Imagine the sizzle of perfectly cooked bacon or the aroma of pancakes hitting a massive, flat cooking surface outdoors. That’s the magic a Blackstone Griddle brings to your backyard. But when you look online, the choices can feel overwhelming. Do you need two burners or four? Should you get the cart model or a tabletop version? It’s easy to feel lost staring at all those steel tops and BTUs.
Choosing the perfect Blackstone can stop your backyard cooking dreams before they even start. You want the right size for your family and enough power for those big weekend breakfasts. Getting it wrong means wasted money and frustrating cooking sessions. We understand that struggle because we’ve been there too!
This guide cuts through the confusion. We break down everything you need to know about Blackstone Griddles—from size comparisons to essential accessories. By the end of this post, you will know exactly which Blackstone model fits your lifestyle perfectly. Let’s dive in and turn your patio into the ultimate outdoor kitchen!
Top Blackstone Griddle Recommendations
- Cook for a Crowd: Whether you are cooking for a large or small group this griddle is equipped to handle the load. This 28” griddle has 524 square inches of cooking space and can hold up to 21 burgers or 15 pancakes so you can get to eating faster.
- Versatile Cooking Space: Make a variety of foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on this griddle top. Whether you are in the mood for traditional barbecue, breakfast foods, or gourmet grilled cheese you can make it on your griddle.
- Two H-Style Burners: This griddle features two independently controlled H-style burners with a combined 34,000 BTUs so you can cook on lower heat on one side of the griddle while another part of your meal cooks on a higher heat on the other side.
- Hassle-Free Cleanup: Make grease disposal easy by using the Blackstone-patented rear grease management system. Push any food debris or grease to the back of your griddle to collect in the rear grease cup for easy cleanup and disposal.
- Counter-Height Side Shelves: Enjoy the extra meal prep and serving room provided by the dual side shelves on this griddle and work on them more comfortably at their taller counter height.
- Omnivore Griddle - The 28 inch Blackstone griddle features Blackstone's patented Omnivore Griddle Plate Technology, engineered for enhanced even heating across the surface, preventing warping, and reducing fuel usage while maintaining high temperatures. This feature allows for efficient cooking and ensures that food is cooked to perfection.
- Two Independently Controlled Cooking Zones - This griddle grill is designed to enhance your cooking experience by featuring two distinct cooking zones, enabling you to simultaneously prepare a variety of items without any hassle. This Blackstone flat top grill boasts a generous 527 square inch cooking surface, providing ample space for you to cook for a large group of people or for preparing multiple dishes at once.
- Side Shelf - This outdoor griddle comes equipped with a side shelf, which includes integrated tool hooks. This addition not only offers generous space for preparation but also serves as an excellent area for serving, enhancing the overall cooking experience.
- No Grease Mess - The Blackstone 28 inch griddle contains a superb grease management system. An opening in the rear allows you to shoot the extra grease from the 2 burner Blackstone griddle into the grease cup hooked onto the back, sparing you the mess.
- Portable Grill- This outdoor gas griddle is designed with convenience in mind. It features a pair of smoothly rolling wheels and a sturdy handle, ensuring that it can be easily transported to wherever your culinary adventures may take you. This Blackstone grill also comes equipped with two wheels and an attached handle, making it easy to move the griddle to the best spot in your outdoor kitchen.
- Expansive Cooking Surface: Prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the whole family on this spacious 36" flat top griddle with 4 independently controlled burners.
- Omnivore Griddle Plate Technology: Enjoy even, consistent heating across the entire cooking surface, plus improved thermal stability and fuel efficiency for optimal performance.
- Versatile Outdoor Cooking: Sear steaks, griddle pancakes, sauté veggies, and more on this multi-purpose outdoor cooking station, ideal for backyard gatherings and tailgating.
- Maximum Convenience: Maximize productivity with 2 side shelves, a magnetic tool strip, tool hooks, and a convenient grease management system.
- Protective Hard Cover: Safeguard your large griddle between uses with the durable, powder-coated steel hard cover, and easily transport or store the unit when not in use.
- 【Perfect 35pcs BBQ Accessories】This griddle accessories kit includes: 1* long griddle spatula, 1* long slotted spatula, 1* large burger turner, 1* slant edge scraper, 1* small spatula, 1* griddle flipper, 1* slotted turner, 1* griddle press, 1* grill tongs, 1* sauce brush, 1* chopper, 2* spice shakers, 2* squeeze bottles, 4* egg rings, 1* cleaning brush, 10* hooks, 1* meat knife, 2* basting cover, 1* storage bag, 1* gift box.
