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When it comes to compressed - top grills , few pack the repute of those made by Blackstone . The company ’s griddle are well regarded for their sturdy build , exceptional cooking surfaces , and ability to get ridiculously raging . Of the many insipid - top grill this brand produces , its most pop model is its 36 - inch four - burner griddle . Having tested early versions of this griddle , I was mad to see what was raw with the most recent iteration .
To refresh the Blackstone 36 - in griddle , I applied my experience guide more than 100 60 minutes of grilling on more than 30 models , including nigh a dozen flat circus tent . I unboxed and tack together the grill , then spent several days cook a variety of foods on it , include everything from hamburger and chicken fajitas to eggs and bacon . My mental testing revealed that this good example still has the same powerful cooking functioning as earlier model , but its thoughtful and useful additions are great upgrade .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Blackstone 36-Inch Griddle With Hard Cover: At a Glance
Rating:9/10
SPECS
PROS
CONS
Get the Blackstone 36 - inch griddle with unvoiced cover at :
What is the Blackstone 36-inch griddle?
This 36 - column inch monotonic - top griddle is the flagship product forBlackstone . It lie in of a 720 - square- column inch rolled sword cooktop heated by four gas burners that put out 60,000 BTU ( British thermal units ) of heat . Blackstone griddles also come in in small 28 - inch and 26 - inch options .
As with other flat - top griddles , the Blackstone is more various than a traditional oxford gray or gas grill outfit with cooking grates . With the Blackstone griddle , substance abuser can grill foods they ’d never put on a regular grillroom , admit pancakes , eggs , Baron Verulam , splash - fries , fajitas , along with received grillroom fare such as hamburger and steaks . Though this grill is great and arduous at a total weight of 141 pound , it ’s still somewhat portable . The stage fold up under the independent body for transport , the heavy cast - iron cooktop differentiate from the body , and big casters allow for exploiter to wheel it around flat surface .
How easy is it to assemble the Blackstone griddle?
While theBlackstone griddleisn’t difficult to put together , it ’s important to observe that the cooktop does require a fairly lengthy flavoring cognitive operation that sum to its overall assembly time . Thanks to loose - to - follow command , I had the Blackstone together in about an hour and a half . While I completed the fabrication myself , get an extra hardening of hand to help would have been nice , especially when lifting and fitting the 50 - British pound sterling sword cooktop .
Once the griddle is together , substance abuser will want to go through the seasoning process for the cooktop , which is standard with any monotone - top grill . flavorer creates a coat on the griddle surface that preclude food for thought from sticking to it while cooking and protects it from eat . To attain that coating , user must coat the cooking surface with a thin layer of fudge rock oil and then heat it to super high temperatures until the fossil oil get to sunburn off . I repeat this physical process three or four times to get a good coating on the griddle , which take on about an hour from starting to finish .
How is the cooking performance on the Blackstone?
Blackstone equipped this flat - top grill with four sinewy 15,000 - B.Th.U. burner and a rolled steel cooking surface . This dynamic duo combines to drive home an especial cookery surface that produce passion outputs of 520 to 560 degrees Fahrenheit . Being able to stir up the control surface to such a high temperature made it comfortable to get a decent sear on my test burgers and steaks , which is something I have n’t been able-bodied to achieve on other flat - top grills I ’ve tested .
Of naturally , the allure of a flat top is n’t just about cooking foods that demand in high spirits passion but also those that require cooking at lower temperatures . Set to medium , all four burners did a decent job maintaining a consistent temperature between 350 and 375 degree Fahrenheit across the integral griddle control surface . As such , I had no trouble successfully cooking pancakes , fried eggs , and several strips of bacon . I ’ve had problems with breakfast nutrient stick to other griddle I ’ve tested , so I was pleased when my morning feast did n’t stand by to the Blackstone surface ( as long as I primed it with a good social disease of cooking oil ) .
I also loved that the Blackstone has four burner , which allow for me to create different temperature geographical zone . I scorch strip show of steak on one side while saute green black pepper on the other .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
How well designed is the Blackstone griddle?
Along with the Blackstone ’s heat output and rolled steel griddle , two large side table attached to either side of the cooking area are a attentive comprehension . They offer plenty of space for prepping nutrient last on and coming off the griddle , which is a huge help when cooking pancakes , eggs , Warren Burger , and other food that demand to go on and come off the fake aerofoil apace .
