We should probably chat about the pros and cons of owning a Blackstone Griddle.
If you’re like me, then you love cooking outdoors. There’s just something about grilling food that makes it taste so much better than anything cooked indoors.
If you’re looking for an outdoor cooking appliance with the potential to make your meals delicious, then you should definitely consider purchasing a Blackstone Griddle!
In this blog post, we will talk about what I love (and hate) about my Blackstone Griddle. So if you’re considering purchasing one, you can make an informed decision.
We’ll also provide some tips on how to use it properly for the best results. So, enough chatter from me, lets talk about pros and cons of Blackstone Griddle.
What Is a Blackstone Griddle?
A Blackstone Griddle is a flat top grill that is usually fueled by propane. Someone once asked me about “Blackstone grill grates”, needless to say, I think they were confused on what a flat top griddle actually is.
It has a large, flat cooking surface area, which makes it great for cooking multiple items at once, whether it’s eggs, pancakes, and bacon, or hamburgers, hotdogs, and veggies.
Additionally, the flat surface is made from steel that heats evenly so you don’t have to worry about hot and cold spots like you would on a traditional grill.
However, if grill sear marks are your thing, you could always go buy some grill grates for your Blackstone Griddle? Not my cup of tea though (and I dont even drink tea!)
Think you are ready to buy one? Check out our Ultimate Buyers Guide to Blackstone Griddles to help narrow your decision.
Why I Love My Blackstone Griddle
There are several reasons why I love my Blackstone Griddle, but the number one thing that I love about my Blackstone Griddle is its versatility.
With this one appliance, I can cook just about anything! It’s also great for feeding a large crowd. First of all, it’s very easy to use.
You simply turn on the gas, let it preheat for a few minutes, and then start cooking!
Additionally, the large cooking surface area means that I can cook multiple items at once, which is really helpful when I’m entertaining.
Finally, the fact that it’s made from steel means that the food cooks evenly and doesn’t stick, which results in less cleanup. But let’s talk more about its versatility.
Versatility
Most outdoor grills aren’t versatile. You can’t crack an egg directly on the surface of a standard grill grate. That would make a mess! With a Blackstone Griddle though, you can!
Whether you want to fry rice, scrambled eggs, or sear meats, the flat surface is perfect for those types of dishes. Plus, you can also use it to grill meats, veggies, and even dessert!
It heats evenly, so you don’t have to worry about flipping food as often, and you definitely don’t have to worry about flare-ups, which can completely ruin some dishes – namely seafood dishes.
It’s Easy to Clean
Another reason why I love my Blackstone Griddle is because it’s easy to clean. Standard grill grates are often difficult to clean, with lots of food residue caked onto them.
Not to mention trying to clean between each row of grates. It can be pretty frustrating, but cleaning the Blackstone Griddle is the easiest thing to do.
All you need is a grill scrape and some paper towels – and maybe some water if you’re cooking something sugary.
For standard things such as grilled cheese or quesadillas, a light scrape will remove all of the crumbs and residue.
Then you just wipe the surface down with a paper towel, add some oil to the surface, and spread it around with another paper towel, and you’re ready to cook something else!
Even after you cook heavier dishes such as steaks, chicken, and burgers, all you have to do is use a griddle scraper to remove any residue, and then wipe it down with a paper towel.
For sugary dishes such as stir fry, where things such as onions and thick sugary sauces become caramelized, removing the residue becomes a little more challenging – but not really.
All you have to do is spray some water on the surface to deglaze, then you can follow the same scraping and wiping steps previously mentioned.
It’s essential to note that the griddle must still be hot when you’re cleaning it. Otherwise, you’ll end up scraping it too hard, and that can potentially cause damage to the surface.
It’s Fun to Use
One of the best parts about owning a Blackstone Griddle is how fun it is to use.
Instead of managing several pots and pans at once, or dealing with hot and cold spots on a standard grill, I can have everything I’m cooking all on one surface right in front of me.
This makes it really easy to keep track of cooking times and temperatures, which is essential for getting things just right.
Plus, with the flat surface, I can easily add sauces or seasonings to whatever I’m cooking without having to worry about them running off into another pan.
If you’ve ever dreamed of cooking on a flat top in a restaurant, then cooking on the Blackstone Griddle will be perfect for you! There are tons of fun recipes to try too.
Did you know you can smoke dishes on a griddle? You can try making crepes, fried rice, or anything you’ve never tried before – you’re sure to have a good time giving it a try!
What I Hate About My Blackstone Griddle
Now that we’ve talked about what I love about my Blackstone Griddle, let’s talk about what I hate.
Rust is a constant battle, the heat zones can be tricky to figure out, and there’s the potential to leave too much grease and oil in the food.
Additionally, the cooking surface area is so large that it takes a while to preheat.
Rust Is a Constant Battle
Flat top grills in restaurants are usually made from stainless steel, which means they don’t rust. Blackstone Griddles are a different story though.
They’re made from steel (iron + carbon), which makes them particularly susceptible to rusting – especially if they’re not properly seasoned or if they’re not cleaned after each use.
