New Toy - Blackstone 36" Griddle

[ThunderLund78]

Well, again, lots of time on my hands.  I bought a 36" Blackstone Griddle on-sale at Cabela's back in January and it's been sitting in the box, waiting for warmer weather. 38 Deg and partly cloudy was enough for me.  Cleaned my garage to make some room (want to keep this thing out of the elements), seasoned the cooktop and got to work!  Supported my local Meat Market yesterday and picked up 2 lbs of Ground Chuck, 1 lb of bacon and some fresh bakery buns that they also sell.

Cooktop seasoning - pretty much like a big cast iron pan.  Fire it up, get the top hotter than Hades, and throw some oil on it.  Spread it around with a tongs and a wad of paper towel and let it smoke for a while. Repeat a couple of times until you get a good cooked-in oily surface.

Burgers - simply hand-pattied ground chuck and salt/pepper.  Buttered the buns, chopped some onion, unwrapped the bacon and cheese slices and brought it all out to the griddle.  Bacon went down first and I fried that until about 80% done - then put the far right burner to low and moved it all over to that side in a loose pile to finish/keep warm.  Then I used a spatula to scape the grease into the trap, but left a fair amount on the griddle to cook the burgers.  Patties and onions went on next.  Once the onions were about done, I moved those over by the bacon to keep warm.  Patties got a nice, seared crust from the grease and kept all of their juice because it doesn't drip away (or potentially flare up) like a grill.  Put buns down to toast, added the cheese and BOOM!

I was excited when I got this but the results were so amazing, that I'm even more excited now. I've cooked a thousand burgers and these we're the best Ive ever made, no joke. I love flame grilled burgers but I'm now of the opinion that burgers cooked on a flat-top is the way to go. Can't wait to try a bunch more stuff on this bad boy!

[Rebel SS]

                                           

[mike89]

looks like a great setup!!!!   

[deadeye]

Yes, looks great, now when can we all come over for... er, never mind.

[ThunderLund78]

Yes, looks great, now when can we all come over for... er, never mind.

Yeah, was drinking a beer in the garage while cooking and was REALLY was wishing I could have the neighbors over.  This is gonna be a real bummer for the next few weeks. hope everyone is doing well.

[Rebel SS]

Yes, looks great, now when can we all come over for... er, never mind.

Yeah, was drinking a beer in the garage while cooking and was REALLY was wishing I could have the neighbors over.  This is gonna be a real bummer for the next few weeks. hope everyone is doing well.

Hi! Hope we're not too early!   

[dakids]

All of us at UPS hate that grill. They are crazy heavy.   We deliver a lot of them.

[Boar]

flat grilled burgers are hands down the best. how much u pay fornting

[Dotch]

Looks great! And with a lower carb beer that still has some flavor to boot! 

[ThunderLund78]

They usually go for about $325, but over the winter Cabela's had them $80 off so I used some gift cards I was lucky to receive over Christmas and pounced!

Yeah, I think mine came via FedEx and I was home when it was delivered.  The driver unceremoniously dumped it in my driveway, didn't knock or ring the doorbell or anything...  So if I wasn't home it would've been for the taking but any thief would've needed a buddy.  Those big steel tops are HEAVY!

[markn]

  Thunder, just curious if you looked at the Blackstone Tailgater and what you thought of it. My Aussie is getting pretty ratty and needs to go. Been snooping about it, but I can't find a cover for them either. Big selling point for me because the grill will be outside. Thanks.   

[Rebel SS]

Markn, not to interrupt ya, but....even though I hate the place...

.https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/blackstone-36-griddle-grill-cover-15bksu36cvrxxxxxxcfp/15bksu36cvrxxxxxxcfp?sku=14200928&camp=CSE:DSG_92700040964080107_pla_pla-508034318297&gclid=CjwKCAjw3-bzBRBhEiwAgnnLCr1ekPdbxV64_TefoOMPt1aDwb4RhBNE6GS7bBVaj_TK_HWs8rCieRoC8nUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[glenn57]

Is there any place you DO like???🥴

Morning Reb.

