibroids. Many doctors appointments and treatments followed, and though she is still on this medical journey, the source of her issues is no longer a mystery. Although fibroids are quite common, they remain relatively unknown or misunderstood for many. 'Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow from smooth muscle cells, so they're often found in the uterus,' said Dr. Sawsan As-Sanie, an associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School. 'They can be in the lining of the uterus, the wall of the uterus or on the surface.' Also called leiomyomas or myomas, fibroids vary in shape, size and number. Some grow slowly over many years while others might remain the same size for a long time and then start to grow rapidly. 'Looking back, I think about how many times I had accommodated my life for fibroids,' Valbrun said. 'I was always strategizing what to bring or how to dress because I would be bleeding. I never wore white clothing, even though I love whites and light colors.' Below, experts break down the facts and misconceptions around uterine fibroids. Who is most likely to have fibroids? 'Fibroids are highly prevalent, and they become more common as patients get older,' As-Sanie noted. The National Institutes of Health estimates that up to 70% of white women and 80% to 90% of Black women will develop fibroids by the age of 50. 'Really, anyone with a uterus can experience uterine fibroids, but they disproportionately impact Black women at a higher rate,' Valbrun said. 'Black women are more likely to experience them, and their fibroids are more likely to occur when they're younger, grow more quickly and cause more symptoms.' Age is a big risk factor with fibroids, as their prevalence increases as patients grow older and then declines in post-menopausal women. Although fibroids are most common in women ages 30 to 40 and in Black women, As-Sanie said that she sees them in patients of all ages, races and ethnicities. 'Mine started in my teenage years, so it's not just an issue for women in their childbearing years,' Valbrun added. 'And even though race is a risk factor, it's not just a Black woman's disease ― just like endometriosis is not just a white woman's thing.' There are genetic factors as well. A family history of fibroids is associated with a three times greater risk of developing fibroids compared with women without that history, As-Sanie explained. She noted that obesity and nulliparous (the medical term for having never given birth) can also be factors. What are the symptoms? Despite their prevalence, fibroids don't cause symptoms in the majority of people who have them. 'Only about a quarter of women who have uterine fibroids have symptoms that are bothersome enough that they end up needing intervention,' As-Sanie said. The most common symptoms are related to menstruation, such as heavy bleeding and pelvic pain. 'Any amount of bleeding that interferes with quality of life deserves an evaluation,' As-Sanie noted. 'We tell patients if they're soaking through a pad or tampon more frequently than every one to two hours, that should warrant evaluation. That amount can lead to anemia, low blood counts.' Valbrun said that she's had to have at least five blood transfusions over the years to address her severe anemia. 'I was always craving ice and soap, so much that I would be constantly trying to smell them,' she recalled. 'My doctor told me it's called pica, and it's what happens when your body is deficient in iron.' In addition to menstrual pain, fibroids can also cause pain during sex and at random times. As Valbrun reported, they may lead to swelling in the uterus and abdomen as well. 'Patients can also have what we call 'bulk symptoms' ― pressure from fibroids if they get large enough, feelings of bloating, urinary frequency and urgency, and even constipation or other bowel issues,' As-Sanie said. 'Fibroids are also associated with pregnancy-related complications like miscarriage and infertility.' How are fibroids diagnosed? 'In terms of diagnosis, fibroids are generally diagnosed or at least suspected during a pelvic exam,' As-Sanie said, noting that the uterus often feels enlarged. If fibroids are suspected, then the next step usually involves imaging, commonly with a pelvic ultrasound ― though tests including sonohysterography, hysteroscopy, hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy can also offer information. 'Some patients come in reporting symptoms, but for others it might be diagnosed during a routine exam,' As-Sanie noted. 'They may have had no clinical symptoms. Or if they're having trouble becoming pregnant, fibroids may be discovered as they look into their fertility problems.' What is the treatment for fibroids? If you're diagnosed with uterine fibroids, the next steps depend on your symptoms. You might not need treatment if your fibroids are small and aren't causing symptoms or if you're nearing menopause. 'If someone's not having symptoms, we typically just survey them over time,' As-Sanie said. 'They should get regular checkups to monitor for development of symptoms if they're not having them. Often we'll get repeat imaging every year or couple years to monitor for fibroid growth.' For patients with symptoms, it's important to examine the symptoms they're having and what their goals are. 'With heavy bleeding, this can often be managed with medications ― like hormonal birth control pills, progestin-only birth control methods, other pills and injections,' As-Sanie said. Although those methods are effective for many patients, they don't work for others. And over time other interventions might become necessary. Myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroids, and uterine artery embolization (sometimes called uterine fibroid embolization) is a less-invasive procedure that involves injecting tiny particles into the blood vessels to stop blood flow to the fibroids and cause them to shrink. 