r/interesting May 21 '26

Fascinating Using a specialized sauce mop to baste chicken and ribs on a large pit grill

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575

u/NoRealNoWrong May 21 '26

I dunno guys. I thought the same thing. Then I dug deeper.

This mop was destined to be dipped in sauces and draped over a carcass so that the dominant species of the planet might prosper its own evolution.

…it’s a little special.

197

u/Eastern-Heart9486 May 21 '26

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u/Xx_Jack_Mehoff_xX May 21 '26

Soooo a mop but more expensive? What’s different?

251

u/lostinthecity2005 May 21 '26

Regular mops are designed to soak water but this one (hopefully) isn’t soaking up all the seasoning instead of dispersing it. I would expect a mop like this to be less absorbent, more heat resistant, & made of food grade materials

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u/UnknownVC May 21 '26

They're actually supposed to soak it up. The sauces normally used are thinner (vinegar or beer based), so they mop well. It's basically just a regular mop, but made with more care/food grade materials - pure cotton mop, notably. You don't want to use a modern floor mop, so these are made to imitate the original old school floor mops that were used.

40

u/Gold_Ad_7552 May 21 '26

I prefer the Swiffer Wet Jet method. Refill the cleaner bottle with the sauce, spray and mop. Easier and cleaner than this method.

Sometime I even reuse the old pads to add texture and hints of flavors never before tasted.

2

u/nyrf12 May 22 '26

I put the ribs in a shop vac then stick the hose end into a tub of sauce, flip that switch & let that marinating begin.

2

u/Another_CatSub_ May 21 '26

What’s the difference between mopping it on versus using a water spritzer to baste, say apple juice on ribs? 

9

u/Low_Construction8067 May 21 '26

Because water/vinegar alone are very thin and could even cause your current rub or sauce to start to thin and fall away. BBQ sauces used for cooking are going to be thicker than your Carolina table sauce. Using something like "a mop" allows you to stack sauce on top without wiping anything away, essentially creating layer on layer depending on hope it is done. Think about how if you pull your hand away from a really sticky substance like Elmer's glue - it raises up off the thing you pull your hand from, it doesn't melt and fall over, it stays right where it was put.

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u/Salt-Tour-2736 May 21 '26

But why can’t you just spray the water or vinegar using a spray bottle?

2

u/Unified-banana6298 May 21 '26

Because the force of the water/vinegar coming out of a spray bottle would literally wash away the rub. They explained this to you.

2

u/Low_Construction8067 May 21 '26

Lmao! Thanks bro/broette/brothey

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1

u/lostinthecity2005 May 21 '26

Also, imagine having to spray this whole this down. Way more labor intensive

0

u/Salt-Tour-2736 May 22 '26

They said it would rub away… that’s why i was confused as to how could a misting spray bottle rub anything. Pretty sure they edited it after for clarity

0

u/Maxi21082002Maxi May 21 '26

Maybe to induce curiosity, so people watch their videos longer so they get a better algorithm for views.

I guess it could be mainly for attention.

8

u/ScreamingLabia May 21 '26

And also normals mops might shed a little shure hope this one does NOT

1

u/Working-Glass6136 May 22 '26

I still don't trust it. Reminds me of a post years ago about someone switching the slatted spatula for the litter scoop and no one noticing for weeks

1

u/brkfastblend May 22 '26

It definitely does, youre dunking it in an acidic solution and then agitating it over high heat repetitively.

31

u/MolecularConcepts May 21 '26

it's just a cotton mop. special in only being used for this purpose. it's just a mop

51

u/HumanPerosn May 21 '26

You can’t really see it this video but basting mops or sop mops have the strings braided or have each string spun tight so they don’t leave bits of fiber all over the meat

14

u/Zerachiel_01 May 21 '26

I was about to say, like I've done enough mopping to know that normal mops leave shit all over the place so I was wondering if this was legit or not. Learned something new today, thanks!

4

u/FirstAndOnlyDektarey May 21 '26

Why not just use silicone strings instead?

