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Blackstone Flat Top Grill: Is it Worth it in 2024? Complete Product Review & 4 Essential Considerations Before You Buy

By Daniel Cdebaca

January 5, 2024

If the concept of griddle cooking has piqued your interest… It’s likely you’ve been considering a Blackstone griddle!

While there are plenty of brands out there… Blackstone is one of the most prominent names in the flat top grill world.

But is their popularity well-deserved?

That’s what we’re here to find out!

In this article, we’ll cover every option in the Blackstone flat top grill line… Plus the warranty, reviews, and plenty more.

Without further ado, let’s begin!

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blackstone 36 inch griddle with air fryer cabinets

Blackstone Company Overview

Blackstone was one of the first companies on the scene to create an outdoor griddle.

Back in 2008… The original 36” Blackstone griddle was released.

Since then, Blackstone’s line has expanded widely to accommodate your preferences!

As a testament to the surge in popularity of their griddles… Blackstone went public back in 2021, following suit with Traeger and Weber.

As stated on their about page, “Our goal is to bring family and friends together with the most efficient and functional griddles on the market.”

Has Blackstone been successful in their goal?

Let’s dig into the Blackstone outdoor flat top grill product line.

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Blackstone Flat Top Grill Line

If you scroll through Blackstone’s product page… You might be overwhelmed by the amount of options!

But there’s no need to worry. We’ll go through each category, primarily based on sizes.

While there are some distinctions within each size… We won’t get into the weeds here.

What’s most important to note are the commonalities between models… And how the slight differences will affect your final decision!

We’ll start with the electric Blackstone grill with flat top.

Blackstone Flat Top Grill Electric (E-Series)

blackstone electric griddles
blackstone electric griddles

The flat top grill Blackstone E-Series is a unique option in the Blackstone line.

Rather than being fueled by propane (as is typical)… These small blackstone flat top grills are powered by electricity!

There are two sizes offered, the 17” and 22”.

Both models will come with a non-stick ceramic titanium griddle plate. They’ll also come with an LCD digital display and control knob to easily adjust temperatures.

There’s a dishwasher-safe grease cup in the back… And a removable glass hood to trap in heat while cooking or steaming.

The 17” model will have a 223 square inch cooking surface… And the 22” model will have a 307 square inch surface.

This means the 17” can fit 9 burgers, 4 steaks, 9 pancakes, or 9 eggs. The 22” can fit 12 burgers, 9 steaks, 12 pancakes, or 12 eggs.

The 17 inch griddle is listed for $199.00 MSRP… And the 22” is listed for $399.99 MSRP. (You can also get a 22” with a cart for $429.00.)

What We Like

What's Not Ideal

  • An electric option for those who cannot have an open flame at their residence
  • Petite tabletop griddle for portability and easy storage
  • Non-stick cooking surface makes for easier maintenance
  • Non-stick surface is not compatible with metal utensils
  • Many reviews cite difficulty with heat retention and power

What We Like

  • An electric option for those who cannot have an open flame at their residence
  • Petite tabletop griddle for portability and easy storage
  • Non-stick cooking surface makes for easier maintenance

What's Not Ideal

  • Non-stick surface is not compatible with metal utensils
  • Many reviews cite difficulty with heat retention and power

17” Flat Top Blackstone Grill

blackstone 17 inch propane griddle

Blackstone’s 17” griddles are going to appear much the same as the 17” E-Series… They’re just powered with propane instead! (All following products will be fueled by a propane tank.)

There’s a total of four options in this category. There’s a standard option without a hood, one with a hood, one with a hood and upgraded handle grip, plus an option with a hood, upgraded grip, and cart.

Other than these differences… The stats are all the same!

All of the 17” propane burner griddles come with a 12,500 BTU H-style burner.

They also feature a carbon steel griddle top, rear grease management system, and 280 square inches of cooking surface.

Just like the 17” E-Series… This means you can cook 9 burgers, 4 steaks, 9 pancakes, or 12 eggs on this surface.

Prices range depending on the model you choose. The standard model with no hood will cost $169.00.

Adding on a hood will run you $249.00… The hood and upgraded handle will also cost you $249.00… And if you want the cart as well, you’ll pay $349.00 all said and done.

