Growing up in the 90s, everyone had a Weber charcoal grill on the back patio. Nowadays, everyone has a Blackstone griddle, myself included. What’s so great about the best Blackstone griddles? They offer taste, convenience, creativity, and more, making them one of the most popular grilling choices for campsites and back patios.
Let’s review what a Blackstone is and what makes their products a great choice for replacing your old backyard grill. Then, I’ll compare Blackstone griddles to help you find the right one for you.
What Is a Blackstone Griddle versus a Grill?
The main difference between a grill and a griddle is the cooking surface. A grill uses a metal grate, usually cast iron or steel, which exposes food to a direct flame. A griddle has a flat top design, which does not expose food to direct flame. These can be made of cast iron or cold-rolled steel. That said, don’t be alarmed if you hear someone call Blackstone a grill, as the term is used interchangeably, even for pellet grills and smokers.
Best Blackstone Griddle Options to Choose From
The first Blackstone griddle was released in 2008. It’s the same 36” original that is still produced today. The company later went public in 2021 and has been exploding in the market ever since.
They now offer a wide range of griddle types, sizes, and accessories—don’t forget the Blackstone accessories! The griddles are broken down by the size of the cooktop. Let’s look at some of the best blackstone grills below.
The Original Blackstone 17-inch Griddle
Blackstone’s smallest griddle is a 17” tabletop model. This is a great size for solo campers just learning to use a griddle and for on-the-go camping. It features a single burner and uses one-pound disposable propane cylinders.
| Cooking Surface Size (in2) | Number of Burners | Weight (lbs.) |
| 267” | 1 | 17.5 |
Want to learn more about this Blackstone griddle? Check out our Blackstone 17″ Griddle Review.
The Omnivore Blackstone 22-inch Griddle
The next size up still in the tabletop configuration is 22”, a dual-burner unit that’s great for couples. It’s still very portable, making it an excellent addition to the campsite. It also uses a one-pound disposable propane cylinder.
| Cooking Surface Size (in2) | Number of Burners | Weight (lbs.) |
| 361” | 2 | 33.5 |
Are you curious how this larger Blackstone Griddle compares to the smaller version? Read our complete Blackstone 22″ Griddle Review to see how an RV family used one to create an outdoor kitchen for under $500.
The Omnivore 28-inch Blackstone Griddle
The first freestanding griddle in the lineup is the 28” Omnivore model. It has two burners fueled by a standard 20-pound propane cylinder. If you have room in your camper or truck bed, it’s a great choice for small families.
| Cooking Surface Size (in2) | Number of Burners | Weight (lbs.) |
| 524” | 2 | 84 |
The XL Blackstone 28-inch Griddle
This is another great size for families, yet still small enough to take camping if you have a large RV with extra room, like a toy hauler. This griddle is similar to the 28” Omnivore but offers more depth for a larger cooking surface, hence the “XL.” It also has a third burner for more even heat distribution.
| Cooking Surface Size (in2) | Number of Burners | Weight (lbs.) |
| 613” | 3 | 128 |
The Original 36-inch Blackstone Griddle
The largest size in the lineup is the 36” Original Blackstone griddle. This unit features a large cooking surface, enough for the whole family and maybe even your campground neighbors. It has a four-burner setup to keep the entire griddle surface hot. Check out our Blackstone 36 griddle review to learn more.
| Cooking Surface Size (in2) | Number of Burners | Weight (lbs.) |
| 768” | 4 | 137 |
The E-Series 22-inch Blackstone Griddle
If you want a griddle but don’t want to bother with propane, consider this 22-inch electric griddle. Great for indoor use as it doesn’t produce toxic fumes and is compact for easy on-the-go travel. The LCD makes temperature selection a breeze.
| Cooking Surface Size (in2) | Number of Burners | Weight (lbs.) |
| 358” | 2 | 30.5 |
Which Blackstone Griddle to Buy?
No one size or configuration works best for everyone; it all comes down to what you value most. For example, I love the 22” because it’s big enough to feed my wife and me but also portable enough to load up in the back of the truck when we want to go camping.
Conversely, if you have a family of four, the 22” griddle will likely not cut it. You’ll want to consider the 28” (Original or XL) if you want to travel with your griddle or the 36” if you’ll use it strictly at home.
Are Blackstone Griddles Cast Iron?
Blackstone griddle tops are made of cold-rolled steel, not cast iron. They are both great options, but cold-rolled steel has some advantages over cast iron. In a sense, it’s the modern-day equivalent of cast iron. Cold-rolled steel is more durable, heats/cools faster, and is considerably lighter than cast iron. However, it can be prone to warping if you excessively preheat your griddle top before cooking.
How To Clean a Blackstone Griddle
You should clean your griddle after every use. Luckily, it’s an easy, three-step process. Here’s how to do so:
- Let the griddle top cool, then scrape away leftover food particulates with your metal scraper tool. If the scraper does not remove everything, switch to a nonmetallic scrubber or pumice stone.
- Once finished, pour a mix of water and mild dish detergent onto the griddle top and begin scrubbing. Feel free not to use soap if you are worried about ruining the existing seasoning, but the cooktop is made of rolled steel, not cast iron, which is much more porous.
- Once finished, dry the griddle top thoroughly with a towel.
You’ll need to find a place to store your griddle when not in use. This location needs to be cool and dry, like a garage or storage closet. You must ensure there’s no moisture on the griddle top, as that causes rust. If you must store the griddle outside, use a cover at the very least. Blackstone offers hard covers for the griddle top and soft covers for the entire griddle. Explore all grill covers for your Blackstone
How To Season a Blackstone Griddle
It’s smart to season your griddle after each use and before if it has sat long enough between uses. A good coat of seasoning ensures that no rust forms and that food does not stick and burn. It’s also an easy process, and here’s how to do it:
- Heat the griddle and apply a few tablespoons of seasoning (the amount of seasoning varies by cooktop size).
- Use a paper towel and your spatula to evenly spread the seasoning on the entire cooking surface, including the sides.
- Let the seasoning heat and begin to smoke.
- Repeat the process 2-3 times as needed.
Can I Use Butter to Season my Blackstone Griddle?
Butter has a low smoke point, so it will burn off too quickly to use as seasoning; you need to use an oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil. The Blackstone griddle seasoning is best, but vegetable oil works great if you’re in a pinch or run out.
Is a Blackstone Worth It?
If you ask me, yes, undoubtedly, a Blackstone griddle is worth the investment. It may be a bit more costly than your typical backyard barbecue grill, but it’s worth it. The convenience of cooking an entire meal at once, combined with the ease of use of a gas grill, makes it a strong contender for any backyard or campsite occasion.
Hopefully, this article helps you find the right Blackstone griddle for you and your family. But perhaps you decided a Blackstone is not for you, and that’s totally fine. In that case, you may be interested in similar outdoor cooking options in the articles below.
Let us know in the comments what grill you use at home or at the campsite and what you love to make!
I own a different brand griddle, but I have adapted the Blackstone stand for my 27″ griddle. It works very well. Consider using one of the Blackstone portable stands for your non-Blackstone griddle if you can do some simple use of tools and hardware or buy the Blackstone. products to begin with. When I bought my unit, I didn’t see an affordable griddle for my use as a one-person camper going to out-of-town car shows. Space and weight were also a concern for my usage.
At that time, my local RV store was not a Camping world store, but thankfully, they now have associated themselves as a Camping World store and nearby.
Hey Col,
Thanks for sharing; that’s great insight! I’m sure adapting your griddle to the Blackstone stand was rewarding. Let us know if you need anything. Hopefully, others can learn from your advice if they need a stand!