[Rebel SS]

                                         

Morning, putz. 

[markn]

  Thanks reb. I was looking for a cover for the small grill, the Tailgater. Still am during break right now..........

  P.S. Don't care for that Dicks place either that firearm thing they pulled. Properly named.

[ThunderLund78]

  Thunder, just curious if you looked at the Blackstone Tailgater and what you thought of it. My Aussie is getting pretty ratty and needs to go. Been snooping about it, but I can't find a cover for them either. Big selling point for me because the grill will be outside. Thanks.   

Yeah, I looked at them.  They're cool, but I really wanted the biggest flat-top I could find. It's all about what you want it for. I like the versatility of the tailgater and would be good for camping, etc.  But I probably wouldn't use the stove-top burner option much around the house.  Pancakes are a bit of a tradition in my house on the weekends (and big breakfasts), we have an indoor griddle that I can get two - maybe three at  a time on.  This will allow me to get all of them on at once and we can eat together.  Also good for lots of eggs, omelets, and meats all at once!

Excited to do, Philly sandwiches, fajitas, fried rice and steaks as well.  Got two growing boys in the house they're starting to eat like it.  Especially the one hitting his teens - lots of growing going on!

[ThunderLund78]

Oh- and the cover... yeah, it doesn't come with one.  The DO make one, but they're sold separately...

Looks like Blackstone has a new model out that has the 36"griddle top and three air fryer compartments below.  This model has a top built in.  Looks amazing but I think it's pretty spendy.  We do use our air fryer a lot, in fact the fries in the pic up in the first post are from our air fryer.  My only complaint is capacity,  usually takes 2-3 batches to make enough for the family and that's 10-12 minutes a batch.  This new Blackstone has three baskets built in!  Maybe in a couple years.

For now, I'm storing this one in my garage with an old blanket over the top to keep the dust off.  Wheeling it out to cook in the driveway and wheeling it back in.

[markn]

 Thanks thunder, I'll keep looking. By the way when my boys, who are 14 months apart, were in their teens it was like feeding a full blow thrashing crew every night. Be prepared.   

[delcecchi]

I've got the 3 burner camp chef.   It came with a good sized griddle that does a pretty good job. 

[glenn57]

I've got the 3 burner camp chef.   It came with a good sized griddle that does a pretty good job.

OH NO!!!!!!!!!   i got one of them too!!!!!!! i use it mainly for canning my garden goodies!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

It cans too?!

[delcecchi]

It cans too?!

My camp chef has 3x 30k btu burners.   You could boil a lot of water or run a big pressure canner.   And it doesn't heat up the house..   I actually have two of them, one here and one at da lake. 

[HD]

Menards has one of those for sale. I was admiring it when the wife said "NO, YOU HAVE ENOUGH CRAP"

So, all I can say is I'm jealous.....   

[Reinhard]

I like your results with this.  My main concern is how do you clean them.  Are they easy to clean up?  Thanks.  good luck.

[glenn57]

Menards has one of those for sale. I was admiring it when the wife said "NO, YOU HAVE ENOUGH CRAP"

So, all I can say is I'm jealous.....   

didn't you tell me once it's better to ask for forgiveness then to seek permission.

[mike89]

Menards has one of those for sale. I was admiring it when the wife said "NO, YOU HAVE ENOUGH CRAP"

So, all I can say is I'm jealous.....   

didn't you tell me once it's better to ask for forgiveness then to seek permission.

and we have all used that one!!!!   

[LPS]

I wondered that too RH.  Are they easy to maintain and clean?

[glenn57]

I wondered that too RH.  Are they easy to maintain and clean?

I've never had to do maintenance on mine but cleaning isn't real bad, not easy. After a while it just looks well used!!

[Rebel SS]

Like yer canning jar tops?          Morning, l'il feller!   

[ThunderLund78]

I like your results with this.  My main concern is how do you clean them.  Are they easy to clean up?  Thanks.  good luck.

Cleaning's a breeze.  Like a cast iron pan, just water and a scraper.  Then I put a thin coat of oil it for storage - it builds up an oily base and becomes essentially non-stick once it's hot.