What We Like

What's Not Ideal

  • A Blackstone flat top propane grill option that’s easy for travel

  • H-style burner for better heat distribution

  • Multiple options depending on your needs

  • Steel surface can be a challenge to maintain (We’ll explain later!)

  • You might wish you got a larger size (It’s a Blackstone portable flat top grill, after all!)

  • Single cooking zone limits your options

What We Like

  • An electric option for those who cannot have an open flame at their residence
  • Petite tabletop griddle for portability and easy storage
  • Non-stick cooking surface makes for easier maintenance

What's Not Ideal

  • Non-stick surface is not compatible with metal utensils
  • Many reviews cite difficulty with heat retention and power

22” Blackstone Grill Flat Top

blackstone 22 inch propane griddle

In terms of options with the 22” category…  Things are looking much the same! Like the 17” line, there’s four options available here.

There’s options with or without a hood… Plus an “adventure ready” model with a hard cover and carry bag.

The standard hooded option is also available with a cart.

So, what are the similarities here?

Each of these gas griddles are equipped with two H-style burners with a 24,000 BTU capacity. This means there are two heat zones as well. You can separately control them for more flexibility.

They also come with the same rear grease management system. Just take a scraper, push all the grease to the back, and dispose of it!

All of the 22” griddles will come with 361 square inches of cooking space, and a carbon steel cooktop.

This translates to 12 burgers, 9 steaks, 12 pancakes, or 12 eggs!

Now for pricing. The standard Blackstone 2 burner flat top grill with no hood will cost $249.99. With the hood, it will cost $299.00.

If you want the adventure ready version with a hard cover… That will cost $319.00. And if you want the cart model with a hood, that will run you $399.99.

What We Like

What's Not Ideal

  • Slightly larger than the 17”, while remaining portable
  • Option for an “adventure-ready” version for added durability
  • A portable griddle with two heat zones, rather than just one
  • Multiple reviews cite issues with the ignition
  • Carbon steel cooktop is difficult to maintain
  • Some reviews cite paint peeling off the base easily

What We Like

  • Slightly larger than the 17”, while remaining portable
  • Option for an “adventure-ready” version for added durability
  • A portable griddle with two heat zones, rather than just one

What's Not Ideal

  • Multiple reviews cite issues with the ignition
  • Carbon steel cooktop is difficult to maintain
  • Some reviews cite paint peeling off the base easily

Blackstone 28” Griddles

blackstone 28 inch griddle

Here, we start getting into the larger sizes! Moving forward, all of these Blackstone flat top grills come with a frame and casters.

In this category, there are only two options.

The only difference is whether you want a cutting board or not. One will come with it… The other will be without.

The 28” griddle will come with 2 H-style burners that shell out 34,000 BTUs of heat. Like the 22”, there are two cooking zones here.

There’s also an accessory shelf to put your food on to make cooking a little more streamlined.

It comes with Blackstone’s classic grease management system… And the cooktop is made from carbon steel. The rest of the exterior is made from powder coated steel.

With 524 square inches of cooking area… You can cook 48 strips of bacon, 33 eggs, 15 pancakes, 87 hot dogs, 21 burgers, or 18 steaks at one time!

With or without the cutting board… You’ll pay $399.99 MSRP for the 28” griddles.

What We Like

What's Not Ideal

  • Larger cooking surface for backyard barbecues
  • Separate cooking zones for better control
  • Accessory shelf makes it a little easier to manage cooking outdoors
  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Multiple reviews cite issues with quality control (knobs installed upside-down, warped cooktop, issues with the frame, etc.)
  • Powder coated steel exterior may not last long

What We Like

  • Larger cooking surface for backyard barbecues
  • Separate cooking zones for better control
  • Accessory shelf makes it a little easier to manage cooking outdoors

What's Not Ideal

  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Multiple reviews cite issues with quality control (knobs installed upside-down, warped cooktop, issues with the frame, etc.)
  • Powder coated steel exterior may not last long

28” Blackstone Flat Top Grill with Hood

blackstone 28 inch griddle with hood

We have another 28” category… But these will come with hoods!

More specifically… You can get one with a hard cover, a regular hood, or one with a rangetop!

