What are your thoughts? I’d love to have one of the round Mongolian BBQ style Evo units, but the price tag is a bit steep. Plus I’d rather do a built-in setup and this isn’t the house for that.

Looking at the free-standing style units. Blackstone units from Walmart actually get very good reviews. Anyone have thoughts on others?

What about size? Think with three kids that I’d want something in the 36” range for pancake days or cooking big breakfasts.

Also, definitely want the grease trap feature. What about number of burners?

Any and all thoughts from those that have gone this route would be appreciated.

My friend has had the Blackstone 36" griddle, for a while now and he likes it so much he uses it for everything and raves about it. I've had chicken and veggies off of it (hibachi style) and it was quite good. They're very versatile from making breakfast to hibachi style cooking.

The hibachi reason is why I originally started looking at them. I’ve gotten in to a lot of Korean and Chinese (Americanized of course) recipes and it would be so much easier than the wok on my electric stove.

Add to that though the ability to do a large quantity of pancakes or fresh toast quickly; It seems like it would make for a handy appliance.

We have 48” Blackstone and love it! Sunday breakfast is 1# bacon, hash browns with onions and wheat toast on the griddle. If the eggs are scrambled they are added as well, but if the are over easy the the are done inside.

Just keep it clean after each use, it’s cast iron, just treat it like a cast iron skillet. Bed Bath and Beyond carries them. Visit the website and sign up, a coupon will follow pretty quickly.

I also learned if you add it to the shopping cart and leave it for a day or so another even better coupon will arrive. We got ours for $200 that way. Good luck.

This Blackstone Burger Press is a wonderful accessory if you like smash burgers (I do, although I make ‘em on a range top griddle). See the second photo in this link to get a better idea of its size.

www.blackstoneproducts.com/pro...ss-sear-burger-tool/

I've been eyeing one of those blackstones. My only reservation is it might sit for several weeks, up to a month between using and I'm afraid sitting outside that would be a problem even if well seasoned. Also, seems there's a fair amount of prepping and post cook cleaning required. I'm used to my Weber grill with just needs a couple of good brushes with a grill brush after cooking and then about 15-20 of preheat the next go-round to burn off any clinging bits and sanitize. But my hidden inner fri-cook self just wants to be clicking the spatulas and amazing everyone with the delicious, and completely unhealthy goodies off the griddle.

We have the real cheapo job from a Chinese grocery store and use it for hot pot. Works perfectly and comes in a carrying case, sort of like a small briefcase with a handle. The propane cans are the size of hairspray cans. I think the whole set up is under $30. We've had it for at least 15 years.

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:
I've been eyeing one of those blackstones. My only reservation is it might sit for several weeks, up to a month between using and I'm afraid sitting outside that would be a problem even if well seasoned.

This is my concern as well. Take right now, everything on my covered back porch is wet just from the freakin’ humidity...in November...after a week of freezing temps.

Only rarely do I wish I was in San Diego, this is one of those times.

quote:

Originally posted by SigM4:

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:
I've been eyeing one of those blackstones. My only reservation is it might sit for several weeks, up to a month between using and I'm afraid sitting outside that would be a problem even if well seasoned.

This is my concern as well. Take right now, everything on my covered back porch is wet just from the freakin’ humidity...in November...after a week of freezing temps.

Only rarely do I wish I was in San Diego, this is one of those times.

No, just saturate it with oil...….either Pam grill cooking oil spray or wipe on a heavy coat of vegetable/canola or any other oil you'd cook with......it won't rust and the oil will burn off as it's heating up.

I got one this year and I'll never go back to a normal grill. No problem with rust as long as it's seasoned properly even being out during snow, I've got a nice cover on it.

So much more flexible to use, bacon, pancakes, eggs, omelets, hash browns, and more, and that's just breakfast. Another couple months using it and I can get a job at Waffle House!

I love my Blackstone griddle so much that i just bought 3 for our church to use for events. i have cooked everything from full breakfasts (eggs, bacon cooks tremendously, pancakes, sausage, scrapple) works fantastic for fajitas, onions &peppers work great, and then griddle steak for cheesesteaks all at once.
I live in SW Fl. where the humidity is very high and as long as it is seasoned it is fantastic.

I have a Camp Chef 3 burner camp stove and have the griddles for it. You get the same 36" cooking area as you do with a Black Stone only the Camp Chef is much more versatile and more importantly it breaks down for transport. I have it up at the lake place all summer and then bring it back home in winter.

I bought the pizza oven for it last summer and it makes great pizza as well as cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I think I had about $500 into it with the stove, griddles storage bags for everything. Pizza oven was another hundred bucks or so but it's been more than worth it.
So much more versatility than the stand alone griddles.
These pics are from when it was new. The griddles comes pre seasoned but after a couple years use they have seasoned up beautifully. The food that comes off is amazing. Especially the greasy spoon diner style burgers.

I have the Blackstone and love it. The downsides are storage space, and that it doesn't get hot enough for a really great sear, which also means it struggles for temps in cold or windy weather. I made a wind block for the sides/back which helps a lot. All things considered, it's a fantastic tool to have available, and I'm glad I bought it.