'There are also different types of ablations where you can use forms of energy to basically burn them away or make them smaller,' Valbrun said. She added that the recovery process after fibroid-related procedures can be lengthy, noting that it took her about eight weeks to recovery from her myomectomy. Some fibroids are too small to be removed, and even after you've had fibroids removed or shrunk, there's always a possibility of regrowth or new ones appearing. And some patients have so many fibroids that it wouldn't be feasible to remove all of them. As a result, the only total cure is hysterectomy. 'The choice of what treatment is appropriate in patients very much depends on both a combination of things, like their age and desire to preserve fertility, as well as fibroid size and location,' As-Sanie said. 'Hysterectomy is generally considered a last resort when other things haven't worked, but it is considered curative and it's quite common in the U.S. And uterine fibroids and abnormal bleeding are the most common non-cancerous reasons that women have hysterectomies.' What should you do if you suspect fibroids? 'Any symptoms of heavy bleeding and/or pelvic pain that are bothersome enough that they're interfering with your quality of life warrant evaluation,' As-Sanie said. 'There's no amount of bleeding or pain we would say is automatically 'normal.' If you're not able to work as effectively or enjoy your life, that is by definition considered abnormal and deserves evaluation.' Fibroids are relatively common, but they're also just one of many potential causes for increased levels of pain and bleeding. It's important to see a medical professional to help figure out what might be at the root of your problems and determine the best course of treatment. Many experience pregnancy complications or infertility related to fibroids, but medical interventions can help. So if you're hoping to give birth someday, know that fibroids don't necessarily prevent that. 'For many women who have fibroids but no symptoms, we don't automatically recommend treatment in order to get pregnant or have a successful or healthy pregnancy,' As-Sanie said. 'The relationship between fibroids and fertility and pregnancy is complicated, but there are many women who have fibroids ― even fibroids that cause symptoms ― that can become pregnant and carry a healthy pregnancy without needing intervention.' And remember that there's nothing shameful about fibroids or any other gynecological issue. 'Patients often feel like it's embarrassing, and their families ― or even physicians they've seen ― have dismissed or minimized their pain as being a normal part of a woman's experience,' As-Sanie said. 'This is unfair and unhelpful to women.' She urged patients and medical providers to help break down the stigma around menstrual disorders. 'We need to improve awareness and diagnosis, as well as reduce the bias and stigma by talking about pain and bleeding so that young girls and women don't dismiss it as normal or think it's too shameful to talk about,' As-Sanie emphasized. 'That way they can get earlier diagnoses and treatments.' What else should people know about uterine fibroids? Valbrun is dedicated to raising awareness and clearing up misconceptions about uterine fibroids. In 2014, she launched The White Dress Project to spread the word, increase funding for medical research and offer support to other people who are living with fibroids. 'I want to make people feel like they are not alone,' she said. 'And I wanted the support for myself because I never saw any organized walks or runs or people asking me to buy a T-shirt about fibroid awareness. It feels very lonely to feel like you're the only one on the bathroom floor in the fetal position. You're the only one canceling on your girlfriends, the only one not spending the night at a guy's house even though you want to.' The name stems from her desire to reclaim the color white as a symbol of hope and empower herself and others to feel comfortable wearing white ― or to do it anyway in an act of rebellion against the limits fibroids can impose. The White Dress Project hosts community events, offers educational resources, supports research and advocates for policy in support of fibroid awareness. Michigan state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden (D) has also gotten involved in advocacy after being diagnosed with fibroids in 2020 and undergoing a myomectomy. 'It took me seven weeks to get back to what I felt was 100%, but ever since then, I've been on this quest to just bring more awareness to fibroids,' she told HuffPost. 'After I shared my story on the House floor during Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month, I got an outpouring of messages from women sharing their fibroid experience and how horrific it had been.' Bolden has also partnered with organizations to spread awareness, worked on legislation and even helped get funding allocated for fibroid research in the Michigan state budget. 'This condition affects so many women but isn't widely talked about,' she said. 'If I had known it was so common, I probably wouldn't have waited until my condition got so bad to seek treatment and could've had a less invasive surgery.' Valbrun also wants to spread the word about the different treatment options for fibroids. 'A lot of times, hysterectomy is the only option offered for women to deal with fibroids,' she said. 'Black women are more likely to be offered hysterectomy. I was told to have a hysterectomy when I was 26 and use a surrogate if I wanted children, and it was really disheartening. Fortunately, I found another doctor who told me about my other options.' Of course, many patients are great candidates for a hysterectomy, especially if they are done having children or don't want to give birth, but Valbrun wants to make sure people feel informed and empowered about this decision rather than pressured. 'Remember that you are powerful and have a say,' she said. 'Nobody knows your body like you do.' Related... 9 Red Flags You May Have PCOS, According To Experts Are 'Dropsies' During Your Period A Real Thing? 4 Signs Your Period Pain Isn't Normal
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Measles Cases Could Cost the U.S. Its Elimination Status. Here's What That Means.