- 【Premium Stainless Steel】Compared with other stainless steel on the market, Our metal flat top grill is made of high quality stainless steel, heat-resistant and rust-proof, safer and more durable. So you can easy enjoy your grilling, camping or cooking without worry about your tools bending, breaking or rusting again, which is BPA free you can use it with confidence.
- 【Easy to Clean & Storage & Carry】Our griddle tool kit is dishwasher safe, or easily wash by hand with water and soap, so you can enjoy a delicious barbecue with your family without hassle. Each tool can be placed in an orderly manner and better protected in the compact storage bag. Convenient hangers are provided for easy storage and food grade grill tools are easily cleaned with warm, soapy water. Note: After washing the spatula and scraper, please make sure to dry them to avoid rust.
- 【Chef's Choice griddle accessories kit】This grill tools set with griddle scraper, spatulas and oil bottles helps you to grill as easily as a restaurant chef. Great for flipping burgers, pancakes, veggies, cutting bread,meat and sausage, scraper & chopper to dice food and scrape griddles clean. The Long Griddle Spatula can move large amounts of food quickly and accurately. Egg rings and pepper shakers to enhance your griddle cooking experience.
- 【Great Gift Choice】This practical barbecue tools set with beautifully designed gift box is ideal gift choice for Fathers Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. It includes all the tools needed for yard, outdoor, and camping barbecues an ideal gift for friends, lovers, or family members who love cooking or barbecue and camping enthusiast.
- 339 Sq. Inch Heavy-Duty Cooking Surface
- Two independently controlled cooking zones with a total of 24,000 BTU's.
- Dual stainless-steel H burners.
- Integrated classically styled, painted hood with orange handle grip.
- Omnivore Griddle Plate Technology: The Omnivore griddle plate with built-in wind guards is designed and tested to recover faster, prevent warping, and use less fuel to maintain high heat
- Spacious Griddle Top: Easily cook for a crowd on this 28” griddle with 524 square inches of cooking space. Cook up to 21 burgers or 15 pancakes at a time
- Versatile Cooking Space: Whether you are in the mood for a burger, breakfast food, or a panini, the versatile nature of a griddle top means you can cook a wide variety of foods on this one cooking unit
- Cook a Few Items Simultaneously: This griddle has two independently controlled burners which means you can cook a couple of different elements of your meal at the same time at their ideal temperature
- Hassle-Free Cleanup: The Blackstone-patented rear grease management system makes grease disposal easy. Simply guide any grease and food debris to the back of your griddle to be collected in the grease cup for easy removal
- MAKE EVERY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE DELICIOUS with Black Stone griddle. Perfect for the backyard or the great outdoors, this flat top griddle makes cooking on-the-go easy and yum! It can be used to make everything from scrambled eggs and pancakes to bacon and hamburgers.
- PORTABLE CONVENIENCE: Take your grilling experience beyond your backyard because our tabletop griddle is compact and lightweight enough to be taken anywhere. Measuring just 17.5" L x 8.5" H x 18" W inches, it easily fits in your car trunk for tailgating, camping, hiking and other things fun.
- FAMILY SIZE COOKING SURFACE: The roomy and spacious 17 inches (268 sq. inch) cooking surface of our stainless steel griddle can cook up 9 burgers or 9 pancakes or 12 eggs at once, which is enough to make burgers or breakfast for a family of four.
- NO MESS CLEAN UP: The integrated grease tray of our stovetop griddle catches all the drip and makes cleanup a breeze. The tray has a large capacity and does not require frequent emptying while you are busy cooking. The cooking surface can be wiped with a paper towel for hassle-free cleaning.
- NO MORE BURNT OR UNDERCOOKED BACON: We have used an "H" style burner that ensures even heat distribution and cooking across the steel griddle. The built-in igniter lets you customize the heat intensity from light to high.
- 312 in2 coated cooking area: Large cooking area with ceramic titanium coating ensures easy and convenient cleanup
- Patented “Rotate and Remove” E-Series hood: Easily remove the hood at will and create a teppanyaki cooking experience
- Two independently controlled heat zones: Cook your main and side dishes simultaneously at different temperatures
- Rear Grease Management System: Push grease and food debris to the back of the griddle for easy cleanup
- E-Series units are not compatible with metal utensils
The Ultimate Blackstone Griddle Buying Guide
Blackstone griddles have taken the outdoor cooking world by storm. They offer a huge, flat cooking surface perfect for everything from pancakes to smash burgers. Choosing the right one can feel tricky. This guide will help you pick the best Blackstone for your backyard feasts.
1. Key Features to Look For
When you shop for a Blackstone, certain features make a big difference in your cooking. Think about what you plan to cook most often.