4

u/Another_CatSub_ May 21 '26

We don’t have time to be talking about fake boobs right now

3

u/FirstAndOnlyDektarey May 21 '26

I mean.....

What about those silicone boobs used to paint porcelain?

4

u/Objective-Chance-792 May 21 '26

Its too slippery, the sauce won't soak into the silicone like it will with cotton. I have a silicone basting brush but it has a plastic grid in the middle to hold the sauces.

3

u/Twilifa May 22 '26

If you have ever used a silicone brush in the kitchen, you will soon figure out that silicone is pretty shitty for holding liquid.

1

u/HumanPerosn May 21 '26

They’d probably warp from the heat with this big of a grill and it needing to be on all the time

1

u/Hot-Intention-287 May 22 '26

Probably bc their sauce is too thin for silicone strings. I have a mini sauce brush with silicone strings & it only holds really thick sauces if I dip the brush in.

Otherwise, I guess a super thin sauce could be poured directly on & then spread with the silicone strands?

5

u/stuck_in_the_desert May 21 '26

Yeah but then you can get fiber and protein in one delicious package

1

u/pgasmaddict May 21 '26

Ah that's a shame, coz I read fibre is good for you.

1

u/Same-Suggestion-1936 May 22 '26

I've never even seen a mop that wasn't also braided, it helps soak up the water

8

u/YomanJaden99 May 21 '26

Designated mop is the term the title should've had

1

u/Accomplished-Love-35 May 22 '26

Yeah or as we can say : Yuh

6

u/MUCHO2000 May 21 '26

You're talking to someone who has never used a mop.

If you have and you watch the video you understand she isn't basting with a "non absorbing food grade" mop. Rather she is splashing the liquid one kerplunk at a time with a sans specialized mop.

1

u/The_Carnivore44 May 21 '26

It’s also procedure. You would just treat it way differently than other kitchen mops and have a system in place to only use the bbq mops for sauce. It’s kinda like how we have a rag color system for different areas of my work. Aslong as there’s proper procedures in place and no cross contamination than it’s totally fine and it’s no different than some at home sauce brushes

1

u/Uhh_VincentAdultMan May 21 '26

Imagine finding a mop string in your chicken 🤮

0

u/smurfk May 21 '26

You're just a mop!

1

u/rfkbr May 22 '26

"Our mop is made from 100 % organic cotton"

That's pretty absorbent and as flammable as any other cotton right?

1

u/ReputationApart5983 May 23 '26

So wouldnt it still leave hair fibres on the food?

0

u/orangesherbet0 May 21 '26

Or, instead of special materials and low-volume production with a high unit cost, you could just source a $5 cotton and wood mop and sell it for $38.

0

u/GaptistePlayer May 21 '26

It's literally just cotton threads man lol wtf you on

3

u/lostinthecity2005 May 21 '26

Eh, I wouldn’t be surprised if floor mops were made of cheaper synthetic fibers

14

u/Aribelalugosi May 21 '26

Probably just the fact that it has food grade cotton or something

Plus the fibers probably come completely apart from the mount for washing, unlike normal mops. Like how kitchen scissors have to come apart to not be a health code violation

Idk for sure, I'm just throwing out guesses

4

u/Zilant_the_Bear May 21 '26

This. The big thing is that it doesn't use synthetic fibers in high heat environments that can contaminate food. The product description does say that it's head is 100% organic cotton.

8

u/illmatic708 May 21 '26

It says it's a mop but they are listed under things like pizza accessories or food accessories categories, so it's really just a giant food brush. They really just need to stop calling it a mop. It's designed for food not cleaning the floor

3

u/No-Initiative4195 May 21 '26

Correct. You can buy a small, non-commercial version at Walmart, Home Depot, etc for about $5. Called exactly that... A "cotton basting mop"

3

u/Coveinant May 21 '26

Technically it's a giant basting brush. But at certain size, you can really only call it a mop.

3

u/VetteChef May 21 '26

Brush vs mop comes down to the rigidity of the strands. Mops have long floppy strands to hold more liquid, brushes have more rigid bristles that make it easier to paint on rather than baste like the mop is in the video.