We won’t feature the rangetop version here, as it is currently on a closeout sale. We’re not sure how much longer it will be available!

So that leaves the hard cover and regular hood.

Both will come with the same features as the regular 28” griddle. Two H-style burners at a 34,000 BTU output, carbon steel cooking surface, powder coated steel exterior, grease management system, and accessory shelf.

And of course, you’ll also get 524 square inches of cooking area.

Both Blackstone flat top grill with cover options will run you $499.00 MSRP.

What We Like

What's Not Ideal

  • Option for a Blackstone flat top grill with lid keeps the cooking surface protected
  • Large enough size for most needs
  • Separate cooking zones for better control
  • Accessory shelf makes it a little easier to manage cooking outdoors
  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Multiple reviews cite issues with quality control (dented hood, paint peeling off hood, etc.)
  • Powder coated steel exterior may not last long

What We Like

  • Option for a Blackstone flat top grill with lid keeps the cooking surface protected
  • Large enough size for most needs
  • Separate cooking zones for better control
  • Accessory shelf makes it a little easier to manage cooking outdoors

What's Not Ideal

  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Multiple reviews cite issues with quality control (dented hood, paint peeling off hood, etc.)
  • Powder coated steel exterior may not last long

Blackstone 36” Griddles

Now, we move to the category with Blackstone’s original offering! That’s right, the 36” Blackstone grill and flat top. 

In this category, there are three options. The original 36” griddle, one with high shelves, and one with cabinets.

Just like with the 28” griddle with rangetop, the 36” griddle with cabinets is also on a closeout sale. So we will not be featuring this option due to uncertain future availability.

As usual… The specifications for the original 36” griddle and one with high shelves are the same. The only difference is, well… One has higher shelves!

Both Blackstone 4 burner flat top grills come with a 60,000 BTU output. And with 4 control knobs… There are four distinct cooking zones you can play around with.

Just like the 28” series… The 36” griddles have a carbon rolled steel cooktop, powder coated steel exterior, and rear grease management system. You’ll also get a paper towel holder!

The 769 square inch cooking space translates to room for 69 strips of bacon, 47 eggs, 21 pancakes, 126 hot dogs, 30 burgers, or 27 steaks.

Both 36” griddles will cost $499.99 MSRP.

What We Like

What's Not Ideal

  • Largest Blackstone flat top outdoor grill size for big parties
  • Four cooking zones for even more flexibility when cooking
  • Accessory shelves serve as a cooking aid
  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Powder coated exterior may not last long
  • Many customers cite issues with quality control (wobbly frame, damage upon arrival, issues with ignition, etc.)

What We Like

  • Largest Blackstone flat top outdoor grill size for big parties
  • Four cooking zones for even more flexibility when cooking
  • Accessory shelves serve as a cooking aid

What's Not Ideal

  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Powder coated exterior may not last long
  • Many customers cite issues with quality control (wobbly frame, damage upon arrival, issues with ignition, etc.)

Blackstone Flat Top Grill with Air Fryer

blackstone griddles with air fryers

Maybe you want more than just a Blackstone gas flat top grill. If so, you might consider getting a griddle with an integrated air fryer! 

That’s exactly what this category from Blackstone does, and there’s three options available. There’s a 28”, 36”, and 36” version with cabinets.

All three options will come with a hood and two side table shelves. They will also be made with the same materials! The cooktop is carbon steel and the exterior is made from powder coated stainless steel. There’s also a pivoting paper towel holder and garbage bag holder.

All of the griddle specifications for the 28” and 36” models will match those of the regular line. (Same surface area, amount of burners, cooking zones, etc.)

Now for the air fryer!

The 28” version will come with one 4 quart air fryer basket and one 4 quart warming drawer. The air fryer comes with 13,000 BTUs of heat output.

For the 36”, the air fryer capacity is doubled. You’ll get two 4 qt air fryer baskets and one warming drawer. Again, each basket has a 13,000 BTU heat output.

Due to the addition of the air fryer… These models will come with a heat-control baffling system for proper ventilation.

The 28” griddle with air fryer will cost $799.00 MSRP. The 36” combo will run you $999.00 MSRP… And the 36” version with cabinets will cost $1,299.00 MSRP.