Size Matters Most
- Cooking Surface Area: Blackstone sizes range from small 17-inch tabletop models to massive 36-inch carts. A family of four might be fine with a 28-inch. If you host big parties, go for the 36-inch. Bigger is better for cooking large batches at once.
- Burner System: Look at how many burners the griddle has. More burners mean you can create different heat zones. You can sear steak on high heat on one side and keep veggies warm on low heat on the other.
- Heat Output (BTUs): BTUs (British Thermal Units) measure how hot the burners get. Higher BTUs mean faster heating. Most quality Blackstones offer 60,000 BTUs or more across the entire surface.
Convenience and Storage
- Mobility: Do you need to move it often? Cart models usually have wheels. Tabletop models are easier to store in a garage.
- Grease Management: A good grease trap is essential. It collects the oil and drippings. Make sure the cup or tray is easy to remove and clean.
2. Important Materials
The quality of the materials determines how long your griddle lasts and how well it cooks.
The Steel Surface
Blackstone griddles use thick, cold-rolled steel for the cooktop. This is the most important part. Thicker steel (usually 6mm or more) holds heat much better. Thin steel heats unevenly, leading to cold spots.
The Frame and Cart
The body and cart are typically made of powder-coated steel. This coating helps resist rust and weather damage. Check the quality of the welds and the sturdiness of the legs, especially on larger models.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes one Blackstone better than another? It usually comes down to heat control and durability.
Improving Quality
- Even Heating: High-quality burners spread the flame evenly across the bottom of the steel plate. Look for models with stainless steel burners, as they tend to last longer than cheaper alternatives.
- Ignition System: A reliable push-button or electronic ignition system saves frustration. You want it to light quickly every time.
Reducing Quality
- Thin Steel: If the steel is too thin, it cools down too fast when you put cold food on it. This causes poor searing.
- Poor Wind Guards: On windy days, low-quality side shelves or flimsy wind guards let the wind blow out your burners or lower the temperature significantly.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
Blackstones are versatile tools. They excel at high-heat cooking where you need space.
Great for Breakfast
The flat surface is perfect for breakfast. You can cook bacon, eggs, pancakes, and hash browns all at the same time without losing anything down the grates. This saves on cleanup!
Mastering the Smash Burger
For lunch or dinner, the Blackstone shines at searing. Smash burgers get that wonderful crust because the entire surface is hot. You can also stir-fry vegetables quickly, keeping them crisp.
Portability vs. Power
If you camp often, the tabletop models offer great portability. If you cook every weekend at home, the large cart models provide the power and stability you need for serious cooking.
Blackstone Griddle Buying FAQs
Q: Do I need to season my Blackstone griddle?
A: Yes, absolutely. Seasoning is the process of baking oil onto the steel. This creates a natural, non-stick surface and protects the steel from rust. Most new Blackstones come pre-seasoned, but you should always add a few extra layers yourself.
Q: Can I use a Blackstone in the rain?
A: You should never use any outdoor cooking appliance in heavy rain or storms. While the steel resists rust when seasoned, you must cover the griddle when it is not in use. Water damages the burners and ruins the seasoning.
Q: What is the difference between a 28-inch and a 36-inch model?
A: The 28-inch is great for a family of 3-5 people. The 36-inch gives you much more room—you can cook for 8-10 people easily. It also usually has more powerful burners.
Q: How do I clean the griddle after cooking?
A: For light messes, scrape food debris into the grease trap while the griddle is still warm. For heavier cleaning, pour a little water on the surface while it’s hot to create steam, then scrape. Wipe clean with a paper towel.
Q: Are Blackstone griddles hard to assemble?
A: Assembly takes time, especially for the large cart models. You usually need basic tools like a screwdriver or wrench. Follow the instructions carefully. It often takes one to two hours.
Q: What kind of fuel does it use?
A: Almost all standard Blackstone griddles use small, 1-pound propane cylinders. You can buy adapters to use larger 20-pound tanks, which is recommended for longer cooking sessions.
Q: Is the cooking surface removable?
A: On most popular cart models, the steel top surface is heavy but removable. This makes deep cleaning or moving the griddle easier, but it is not designed for daily removal.
Q: Do I need a cover for my Blackstone?
A: Yes. A proper Blackstone cover is highly recommended. It protects the burners and the steel cooktop from moisture, leaves, and dust when you are not cooking.
Q: How long does the seasoning last?
A: If properly maintained and covered, a good seasoning layer can last for many months. If you cook greasy foods often, the seasoning self-repairs. If you scrub too hard or leave it uncovered in bad weather, you might need to re-season.
Q: Can I cook frozen food on a Blackstone?
A: Yes, you can. However, cooking frozen food requires you to lower the heat slightly at first. If the heat is too high, the outside will burn before the inside thaws and cooks through.