I also care the extra amenities new to this year ’s 36 - in model . When testing last year ’s rendering of this griddle , I lamented the want of places to hang grill tools , so I was thrilled to find that Blackstone went overboard to correct that omission . This year ’s model comes equipped with four claw on each side table , which allowed me to hang eight grill tools . Moreover , Blackstone added a magnetic strip on the front of the side table — a small feature article I establish invaluable when looking for a place to put my metal spatula or pair of tongs .
Other celebrated additions to this year ’s model include a paper towel stand that turn up out from the trunk and a feeding bottle untier mounted to the front control instrument panel . The only disappointing addition to this model is its hard cover song : It ’s a dainty feature of speech for protecting the grill control surface when it ’s not in role , but it ’s made from flimsy weather sheet metal that buckle very easy , preclude it from sitting flush with the cooktop .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Because savorless - top griddle are pop tailgating grills , most of Blackstone ’s grills , including this manikin , are portable . The peg tuck under the grillwork , the side tables fold down , and the cloggy top lift off , wee it compact and light enough for ecstasy in the back of a pickup hand truck or expectant proboscis . But at 141 quid , this griddle is by no means lightweight . Two people with stout backs will be required to break it down and carry it .
How durable is the Blackstone griddle?
The Blackstone ’s mold - smoothing iron and roll steel mental synthesis materials create a sturdily built product . Its hefty substantial - shaped branch and big natural rubber castor provide a stout floor for the heavy cooktop , and the frame has a thick black powder coating that inspires self-confidence that this grill will stand off rusting .
Blackstone griddlesare know for their exceptional flap sword cooktops , and this model is no exception . The cooktop is made from heavy - gage rolled steel reinforced with welded angle iron . In unretentive , this cooktop is n’t going to warp , even when it ’s subjugate to the extreme heat produced by its four 15,000 - BTU burners .
The control knobs have a solid feel , and I wish the fact that they have a rubberized grip . That say , there ’s a fiddling too much play in them , and I found it harder to make minor adjustments to the size of it of the flame on the burner than with other gas grills and griddle I ’ve examine . That gripe aside , the Blackstone griddle is one of the more solidly built flat - top grillroom you could bribe .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Is the Blackstone griddle worth the money?
Blackstone ’s 36 - inch griddle with heavy cover retails for between $ 300 and $ 400 , which is a great terms establish the quality of the build and its exceptional preparation performance . This grill is higher quality thanmost two-dimensional - top griddles I ’ve tested , thanks to a heavy - gauge pluck reinforced sword cooktop and four burners . cave in that it has such a substantial cooking surface , it ’s also capable of cook a lot of food at one clock time , which adds to its overall value .
Though this grill is large , users can take it to tailgate event or even on encampment trips , thanks to peg that fold under the base and side tables that fold down . Add to that extra features such as hook for hanging grill dick , a magnet holder for cutlery , a computer memory ledge , and a hardcover top , and the Blackstone is an first-class deal .
Is the Blackstone 36-inch griddle right for you?
Whether the Blackstone griddle is right for you depends on a few cistron . With its 36 - inch - wide cooking surface , the Blackstone griddle is one of the large flat - top grills on the market place . Those who project on host a magnanimous backyard event , have a large family , or expend many weekends tailgating will notice that the Blackstone griddle ’s large preparation capacity makes it a great choice .
That allege , if your flat - top cooking is usually limit to small gatherings of four or five people or you have define place on your deck or patio for another preparation appliance , then this flat - top may be overkill . or else , you may need to considerBlackstone ’s small 28 - inch or 26 - inch vapid - top grills .
Whether this grill is right-hand for you also bet on the type of outdoor cooking you care to do . insipid - top grills set aside users to falsify pancakes , bacon , fajitas , stir - fries , and other type of foods that only ca n’t be manipulate on a standard gas or charcoal barbeque equipped with a metal grate . If your outdoor cooking is limited to burgers , spicy hot dog , chicken , and steaks , you might need to consider a traditional gas or charcoal gray grill .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Where to Buy the Blackstone 36-Inch Griddle
Meet the Tester
Tony Carrick is a freelance writer specializing in household advance , landscaping , engineering , home security , and design . His articles have been featured on such sites as Popular Mechanics , Futurism , Field & Stream , 360 Reviews by U.S. News & World Report , Popular Science , and more . Carrick has conducted rigorous product testing on everything from powerfulness tools to home security system to backyard grills . With each review , his destination is to help readers check whether a product meets their needs and if it is or is n’t worth its monetary value tag end .
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Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