What We Like

What's Not Ideal

  • The Blackstone flat top grill combo with air fryer is a unique idea
  • Two size options to adjust to your needs
  • The air fryer provides added versatility when cooking outdoors
  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Powder coated exterior may not last long
  • Many customers cite issues with quality control (warped cooktop, damage upon arrival, air fryer issues, etc.)

What We Like

  • The Blackstone flat top grill combo with air fryer is a unique idea
  • Two size options to adjust to your needs
  • The air fryer provides added versatility when cooking outdoors

What's Not Ideal

  • Carbon steel cooktop can be difficult to maintain
  • Powder coated exterior may not last long
  • Many customers cite issues with quality control (warped cooktop, damage upon arrival, air fryer issues, etc.)

Outdoor Kitchen Griddle Solution

With Coyotes built in griddles you can build the perfect outdoor kitchen. Use our free 3D design tool to get started.

Considerations Before You Buy a Blackstone Flat Top and Grill

Now that you’ve seen all the Blackstone flat top gas grill options… You might have some unanswered questions!

First and foremost… What are some things you should know before you pull out your credit card?

Let’s discuss.

Blackstone Flat Grill Top Material Quality

person grilling on griddle outside

You’ll notice that we consistently listed material quality as a disadvantage for Blackstone’s line.

Why?

Well, many of the materials they use simply aren’t made to last outdoors!

While the carbon steel grill surface in and of itself is considered a heavy duty material… It rusts quickly in the outdoor environment. (We’ll circle back to this!)

Same goes for the powder coated steel exterior.

This might be okay if it was made from 304 stainless steel (our recommendation for all outdoor appliances)… But unfortunately, Blackstone doesn’t specify the grade of steel used in their exterior frames.

And considering multiple reviews on their website cite the frame as being “wobbly” or “flimsy”… There’s a good chance the frame won’t endure more than a season or two.

With most of Blackstone’s line costing several hundred dollars… It’s reasonable to expect multiple years of flawless use out of your griddle!

Point is, Blackstone’s material quality is dubious at best.

Blackstone Flat Top Maintenance

As stated earlier… Blackstone griddle tops require a good amount of maintenance!

Like any outdoor flat top, there’s some maintenance involved after every cook.

You need to use a scraper to remove bits of food… Wipe down the surface with paper towels… Then coat the surface with a thin layer of oil.

That’s not too bad!

Unfortunately, Blackstone griddles are known to rust easily. In fact, “How to get rust off Blackstone flat top grill” is a popular search query!

And when rust happens… It’s a lot more annoying to deal with!

First, you’ll need to heat your griddle and use a scraper to remove any debris. Then, you’ll coat the surface with oil and scrub vigorously with a grill stone.

After you’ve put in some elbow grease… Rub everything off with a paper towel and oil. You’ll need to repeat this until all the rust is removed.

Then, you’ll have to season your griddle all over again!

Seems like a lot of work? It is. Especially if this is a frequent issue.

If you couldn’t be bothered with this level of maintenance… There’s another option you can consider! (We’ll get to that shortly.)

For now, let’s move onto Blackstone’s warranty.

Blackstone Warranty

A strong warranty is a good indicator that you have a high quality product. The longer your griddle is covered… The longer you can expect it to last!

So, what does Blackstone offer for a warranty?

All Blackstone griddles are covered under a blanket 1 year warranty.

Some of Blackstone’s smaller offerings have an optional warranty extension add-on. (The E-Series, 17” griddles, and 22” griddles.)

This product protection is provided by Extend, and can be purchased for an additional fee. This coverage extends for 1-3 years.

For an appliance you’re likely wanting to use for many years… Blackstone’s baked in 1 year warranty is not overly impressive.

If you truly want a flat top you can enjoy for years to come… Look for an option with a lifetime warranty.

Yes, you will pay more upfront! However, you’ll end up saving money in the long run by not having to worry about repairs and replacements.

Finally, let’s get a sense of Blackstone’s reviews.

Blackstone Product Reviews

blackstone 28 inch griddle with hood

There are hundreds of product reviews on Blackstone’s website, so we won’t cherry-pick anything here!

While we strongly encourage you to explore the product reviews for yourself… We can share some general information.

