So, you got a new griddle and now you need to know how much propane your new Blackstone griddle is going to use. We have done the research (and the math) and present to you this guide to Blackstone griddles and how long will a propane bottle last when cooking on your Blackstone griddle.
Is there a better feeling? You just got a new griddle, you brought it home, you opened the box and before the first screw is turned, you have already thought of 10 different amazing new dishes you plan on griddling up for the family.
However, you may still be wondering if that old propane bottle you have will last in your new Blackstone Griddle, or if you need to go get a new one.
STOP: Before you fire it up, here are the 5 MUST-DO Steps for Every New Griddle you don’t want to skip!
Maybe you just want to plan for a trip camping and need to know how long that 1lb green propane bottle will last in your 17” Tabletop griddle. Fortunately, there is a bit of a math equation that can figure all this out.
If you hate math you can skip below to the chart showing your griddle and how long it will last for each size propane/griddle combo you may have.
Understanding Heat and British Thermal Unit (BTU)
While you may have never heard of a British Thermal Unit, you likely have heard of a BTU, it’s labeled on everything from a hairdryer to your furnace and everything in between that puts out heat. Grills and Griddles are no different.
BTUs are determined by how much heat a product puts out and the measurement is taken in a BTU rating. For example, a Mr. Buddy Propane Heater puts out an advertised BTU of 9,000 BTU’s per hour. Alternatively, your home’s furnace on average puts out between 80,000 to 100,000 BTU’s per hour.
Propane BTU Ratings by Bottle Size
Propane bottles have two measurements, both weight and in BTUs. Propane weight is rated in pounds. A standard 20lb propane tank carries a BTU rating of 432,804 BTU’s. You can determine your consumption by dividing the total BTUs of the propane by the per hour BTU rating of the griddle.
In an easy to digest example, that means a standard 20lb propane tank would last on the 60,000/hour BTU rating of a Blackstone 36 (set on high) would last approximately 7.2 hours.
Our griddles are no different as they also have a BTU rating. For example, the Blackstone 36 has a BTU rating of 60,000 BTU’s when all the burners are on the high settings. If you ran your Blackstone 36 on high, it (in theory) would last for 7.2134 hours. PSSST!!: Want to step up your griddling game? Check out Grill Masters Club
Propane Usage Rating For All Blackstone Griddles
Rather than just leaving you with that for you to break out a calculator and waste time all day, I’ve done the homework and provided this helpful chart below for a quick cheat sheet.
** We should mention that this chart below has a consumption rating with the understanding that the rating is based on your Blackstone griddle being set on high. There are too many variables to give exact ratings as I don’t know how many burners you are using and for how long and at what settings. So, take this with a grain of smoked salt and understand that because you don’t cook with all your burners on high all the time, your propane will actually last much longer. The estimations below only represent your griddle on full blast.
For reference, a 1lb Propane bottle has 21,594 BTUs. A 5lb Propane bottle has 109,800 BTUs and a 20lb Propane bottle carries 432,804 BTUs.
| Griddle Size | BTU Rating | 1lb Propane | 5lb Propane | 20lb Propane |
| Blackstone 17 Adventure | 12,000 BTU | 1.79 hours | 9.15 hours | 36.06 |
| Blackstone 22 Tabletop | 24,000 BTU | 0.89 | 4.57 | 18.03 |
| Blackstone 28 Griddle | 34,000 BTU | 0.63 | 3.23 | 12.72 |
| Blackstone 36 Griddle | 60,000 BTU | 0.36 | 1.83 | 7.21 |
| Blackstone 17 Air Fryer Combo | 12,500 BTU | 1.72 | 8.78 | 34.62 |
| Blackstone 17 w/ Side Burner | 24,000 BTU Combined | 0.89 | 4.57 | 18.03 |
| Blackstone Tailgater Combo | 35,000 BTU Combined | 0.61 | 3.13 | 12.36 |
**Again, remember thats based on your Blackstone Griddle running all burners on high until the bottle runs out, not exactly real-world usage but hopefully a good starting point!
On a side note, consider no longer buying the little green 1lb camping bottles. They are a nightmare for the National Park Service to get rid of as they can’t just be tossed and they have to be properly disposed of. Now that’s now new with propane e bottle, it is an unnecessary headache for the environment and the Parks Service as the little bottles don’t last long at all and you are constantly buying new ones.
How can you help save the environment by doing your part? Just at least go with a 5lb bottle and you instantly reduce your propane waste footprint by a whopping 80%, now that’s some easy tree-hugging! I’ve linked some below.
Can a Blackstone Grill Be Converted To Natural Gas?
Yes! The folks over at Blackstone have kept this in mind to the point that they sell a Blackstone natural gas conversion kit. Natural gas conversion kit compatible with Blackstone 28″ Griddles, 36″ Griddles, Tailgater, Rangetop Combo, and single Burner Rec Stove.
Note: The Blackstone Natural Gas Conversion Kit is not optimized for the Blackstone AirFryer Griddle Combo, and is not compatible with the Culinary series. See, they thought of it all! Check it out here.
Griddle Accessories You WILL ACTUALLY NEED
If you’re new to griddling altogether, I recommend checking out these accessories as they will save you some headaches and some greasy laundry. This is another big one. While your griddle does come ready to use….it’s missing some really BASIC items you will need.
- Griddle Spade and Spatula: These are the backbone of griddle chefs all over the world. Due to the flat-top design of a griddle, you will need to have metal surfaced griddle spatulas and spades. Something simple like this works great, see it here on Amazon.
- Inferred Temperature Gun: See Step 4 above, these are really crucial to fully understand what your griddle can do and what areas are putting out the heat you need, and what areas can be used to just keep the food warm while working on others. This is a great option that won’t t hurt your wallet, check it on Amazon.
- Grease Tins: These are dirt cheap and save you an unnecessary headache when cleaning up. Simply drop them into the grease trap and toss them when you’re done! Check these here on Amazon.
- Griddle Bottles: Another must-have, you really only need two. One for water, and one for your chosen cooking oil. If you are not sure what I mean, check out our Guide to Griddle Bottles here. These on Amazon work great and are cheap, check them out here.
- Griddle King Apron: I know what your thinking “I’m not wearing an apron” and yeah, I get it. But all that changed when I got a griddle and realized how much grease is popping off the griddle surface and landing on my clothes. A simple apron solves that and my signature “Griddle King” or “Griddle Queen” apron is a cheap easy fix for you, grab it here on Etsy.
- 1lb To 5lb or 20lb Propane Adapter: Like mentioned above, just swapping out your tiny 1lb propane bottle will save the world and your trips to find a camping propane bottle every hour. Grab one here on Amazon.
Griddle King Conclusion
Ok, thats some real estimations you can reasonably expect your griddle to produce based on BTU and rated performance from Blackstone. Hopefully, this was helpful and your new griddle is the new undisputed KING of your backyard (aside from you of course).
I started to make another graph figuring out how many days or meals you could expect from each but I started feeling really dumb really fast even with a calculator so I’ll just leave it at what we got.