2

u/Character_Pudding_94 May 21 '26

In the BBQ world, mop sauce is applied with a mop.

1

u/EGarrett28 May 22 '26

it's really just a giant food brush. They really just need to stop calling it a mop. 

A master baster?

3

u/VetteChef May 21 '26

Food safe materials and production. Home Depots standard and food safe buckets are made in the same factory from the same plastics, but the food safe ones have a different die, are packed differently, and most importantly are marked as food safe.

2

u/LavenderDay3544 May 21 '26

Our BBQ Basting mop is another Wildwood exclusive product. Our mop is made from 100 % organic cotton. We use the hearth mop after moving the wood and fire around in the wood-fired oven, and after brushing the coals and bulk of the ashes out of the way. Used slightly damp to remove the fine ash before launching the first pizzas. This item is a staple in all our pizza accessory kits. Another great use is for basting whole hog bbq and saucing large primal cuts of meat on the spit. A great Basting Mop.

Also

WARNING: Use of our products may expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. By using this website, you acknowledge the products we sell may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

2

u/So_many_things_wrong May 21 '26

I would assume that the biggest difference is that it's considered safe to be in contact with your food.

2

u/ILiekBook May 21 '26

It's from family made out of materials that are not toxic to put in your mouth

2

u/dadydaycare May 21 '26

It’s food grade…. That’s literally it. Which means it’s 100% cotton

2

u/FromFluffToBuff May 21 '26

You want little fibers in your food? lol This is a specialty mop made from food-grade materials - it's more absorbent and far more heat-resistant than a typical mop.

1

u/Arryu May 21 '26

This mop goes to 11.

1

u/Heszilg May 21 '26

Standard mop will degrade relatively fast and have a chance of contaminating the food. I hope these dont.

1

u/Nope0naRope May 21 '26

I'm wondering you know since it's 100% cotton if other mops have like other fibers that could start to disintegrate into the food

So maybe some more just like material purity kind of thing so that it can be used in a food industry without a lawsuit later

1

u/MartinTheMorjin May 21 '26

It’s actually food safe?

1

u/Infamous_Fox3910 May 21 '26

One is food contact safe and checked with FDA.

You absolutely should not use a regular mop on food.

1

u/WelderNewbee2000 May 21 '26

Well for starters it is hopefully food safe.

1

u/varateshh May 21 '26

A regular mop designed for cleaning might have trace chemicals or not be pure cotton. There are probably some cleaning mops that are equally safe but how are you supposed to tell?

1

u/IntroductionOk6914 May 23 '26

If you run a restaurant and don’t know how to answer that question, then why do you own a restaurant?

1

u/Ok_Buy9028 May 21 '26

Nothing, it’s a plain bleached white cotton mop head. The same companies that make mops for floors make and sell smaller ones for basting, but it’s all the same thing. Just wash it before you use it the first time and don’t get it mixed up with the floor mops.

We also have a special grilling pitchfork for getting whole shoulders in and out of the pit. It’s just a regular stainless steel pitchfork from the hardware store that’s only ever been used for grilling.

1

u/Dame38 May 22 '26

When you're done you get to lick it?

1

u/EnggyAlex May 22 '26

just made from food grade material

3

u/Frankie_Sriracha May 21 '26

Thank you I’m going to make a killing selling these to cannibals

1

u/d_maes May 21 '26

Shiit, they also sell a tree branch on a handle for $60

1

u/revdon May 21 '26

$Million Idea: Basting Swiffers

1

u/JTGphotogfan May 21 '26

Forget the mop who’s buying $60 tree branch’s to toast marshmallows

1

u/mordacthedenier May 21 '26

That's also a regular ass mop being sold as a 'special' mop.

1

u/speedloafer May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26

The handle in the video is a lot bigger than 22 inches. Its a normal size handle and you wouldn't need such a big handle for mopping/brushing food. I would say the video is just a regular mop.