Depending on the product you’re interested in… You’ll find average ratings ranging from 4 stars to 4.7 stars.

Overall, the sentiment is quite positive!

And depending on your needs, Blackstone might be a good option for you.

If you’re looking for a short-term, economy-level flat top grill to get started… Buying a Blackstone can be a decent option.

However, if you want a high performance griddle that’s made to last the long haul… A Blackstone won’t be the best option. (Consider options from Coyote, Blaze, Lynx, or Twin Eagles!)

This is especially true if you want to build a griddle into an outdoor kitchen!

Take Your Griddle to the Next Level

tamara day cooking breakfast for her daughter on coyote flat top grill in moks outdoor kitchen

If you want to take your outdoor cooking experience to the next level…

An outdoor kitchen is going to be the best way to get the most out of your new griddle.

Think about it.

Many Blackstone griddles come with side shelves. Yes, they do provide some extra room to work with… But you certainly couldn’t use them to actually prepare a meal.

With an outdoor kitchen, you get more counter space than you’ll know what to do with!

You can lay out all your ingredients, have room to prepare, a place to put your finished meal… And even use it for serving!

If you have an outdoor bar, you and your guests have a built-in table to sit at.

Incorporating your griddle into a BBQ island provides all the above conveniences… And more!

You can have an outdoor refrigerator to keep drinks handy, or a sink to keep your hands and dishes clean…

Or consider incorporating extra cooking appliances to increase the functionality of your island. Smokers, pizza ovens, and pellet grills are all excellent options!

Point is, an outdoor kitchen makes it far easier and more compelling to enjoy your outdoor living space.

But what’s the best solution?

Unfortunately, a built-in Blackstone griddle isn’t the best option… But we have an alternative.

breakfast cooking on a coyote flat top grill built into MOKS outdoor kitchen

That’s the RTA outdoor kitchen, complete with a flat top griddle from Coyote Outdoor Living.

Coyote’s outdoor flat top grill is constructed completely with 304 stainless steel… And comes with a lifetime warranty.

This griddle comes equipped with two burners (U-shaped) at a 36,000 BTU output. The result is even heat distribution, precise temperature control, and two cooking zones.

Coyote’s griddle will be housed in our grill island cabinets, which are also warrantied for a lifetime!

RTA utilizes a panel system made from concrete that is rated for 100 years. So these islands aren’t going anywhere anytime soon!

Curious about getting started?

Take a look through our Learning Hub, check out our free online design tool… And we’ll be here to answer any questions you have!

And when we’ve got you all set up… Check out some flat top grill recipes to break in your new griddle cooking station!

Need Help With Your Plans?

Talk to one of our expert designers and they will guide you from planning to installation. Schedule a call today.

FAQ

Blackstone griddles are popular because they are an affordable, entry-level option for homeowners who want to experiment with cooking on a griddle. Blackstone griddles are fairly easy to operate for beginners.

Blackstone griddle surfaces are made with carbon rolled steel. The exterior frame material is made from powder coated steel.

Just about! You wouldn’t use one for boiling pasta… But anything you would cook with a pan on your stovetop, you can do with a Blackstone griddle.

The Blackstone griddle line uses the same materials all-around, so it depends on your size preferences. If you want an option for camping or tailgating… You’ll want a smaller model. For backyard barbecues, you might want to spring for the Blackstone 36”.

Here’s how to clean a Blackstone flat top grill: heat your grill, scrape off the bits of food to the grease trap, wipe it down with olive oil to remove any stubborn bits, and you’re done! Blackstone also sells an optional conditioner to use after cleaning.

There’s more variety than with a regular grill. You can cook breakfast foods outside… And it also has a wider temperature range. You can sear steaks just as well as you can scramble some eggs.

The Blackstone cooking surface is made from carbon rolled steel.

Blackstone offers a blanket 1 year warranty for their griddles.

The difference between a Blackstone griddle and a traditional grill has to do with the cooking surface. A griddle does not have grill grates. It’s a solid surface that spans the entire griddle. This allows you to cook foods you would not be able to on a regular grill. Think breakfast foods, veggie stir fries, hash browns, hibachi fried rice, smash burgers, and the like.

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