The U.S. has reported more measles cases in the first half of this year than in any full year since 1992, raising concerns that the country could lose its measles elimination status and undo a 25-year public health victory amid declining vaccine rates. But exactly what does that risk mean and how close is it to really happening? For two decades, HuffPost has been fearless, unflinching, and relentless in pursuit of the truth. to keep us around for the next 20 — we can't do this without you. The World Health Organization sets the criteria for elimination status, requiring a country — or defined geographical area — to go at least 12 months without continuous domestic transmission of a virus. That means any new outbreaks during that time must come from people who contracted the virus from outside, not inside, the U.S. Under that criteria, the U.S. has until January to eliminate the nation's current outbreaks, which is a year after cases started domestically in Texas, according to epidemiology experts. If it doesn't, the U.S.'s measles elimination status could be taken away. 'It could be more impactful than a lot of Americans think about since we have had measles elimination status for so long,' Brittany Kmush, associate professor and graduate director of Syracuse University's Public Health Department, told HuffPost. 'It could affect U.S. citizens' ability to travel to specific countries if they don't want the risk of measles getting introduced to their country. It could affect other people's ability to come visit the U.S. Other countries might require proof of measles vaccination before they can reenter their home country,' she said. There could also be increased quarantine and isolation requirements, with potential economic fallout, she said. On top of this, many more people could be at risk of contracting the virus, which is considered one of the most contagious in the world. If just one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's just a matter of if and when an infectious individual enters one of those communities and kind of invites an Moss, executive director of Johns Hopkins' International Vaccine Access Center 'It's not just a cold for a lot of people. It can lead to phenomena and in rare cases encephalitis and death,' said Kmush. Children younger than 5 years of age are especially vulnerable to severe illness and health complications. Fortunately, there's still time this year to fight outbreaks. Losing the elimination status is also purposely made challenging because, unless the virus is globally eradicated ― a feat only seen with smallpox ― there's always going to be cases brought into the U.S. from outside, said William Moss, executive director of Johns Hopkins' International Vaccine Access Center, who co-leads the school's measles tracking project. 'As long as there's measles virus circulating somewhere in the world, there's always going to be these importations,' he told HuffPost.'It would be very hard to maintain measles elimination status if every time someone brought it in and there was another case, you would lose it.' Whether or not outbreaks will stop before the deadline remains uncertain, however. Measles cases in the U.S. have been dropping since their peak in March, giving hope that outbreaks may be petering out. But vaccination rates remain at their lowest in years in the U.S., reducing so-called 'herd immunity' and opening the door for new outbreaks to ignite in communities that have low vaccination rates. 'It's just a matter of if and when an infectious individual enters one of those communities and kind of invites an outbreak,' said Moss, while comparing the chances to a hot ember drifting from a wildfire. 'If it lands in a wet area, you're not going to have an outbreak if there's high vaccine coverage. But if it enters an area with really low vaccine coverage, you could have another really large outbreak,' he said. With less than six months left in the year, Moss says it's still too early to start a countdown or 'really sweat about this.' He also said that even if elimination status is lost, cases are at least unlikely to return to the levels seen in the early 1990s, since vaccine levels do remain reasonably high. Kmush, however, expressed more caution on the chances of elimination being a reality. 'I am definitely alarmed,' she said, while pointing out that the U.S. nearly lost its elimination status in 2019 when there were fewer cases than those seen this year. She credited a rise in vaccine coverage and public health advocacy toward the end of that year for sparing the U.S. from losing its status. 'We were able to get them vaccinated and do the quarantine and isolation,' she said of vulnerable communities. 