Keep hearing about a “stainless steel Blackstone Griddle” and wondering why you haven’t seen one? Well, let’s solve the question “Does Blackstone Griddle Make a Stainless Steel Griddle”.
Updated: 01/10/2023
Due to the fact that Blackstone offers such a wide range of products that are often marketed slightly differently at different retailers, it can become confusing to know exactly what type of griddle you are getting with a Blackstone product.
So, rather than leaving the guesswork to you, we’ve been in contact with Blackstone customer services to confirm exactly what each griddle top is made of, and to ask why so many retailers describe them differently.
Basically, if you’ve been confused about Blackstone griddles and whether or not they are made of stainless steel, this is where you should come to clear it all up!
What Are Blackstone Griddle Tops Made Of?
So, does Blackstone make a stainless steel griddle? Well, the answer to that question is no. Blackstone exclusively makes their griddle tops out of cold-rolled steel, which is obviously not the same as stainless steel.
Blackstone griddles are typically made of cold-rolled steel. Cold-rolled steel is a type of steel that is made by a process called cold rolling, which involves the use of rollers to compress the steel at room temperature. This process helps to give the steel a smooth surface and improves its strength.
Blackstone’s griddles have a cold-rolled steel cooking surface and a powder-coated steel frame. This combination of materials makes the griddle durable and long-lasting, able to withstand high heat and constant use.
The cooking surface is made from a proprietary blend of metals that is designed to retain heat and distribute it evenly across the surface. This helps to ensure that food is cooked evenly and that there are no hot or cold spots on the griddle. Additionally, Blackstone’s griddles have a non-stick surface which makes them easy to clean and maintain.
The powder-coated steel frame is also designed to be sturdy and durable, able to withstand the weight of the cooking surface and the heat generated by the griddle.
This frame also includes features such as adjustable legs, side shelves, and wheels, which make it easy to move the griddle around and use it in a variety of settings.
One of the advantages of using cold-rolled steel for the construction of the griddle, is that its a less expensive material than stainless steel, while still providing a long-lasting durability, stability and an even cooking surface. It’s also rust resistant, which helps to maintain the griddle’s longevity.
What Did Blackstone Support Tell Us?
After some internet scouring, I realized that Blackstone likely does not have a “stainless steel” griddle. However, just to be sure, I contact their support and asked. I received an email response back that was very to the point saying, and I quote: “They are only rolled steel we do not have stainless steel.
Thanks, Ty”. I think it’s safe to say, Ty isn’t much of a talker. So, with that said, it’s official, Blackstone does not have a stainless steel griddle top.
Why Is There Confusion?
Now, if Blackstone only makes cold-rolled steel griddle tops, then why is there such confusion? If you type ‘Blackstone Stainless Steel Griddle’ into a search engine, you will find results.
So what’s that all about? Well, we asked Blackstone customer services, and they have helped clear that up a little.
Some of their models have a stainless steel faceplate, and others have the more traditional black faceplate that we’re used to seeing from Blackstone.
It’s also often the case that they also make the griddle burner elements beneath the griddle top of stainless steel. So the reason you hear people talk about stainless steel griddles from Blackstone is simply confusion.
There are stainless steel elements to the griddles, but Blackstone does not offer a single model that has a stainless steel_ griddle top_. You will only ever cook on cold-rolled steel when cooking with a Blackstone product.
So if this stainless steel faceplate is causing so much confusion, what’s the difference between that, and the traditional black faceplate?
Blackstone Stainless Steel Faceplate VS Black Faceplate
There are a few models that have a stainless steel faceplate from Blackstone, but in the interest of transparency (and your time), we’ll just be discussing the 22-inch Tabletop Griddle with stainless steel faceplate, found here.
To compare it with, we’ve also chosen the traditional 22-inch tabletop griddle with a typical black faceplate, which you can look at here if you wish. BTW, if you are considering a portable griddle like these shown, you may want to check our guide to Portable Griddles For The Outdoors, it’s worth a look.
Now, the first thing you’ll notice about the faceplate is that they are aesthetically different. When made of stainless steel, it is slightly shinier and brighter, and when it is the traditional black faceplate, it is duller.
To many people, this won’t even cross their minds when purchasing a griddle, because they simply want one that will do the job right, but many others will care about how their griddle looks, and Blackstone is aware of this. They wouldn’t offer a stainless steel faceplate model if they didn’t think people would like the look of it too.
But the major difference between the two models is the weight. Blackstone models with stainless steel faceplates are lighter. You’ll notice this with any griddles that have more stainless steel implemented into the design because stainless steel is just lighter than other steel.
Cold-Rolled Steel vs Stainless Steel?
Blackstone griddles are primarily made of cold-rolled steel rather than stainless steel for a few reasons.
First, cold-rolled steel is generally less expensive than stainless steel, which allows Blackstone to produce griddles at a more affordable price point.
Second, cold-rolled steel is known for its durability and resistance to warping and rusting, which makes it a great choice for outdoor cooking appliances like griddles.
Stainless steel, while also durable, can warp if exposed to excessive heat and can rust if exposed to moisture, which can compromise the longevity of the griddle. Cold-rolled steel is also rust resistant and can withstand high heat, making it an ideal material for griddle’s construction.
Third, cold-rolled steel is known for its excellent heat retention and heat distribution properties. A griddle’s ability to retain heat and distribute it evenly across the cooking surface is crucial for cooking food evenly, and cold-rolled steel does this very well.
Finally, cold-rolled steel is non-stick which makes it easy to clean and maintain, which is an important factor when it comes to outdoor cooking appliances. This is one of the reasons Blackstone uses a proprietary blend of metals for the cooking surface which is designed to retain heat and distribute it evenly across the surface.
It’s worth noting that, Stainless steel has its own benefits, such as its resist to discoloration and stains, making it a perfect material for kitchen utensils. However, for outdoor cooking appliances like griddles, cold-rolled steel is a great choice because of its durability, heat retention, and resistance to warping and rusting.
Parting Word
Blackstone griddles are made primarily from cold-rolled steel which is designed to provide a durable, long-lasting, and even cooking surface. The proprietary blend of metals used for the cooking surface and the powder-coated steel frame make the griddle sturdy, rust resistant and easy to clean and maintain. With their features and construction, Blackstone griddles are a great choice for outdoor cooking.
