Are All Blackstone Griddles The Same? (Solved and Compared)

Are all Blackstone Griddles the same? You are not alone in wondering this. Whenever you see a post online in a grilling forum talking about Blackstone griddles, it can become a little confusing.

Everyone usually just refers to their Blackstone griddle as a ‘Blackstone’, mentioning no differences, or explaining which model it is that they’re using.

So after a while, a ‘Blackstone’ sort of loses its meaning, and you wonder if all Blackstone griddles are the same.

But don’t worry, the grilling forums will always remain confusing, but today I’m here to make things a little clearer for you at least, by answering the question ‘Are all Blackstone griddles the same?’.

Want to find out more? Then stick around because I’ll take you through all the differences you need to know about right here.

So, Are They The Same?

Yes, and no. By that I mean they’re all very similar. Blackstone has a way of making griddles that just work, so naturally, they don’t bother changing the way they make it between each new model they bring out.

But that doesn’t mean there’s a one size fits all approach to the griddles they have available.

So today, I’ll talk about all the major differences to look out for, so if you’re thinking about picking up a Blackstone griddle for yourself, you’ll know which differences to focus on so you get the right griddle for you.

The Differences Between Blackstone Griddles

This will be a bit of a whistle-stop tour of all the major differences between the Blackstone models, so you may want to head to the products page on Blackstone’s website to get a clearer idea of what I’m talking about.

But when you head there, you’ll need to know which differences to look out for, and here they are:

Number Of Burners

One of the major differences you’ll see between the products Blackstone offers is the number of burners on each griddle.

This is, of course, affected by the cooking surface (which I’ll get on to later) but knowing the number of burners the model has is important.

It can be quite disappointing to get a griddle home expecting four burners to find out there are only two.

To some that might not matter, but if you’re cooking for a large family and need to set burners at different temperatures to keep some food warm while cooking others, it can be challenging when you don’t have the number of burners you really need to control different cooking zones on your griddle.

For example, their 28″ models only have 2 burners, and while the cooking surface might be large enough for your needs, if you opted for the 36″ models instead, you’d have 4 burners, which might be more suitable to your style of cooking.

My point is, the burners vary between models, so it’s important to know how many you’d ideally want before buying.

Size Of Cooking Surface

I’ve touched on it already, but the size of the cooking surface also varies between models. I’ve already mentioned the 28″ and 36″ models, but there are also the 22″ and 17″ models available.

Deciding what you need for the purpose you’re going to be using your griddle for the most is important, so you can get the right one now.

It’s no use assuming you’re only going to be cooking for your family of four on a 22″ model, just to throw large family BBQs every summer with 20+ guests. Because then the obvious choice would be the 36″ model.

If I was to give a top tip in this section, it’d be to watch videos on YouTube of the specific model you’re thinking about, to see the size difference in video form.

It’s always much easier to determine if it’s right for you on video than it is through some spec details and pictures online.

Likewise, if you are going to be cooking for small parties mostly, then there’s no reason to splurge on the 36″ model, because the extra size and the extra burners will cost you more.

Obviously, it’s your decision to make, but remember to consider what you want from your griddle in terms of size before deciding on a specific model.

Integrated Grill?

As with most griddles these days, there are options to buy griddles with specific add-ons that make it more appealing to people who want a bit of a combination griddle.

One of these examples is the Blackstone Griddle and Charcoal Grill Combo option available on Blackstone’s website.

Rather than just getting a griddle, you also get an integrated charcoal grill. Of course, you can cook everything on a griddle, but I know many people who swear burgers taste better on a grill.

There’s something about those char-grilled grill lines that add an extra depth of flavor to the meat.

But I also know those people won’t just buy a grill, because you can’t cook your eggs in the morning on a grill like you can on a griddle.

The solution? A griddle with an integrated grill, of course!

These slightly more niche products won’t appeal to everyone, but I can definitely see the appeal of having a griddle with an integrated grill, and others will too.

So, think about whether you’d like an integrated grill too, because Blackstone offers this option, as well as their regular griddles.

Check out our comparison of the best Griddle/Grill combos here.

Deep Fryer?

Likewise, their Griddle Plus 28in Rangetop Combo Griddle Cooking Station also has deep fryers next to the griddle.

This is something I didn’t understand at first, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.

Who wouldn’t want to fry chicken at the same time their burgers cook on the griddle? When you think about it, it makes sense, and so you should consider whether a deep fryer combo is important to you.

If it is, then Blackstone offers this too. It might not be for you, and that’s OK, but it’s important to know these differences so you can at least consider them.

Hoods

Perhaps the most important difference of all, in terms of storage and being able to keep your Blackstone griddle looking great without too much additional work over winter, are hoods.

Some models have them, some don’t, and it’s up to you to decide whether you need one. This helpful guide will steer you in the right direction on whether you actually need a hood or not.

Of course, they can help with cooking by closing the lid to keep things warm after everything has been cooked, but the most important way I’ve found hoods to be helpful is preventing rust over winter storage.

I’d still recommend covering your griddle too, so you might decide the cover alone is enough without the hood. It’s something to think about, though, so you know what your own priorities are.

Cost

And finally, all the differences above make one enormous impact on cost. Additional burners, more cooking space, integrated grills, deep fryers, and hoods will all ultimately cost you more.

So when you’re looking at the differences between the models, always remember to keep one eye on the final bill before checking out, or else you might be left with a nasty surprise.

Hopefully, today’s post has taught you that all Blackstone griddles are similar, but they are not the same.

Focusing on the differences between models is important so you can find the perfect griddle for you, and remember, there are far more differences out there than the grilling forums and all their talk about the ‘Blackstone’ would have you believe!