'Unfortunately, measles vaccination rates are even lower now than they were in 2019 and 99% of the cases that have been reported in this outbreak are either not vaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.' She and Moss both also stressed that the U.S. getting its elimination status back after losing it is also no easy feat. A country would have to show zero continuous transmission of the virus domestically for 36 months, as well as demonstrate a good virus surveillance system, which Moss said the U.S. does have. As far as what can be done now, Kmush said more people need to get vaccinated, calling it 'the greatest tool' in decreasing cases and protecting those who are unable to get vaccinated, such as babies younger than six months of age or people who are immunocompromised. 'You can do quarantine, isolation, similar to the idea with COVID, but measles is a lot more contagious than COVID,' she said. 'And so we really need everyone who is eligible to get the vaccine.' She also stressed that federal health officials need to do more to reduce vaccine hesitancy and skepticism. 'I think certain administrators and their views on vaccines have been fueling some of this vaccine hesitancy and people's reluctance to receive a vaccine that's been proven safe and effective for decades,' she said. 'The policies and some of the vaccine hesitancy and skepticism rhetoric is definitely dangerous and going to make people who are unsure about vaccines even more unsure, when they really shouldn't be.' Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has no formal medical background and has a long record of anti-vaccine advocacy and other conspiracy theories, is among those who has offered inconsistent and tepid support for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Earlier this year, he falsely claimed that the current vaccine administered, which was first distributed in 1968, hasn't been safely tested and that its protection is short-lived. That's despite widespread use of the vaccine being credited with achieving the nation's elimination status in 2000 and saving hundreds of lives each year. Before the measles vaccine was introduced, an estimated 48,000 people were hospitalized and 400–500 people died annually in the U.S., according to the CDC. A HHS spokesperson, when recently contacted by HuffPost about the rise in cases, said that measles infection risks remain low for the overall U.S. population, 'lower than peer developed countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Italy.' 'CDC continues to recommend MMR vaccines as the best way to protect against measles,' the spokesperson added, while calling the decision to vaccinate 'a personal one.' 'People should consult with their healthcare provider to understand their options to get inoculated and should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines,' they said. Related... What To Do If There's A Measles Case In Your Area Measles Cases Surge To Highest Level Since The Disease Was Eliminated In U.S. Measles Outbreak Hits Another State Amid Measles Outbreak, Texas Looks To Make Vaccine Exemptions Even Easier
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
FDA Urgently Recalls Popular Fruit Over Deadly Health Risk
FDA Urgently Recalls Popular Fruit Over Deadly Health Risk originally appeared on Men's Fitness. Blueberry lovers, take note—an urgent recall has been announced. Earlier this summer, Alma Pak International, LLC voluntarily recalled 400 boxes of organic blueberries—about 12,000 pounds—due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Alma Pak issued the recall on June 9 after routine testing revealed positive results for Listeria monocytogenes. As of July 1, the recall has been escalated to a Class I risk by the FDA. That means there's a reasonable chance the contaminated product could cause serious health issues or even death if consumed. The recalled blueberries were packed in 30-pound boxes and labeled with lot numbers 13325 G1060 and 13325 Pak International says it has taken further steps to prevent future issues. The company has implemented "additional corrective actions and preventive controls" to strengthen its food safety systems. Reportedly, the recalled blueberries were only shipped to a single customer located in North Carolina. But, it's still worth double-checking. This also isn't the first time Alma Pak has faced a serious recall. In 2019, the company issued a similar recall for frozen blackberries that were potentially contaminated with Norovirus. Listeria monocytogenes is a harmful bacteria that can contaminate food, especially produce, deli meats, and unpasteurized dairy. Unlike many bacteria, it can grow in cold temperatures, including in the fridge, according to the FDA. Eating food contaminated with Listeria can cause listeriosis, a serious infection. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and nausea. It's especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and those with weakened immune Urgently Recalls Popular Fruit Over Deadly Health Risk first appeared on Men's Fitness on Jul 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Men's Fitness on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
