Trying to choose the right propane tank size for your new Blackstone Griddle?
How about wondering if you could just convert your Blackstone Griddle from propane to Natural gas?
We have you covered, let’s talk all things Blackstone Griddle propane tanks!
Propane tanks come in three sizes, 1-pound, 5-pounds, and 20-pounds.
The one-pound tank has 21,594 BTUs, the 5-pounds 109,800 BTUs, and the 20-pounds tank 432,804 BTUs.
It is easy to make calculations to determine how long your griddle can use each of these bottles.
The griddles come with different BTU ratings which tell you the energy consumption on these devices.
The Blackstone 17 has a rating of 12,000 BTUs, Blackstone 22 is rated 24,000 BTUs, while the Blackstone 36 is rated 60,000 BTUs.
Propane Tank Size For the Blackstone 28 and 36
The 28-inch and 36-inch griddles are not used for portable cooking applications outside the home.
They are therefore better attached to larger propane tanks instead of the smaller tanks.
It is not sensible to connect the 36 inches or 28 inch griddle to a 1 pound propane tank because they will both consume it in less than 1 hour.
With a 5 pounds griddle, you also do not cook for long.
It takes the 36 inches and 28 inch Blackstone griddle only 3 hours and 2 hours respectively to consume this tank.
It is therefore also not sensible to connect this propane tank to your Blackstone 36 or the Blackstone 28 inches griddles unless you want it for cooking only one meal.
The problem also comes with refilling propane tanks. You do not want to keep moving to and fro to refill tanks.
Hence the most reasonable size of the tank is the 20 pounds that take 12 and 7 hours for the Blackstone 28 and 36 griddles respectively.
Propane Tank Size For the Blackstone 17 and Blackstone 22
With the right horse attachment, you can connect any tank size on these portable Blackstone griddles without any problem.
Most people want to connect the 1 pound propane tank to these two portable griddles when going for outdoor picnics and tailgating because it is more portable than the 5 pound or 20 pounds tank.
However, it will only last for 1.79 hours and thus you will not be cooking with it for long.
In fact, on a Blackstone 22, the 1 pound tank takes only 0.89 hours.
For home-based applications where you are not traveling, using the 20 pounds tank takes 36 hours and 18 hours on the 17 inches and 22 inches respectively.
The 5 lb propane tank will take 9 hours and 4 hours on the 17 inches and 22 inch Blackstone griddle respectively.
Blackstone Natural Gas Conversion Options
Most people are annoyed by keeping on carrying the propane tanks to refill centers now and then. It can be annoying if you are using a small tank for a large grill.
Most people with hefty cooking needs, say for commercial or hefty home grilling needs, also find it very inconvenient.
If you want to know how long propane will last in your griddle, check out our propane consumption table here.
These tanks run out of propane just when you start grilling.
Hence the need to make a conversion to natural gas because this gas is used for indoor gas appliances and supplied constantly.
Conversion is also desirable for a family that grills regularly and wants to save on the cost of grilling.
You will end up saving hundreds of dollars every year when you start using propane.
Nevertheless, you will also need to get rid of the tank.
It is possible to do a conversion on your Blackstone Grill to make it use natural gas instead of propane.
You simply purchase a conversion kit for your griddle type and connect it.
This kit allows you to convert it easily into a natural gas grill.
The kit, which costs around $59, comes with all the orifices and fittings and what you need to do is just install it to the grill.
Simply connect the converter B hose to your RVs low-pressure female and you are done.
With this in mind, make sure to use the exact size drill bit if you ever drill the orifice on your own. Otherwise, it will not get hot enough.
Before buying this kit, ensure that your type of grill can use natural gas because not all can.
Additionally, even if you have a griddle grill, not all of them will work with natural gas.
The conversion allows you to use natural gas with the 36-inch four-burner griddle, Range-top Combo, 28-inch that has two burners, and the Tailgater.
It is not possible to convert the Air Fryer Combo, the 22-inch two-burner griddle, and the 17-inch single burner griddle.
Blackstone Griddle 20lb Propane Hose Adapter
This adapter connects the 20-pound propane tank to the griddle for safe use of the tank.
It measures 3 feet long and can also be used on any size of the griddle – the 17 or 22 inches.
It is also compatible with charcoal grill combos. The hose can be used to connect 1 pound tank to any griddle and is therefore flexible to use.
If you have more than one griddle – for instance where some are for picnics, you will not need to buy an extra hose for that smaller griddle.
The adapter hose is an improved version of the previous hoses because it allows you to connect small propane tanks to table top griddles.
Hence you do not have to keep worrying about running out of propane in the middle of cooking because you can connect the larger tanks to your griddle.
It comes with a regulator, which means you won’t have to buy any additional parts.
The strong construction allows you to use the hose for any outdoor grilling needs because it won’t damage in wet weather. The construction makes it excellently durable.
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.
- Griddle Hood: This is a bit of a bigger deal than many think initially. A quality griddle hood will help you cook better by controlling heat and creating a “oven” as well as protecting your griddle cover from coming in contact with your griddle surface that can either be dirty or really hot. Something like this works great, see it here on Amazon.
- Griddle Cover: I didn’t think I needed one either. But, I found out very soon how great of a job they did from preventing unnecessary wear and tear from the weather when being stored in my back yard. Its a small investment that pays back big time. Something like this works great here on Amazon.
- Infrared 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.
Conclusion
As you can see, larger propane tanks are best used with griddles not meant for picnics, tailgating, or traveling.
Otherwise, smaller propane tanks are more portable are perfect for camping, tailgating, etc.
They are light in weight and therefore do not need any special handling methods.
Not all griddles can be converted to using natural gas but those that allow for the conversion should be connected safely.
Using natural gas helps you to avoid regularly carrying propane tanks to refill because it runs out too regularly even when using the 20-pound tank.