Seasoning the griddle is essential for protecting it from rust, but even with proper seasoning, I still find myself battling rust spots from time to time.
It’s really frustrating, but thankfully there are ways to remove rust from the surface of the griddle.
Prevention is the best way to deal with rust, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you might find that rust spots continue to persist. Don’t be alarmed if you see rust on your Blackstone Griddle though.
Just about any flat top griddle can be saved after rust has begun to set it. Blackstone makes a rust removal kit for this specific reason. You can check out this video to see how it works.
Once you’ve gone through the steps of removing the rust and cleaning the surface of your griddle, it’s crucial to properly season it to prevent rust from coming back.
To do this, just turn your griddle up to high, and spread two to three tablespoons of canola oil across the entire surface of the griddle using a paper towel.
Make sure that it’s a very thin layer of oil. Let it heat up until it begins to smoke, then allow it to smoke until it stops smoking.
After it stops smoking, repeat that process four to five times, or until the surface of the griddle is smooth.
Heat Zones Annoyingly Affect Cooking
If you’ve ever cooked on a gas grill, then you know about hot and cold spots. Gas grills have burner flames that heat up the air around them, which in turn heats up the food on the grill grates.
This can create hot and cold spots, which makes it difficult to cook food evenly. The Blackstone Griddle has four burners that heat up the steel surface, so there are no hot or cold spots.
This is great for cooking things such as pancakes, bacon, and grilled cheese sandwiches because you don’t have to worry about rotating them or moving them around to make sure they cook evenly.
However, this can be a bit of a pain when you’re trying to cook something that requires different temperatures.
For example, if you’re trying to cook steak on one side and vegetables on the other, it can be tricky to find the right balance. I usually end up overcooking one or the other.
The same goes for dishes such as stir fry. I find it difficult to get the vegetables cooked just right without making the meat too tough.
I’ve found that the best way to deal with this is to cook things that require different temperatures in separate batches. That way, you can adjust the temperature of the griddle as needed without affecting the other food.
It’s a bit of a pain, but it’s worth it in the end. Otherwise, you’ll just have to get yourself organized and keep your burners set to the right temperature and remember where each heat zone is.
An easy way to figure out where each heating zone begins and ends is by getting a griddle thermometer.
Whether you get an analog thermometer that sits right on the griddle, or an infrared thermometer (highly recommended), you’ll be able to better tell where each zone is, as long as they’re set to different temperatures.
Too Much Grease and Oil in Food
Another downside to cooking on a flat top grill is that there’s potential to leave too much grease and oil in your food – especially if you’re not used to cooking on one.
If the griddle isn’t on an even surface, there’s a high chance of juices from all your various dishes running together.
If you like steak juice in your vegetables or bacon grease in your pancakes, then disregard, but cooking for other people might create some problems.
Also, using a flat top griddle of any kind requires constant scraping and re-oiling of the surface. This oil undoubtedly gets into the food you cook.
Compared to a standard grill, the Blackstone Griddle is definitely the greasier option. On a standard grill, juices from the meat drip downward through the grates, and the fat is vaporized by the flames.
On a flat top, there’s nowhere for the juices to go but onto the surface of the griddle, which means that you have to scrape it constantly to keep it from burning.
It’s not a deal breaker for me, but if you’re looking for a healthier option, then a standard grill might be better for you.
Does that mean you can’t cook healthy food on a Blackstone Griddle? Absolutely not. You don’t have to use unhealthy oils such as vegetable or canola oil to grease the surface of the griddle.
You can always opt for something healthier when cooking (not when seasoning) such as extra virgin olive oil.
Tips: How to Use Your Blackstone Griddle
Now that we’ve gone over some of the things I love and hate about my Blackstone Griddle, here are a few tips on how to use it, a few Blackstone grill tips if you will.
Firstly, as soon as you get it, you’re going to want to use it immediately. Try to resist the urge, and take the time to clean and properly season it before setting off on your first flat top adventure.
If you’re cooking for a large crowd, try to utilize the heat zones to cook different dishes at one time.
On the other hand, you can also cook dishes in large batches – you’ll just need to keep an oven warm so that each dish is still hot when you’re finally finished.
Get yourself a good griddle thermometer so you can better tell where each heating zone is, and when the grill top is getting too hot.
Use healthy oils such as extra virgin olive oil when cooking but not when seasoning for a healthier take on flat top cooking.
As always, make sure that you properly clean your Blackstone Griddle after each use, while it’s still hot.
For sticky messes, use water to deglaze the surface (while it’s hot), wipe clean, and then wipe a thin layer of oil across the entire surface to maintain its seasoning.
Conclusion
All in all, I absolutely love my Blackstone Griddle. It’s a bit of a pain to use at times, but the end result is definitely worth it.
The temperature control is good, and the even heat distribution makes cooking on it a breeze.
There are a few downsides (grease and oil in food, constant scraping, and re-oiling), but they don’t outweigh the positives for me.
If you’re looking for an easy way to cook multiple dishes at once or want that perfect sear on your steak, then a Blackstone Griddle is definitely the way to go. Happy cooking!