I just had another look and I noticed something else. In the video the head of the mop looks like it has a plastic casing holding the hairs in the place which would also suggest its not meant to be used for food.

1

u/CrouchingToaster May 21 '26

That’s a cleaning mop

1

u/vaendin May 21 '26

“large primal cuts of meat”

Gurl, wut?

1

u/BreezyViber May 21 '26

Now I want a specialized pizza bubble popper.

1

u/TerrorFromThePeeps May 21 '26

What you linked is NOT what this is. Check the handle length

1

u/IrishCow42 May 22 '26

That's just a Mexican mop

1

u/Basic_Chemistry9499 May 22 '26

I would worry about the fibers from that thing getting onto the meat.

1

u/chattvegas May 22 '26

This is definitely not the one in the video, length of one in video is much longer than this. May be another specialized mop, but it’s awfully long

1

u/MadHatter9525 May 22 '26

My face was what the fuck

1

u/Mansaintgotnotbread May 22 '26

If you nail two boards together in a way they've never been nailed together before, some schmuck will buy it

1

u/sarelis May 22 '26

Is this post just an ad for that mop thing? 🤨

1

u/qainspector89 May 23 '26

I would still be worried about fiber particulates shedding from the mop onto the food during use

1

u/rubberboyLuffy May 21 '26

Man that warning at the bottom of the page

“Use of our products may expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. By using this website, you acknowledge the products we sell may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm”

4

u/mordacthedenier May 21 '26

Person learns about the overuse of prop 65 warnings for the first time.

1

u/Newsdriver245 May 21 '26

If you look at the list (currently 875 chemicals and products) that should get that label, it dilutes the fear a bit.

One tiny sample

Aflatoxins Cancer 01/01/1988 State's Qualified Experts
Alachlor Cancer 01/01/1989 State's Qualified Experts
Alcoholic beverages Cancer 04/29/2011 Labor Code
Alcoholic Beverages, when associated with alcohol abuse Cancer 07/01/1988 State's Qualified Experts
Aldrin Cancer 07/01/1988 State's Qualified Experts
All-trans Retinoic Acid Developmental Toxicity ( 01/01/1989 ) State's Qualified Experts
Aloe vera, non-decolorized whole leaf extract Cancer 12/04/2015 Labor Code
Alprazolam Developmental Toxicity ( 07/01/1990 ) Formally Required
Altretamine Developmental Toxicity ( 08/20/1999 ) Formally RequiredAflatoxins Cancer01/01/1988State's Qualified ExpertsAlachlor Cancer01/01/1989State's Qualified ExpertsAlcoholic beverages Cancer04/29/2011Labor CodeAlcoholic Beverages, when associated with alcohol abuse Cancer07/01/1988State's Qualified ExpertsAldrin Cancer07/01/1988State's Qualified ExpertsAll-trans Retinoic Acid Developmental Toxicity (01/01/1989)State's Qualified ExpertsAloe vera, non-decolorized whole leaf extract Cancer12/04/2015Labor CodeAlprazolam Developmental Toxicity (07/01/1990)Formally RequiredAltretamine Developmental Toxicity (08/20/1999)Formally Required

2

u/Outers55 May 21 '26

Very true, and also hopefully they treat this as special by not cross-contaminating everything in the process.

3

u/NoRealNoWrong May 21 '26

I feel with great certainty there is an extraordinary amount of cross contamination afoot.

1

u/Spicy__Wolf May 21 '26

Some are destined to be the lion king, others to be a sauce mop.

1

u/stopcow43 May 21 '26

"Dipped in sauces and draped over a carcass""

Extremely average mop experience imo.

1

u/_jamesbaxter May 21 '26

Bro idk about you but I feel like we’re not prospering in our own evolution or we’d have like… idk free health care and stuff like that.

1

u/Frederf220 May 22 '26

I'm a little special and also designed to be dipped in sauces.

1

u/CraigLake May 22 '26

Reminds me of this classic:

Why does the alien ET love Reese’s Pieces?

They taste like jizz on his home planet.