If you own a Blackstone griddle and you’re interested in getting an RTA outdoor kitchen… you’ll want to know pretty quickly whether or not you can put your beloved griddle into your new outdoor kitchen.
Hence, the question: “Can RTA outdoor kitchens accommodate Blackstone griddles?”
At RTA Outdoor Living, this is probably one of our most-asked questions. Blackstone griddles are exceptionally popular, and it’s only natural that you want to put your existing griddle into your future outdoor kitchen.
In this article, you’ll learn whether or not Blackstone griddles are compatible with RTA outdoor kitchens, why we recommend against putting a Blackstone into an RTA island, and if there’s any good solutions to have your cake and eat it too. (Or have your burger and eat it too?)
Can RTA Outdoor Kitchens Accommodate Blackstone Griddles?
Generally speaking, Blackstone griddles aren’t compatible with RTA outdoor kitchens. 99% of Blackstone’s griddle offerings are considered freestanding appliances, which means they are not designed for installation in an outdoor kitchen. Beyond the physical incompatibility, freestanding appliances will come with different ventilation design, making them unsafe to use inside of an outdoor kitchen.
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Can You Put Blackstone’s 36” Drop-In Griddle into an RTA Outdoor Kitchen?
Blackstone does offer a 36” drop-in griddle that is marketed to be more of a built-in appliance designed for use in an outdoor kitchen. This appliance can be installed into an RTA outdoor kitchen, but there are other considerations to keep in mind.
Although marketed as such, Blackstone’s drop-in griddle isn’t a true built-in appliance. This griddle is designed to sit on an insulated jacket or sleeve, which will be suspended from your outdoor kitchen countertop. The drop-in griddle simply sits in this sleeve. This means that there’s a gap between the griddle and the sleeve, and when you’re cooking, a ton of grease can pool up because it’s not a sealed area. So while you can put a 36” drop-in Blackstone into your RTA outdoor kitchen, when it comes to upkeep, this setup will be on the messier side.
Why Aren’t Blackstone Griddles Recommended for an RTA Outdoor Kitchen?
In general, we don’t recommend installing Blackstone griddles into an RTA outdoor kitchen. There’s a few reasons for this:
- The Design isn’t Future-Proof: If you choose to put a 36” Blackstone drop-in griddle into your RTA outdoor kitchen, you’re potentially pigeon-holing yourself in the future. These griddles require a specific design that isn’t interchangeable with other appliances. So if Blackstone decides to discontinue this product in the future, and you need a replacement… you’ll be stuck with dead space in your outdoor kitchen that can’t be used for another purpose.
- You Won’t Get as Much Longevity: Although Blackstones are beloved (and for good reason), the truth of the matter is that they won’t last as long as other premium griddles designed for use in an outdoor kitchen. Ideally, you want your outdoor kitchen appliances to be semi-permanent, so it’s best to invest in a premium griddle rather than a Blackstone.
- It Won’t Match Your Other Appliances: If the overall aesthetics of your outdoor kitchen are exceptionally important to you, you may want to forego putting a Blackstone into your RTA island. Blackstones have a particular look and feel to them, and they simply won’t match the full stainless steel appliances in the rest of your outdoor kitchen. This can make your Blackstone stick out like a sore thumb, and tamper with the overall design of your RTA outdoor kitchen.
Is There Any Good Way to Put a Blackstone in My RTA Outdoor Kitchen?
Now that you know whether or not you can put a Blackstone griddle into an RTA outdoor kitchen and why we recommend against it… you might still be holding out hope for a potential solution. If putting a Blackstone into your RTA outdoor kitchen is an absolute must-have, you might be wondering if there’s any way to make that dream possible.
Although we don’t recommend it, we have figured out a few potential solutions for customers in the past. Below are a couple options we have navigated for Blackstone owners:
- Put Your Blackstone Next to Your RTA Outdoor Kitchen: To make sure your outdoor kitchen is future-proofed, you can put your Blackstone next to the main island instead of inside of it. Sure, it won’t have that built-in look… but you can still benefit from having the counter space, storage, and other outdoor kitchen appliances nearby while you use your griddle.
- Put Your Blackstone on a Platform: Alternatively, you can remove the legs from your freestanding Blackstone and put it on a recessed platform that’s set into your outdoor kitchen design. This option allows for airflow to move freely around the appliance and creates a more intentional, built-in look without being truly built-in. You’ll also have more flexibility if you need to replace your Blackstone in the future and it has been discontinued. You can put in another model of the same size, or you could even replace it with a completely different appliance such as a Traeger.
If the above solutions sound like they’d be a great option for you, perhaps it’s time to hop on a call with a Design Expert! They’ll help you decide how to create an outdoor kitchen layout that’s truly best for your needs.
