If you want to buy a high-quality grill, there are a couple of good options to consider. One of the top brands is Blackstone Grills. You’ve probably seen them featured on T.V. and at various home-grilling competitions, and if you want to know who makes Blackstone grills, here is an answer.
Blackstone grills are made by Blackstone Products Inc, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based company. Founded in 2005, Blackstone has developed and manufactured high-end outdoor cooking equipment for over 10 years.
The Blackstone grills product line was launched in 2005. Originally, the brand was called Outdoor Griddles, Inc. The company initially manufactured a griddle stand and a griddle attachment which fit onto a charcoal chimney. As customer demand grew for larger, more durable griddles and stands, the product line evolved into its current products.
Additionally, Blackstone is the largest manufacturer of portable gas grills in the U.S. The company manufactures several models, including angled-leg and flat-top grills ranging from 22 inches to 36 inches wide. Blackstone also offers a cooker top and a wok top that fit onto any of the company’s grills.
Are Blackstone Grills Good Products?
Blackstone is a good product, and its product quality is very high. Their grills are known for their durability and stylish design.
Overall, the products are of average quality, with a few standout features that make Blackstone products unique. Because of its budget-friendly price, Blackstone is an entry-level product. With an understanding that many people are new to grilling, Blackstone brought a series of gas grills designed for beginners; easy to use and cost-effective.
For example, the simplest model in their line, the Blackstone Tabletop Grill, only has 2 knobs (one for temperature control) and 4 heaters with a maximum output of 20k BTU/hr.
However, some product weaknesses include poor assembly instructions, a short lifespan for some parts, and a lack of customer service.
Who Makes Blackstone Grills?
Blackstone Grills are designed and perfected by Blackstone Products. They include many great features that make outdoor cooking a breeze.
Blackstone Products, Inc. The leading manufacturer of high-quality products for your outdoor patio life. Blackstone manufactures products for camping, tailgating, cooking outside, and other occasions to bring people together. We create innovative products that transform how you prepare and cook food outdoors through cutting-edge design.
They had years of grilling experience but no good tools or products to help their passion. With limited options on the market and a complete lack of grill innovation, they set out to make a better griddle. They designed and manufactured several prototypes at a local shop using a steel plate and tested them until perfection.
Now they use heavy-duty, cold-rolled steel construction and their patent-pending exhaust technology to make their grills.
Where Are Blackstone Grills Made?
Blackstone Gas Grills are produced in the USA and China. If your model contains either an Infrared Burner or an Infrared griddle, the Infrared Burners are sourced from China but assembled in the USA.
Furthermore, Blackstone grills are designed in the USA, but most models are assembled in China. The company provides high-quality materials sourced from the best manufacturers.
About The Manufacturer
Blackstone is a small company with roots in the outdoor grilling industry. Back in 2005, the founders of Blackstone Labs knew that there was a future in backyard innovation and set out to create their first outdoor product. They have been developing Blackstone products ever since to provide quality and innovation at an affordable price.
The company developed from a small garage business to a large commercial facility in a few short years. With manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution located in Southern California and an online store that ships worldwide, Blackstone strives to provide their customers with the best product possible.
However, The company was founded in 2005 by current CEO and owner George Theodosakis, who had the vision to create a better product for outdoor cooking enthusiasts. Before opening Blackstone Products, Inc., George was a restaurant owner/operator with decades of experience in the foodservice industry. In the early 2000s, George leveraged his diverse background to create his line of high-quality grills and outdoor cookware products.
Blackstone Grills Reviews
Blackstone 28-inch Griddle Cooking Station
Blackstone’s 28″ Griddle Cooking Station is a miracle of engineering and design. This grill has a whopping 800 sq inches of cooking space, making it perfect for feeding large groups of people at parties, gatherings, or even daily meal preparation.
It also features four independently controlled 15,000 BTU stainless steel burners allowing you to cook 4 different foods simultaneously. The two H-style burners can produce high even heat across the entire griddle surface. The individual controls offer you the ability to control the temperature in different zones, so you can use different temperatures for cooking eggs and meat.
The high sides keep food contained, and they are also perfect for creating wind blocks to protect the flames from going out during windy conditions. This popular unit has a removable griddle top that locks securely with grease drain channels running to the front grease catcher, making cleaning your grill easier than ever.
Also, the side shelves feature fold-down capability for added convenience during storage and transportation, making this grill our most portable model yet.
The Blackstone Griddle Cooking Station offers a restaurant-quality, versatile outdoor cooking solution. There is no least to what you can create on this unique device that combines convenience with quality.
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Blackstone 36-inch Griddle Station
This Blackstone griddle makes cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner a breeze. With 360 square inches of flat top grilling, you can cook eggs, pancakes, quesadillas, grilled cheese, steak, potatoes, teppanyaki-style foods, and more.
This griddle offers a diverse cooking surface to create the ideal meal. It comes with two adjustable heat dials with low to high-temperature settings, two large 15-inch x 18-inch easy-to-remove and clean grease pans, two durable stainless steel side shelves, and a rear Grease Management System that makes cooking stress free.
Additionally, This versatile griddle comes with a removable grill box and two open burners, allowing you to cook with four different methods.
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Blackstone 1565 Outdoor Propane Gas Griddle
This outdoor propane gas grill is perfect for cooking burgers, hot dogs, steaks, stir fry, sausages, bacon, and more. Heats up fast and cooks food evenly. Greatly increases the cooking area of any camping stove or grill so that multiple items can be cooked at once. Cook’s food consistently on a non-stick surface without flare-ups. Perfect for cooking eggs, onions, and peppers in the morning and steaks, chicken, hamburgers, and sausage at night.
Additionally, the single-piece 330 stainless steel cooking surface is easy to clean. This Blackstone griddle grill comes with an easy light ignition and two independently controlled burners that allow you to cook a variety of foods simultaneously. Its convenient side tray can be used for various purposes, and two industrial strength caster wheels provide stability and support.
Blackstone 22-inch Tabletop
The Blackstone 22-inch Tabletop Griddle is perfect for cooking up your favorite dishes all year long. It is light and portable to be used at home in the backyard or taken to the park, camping, or tailgating.
This griddle features two independently controlled burners with a total of 20,000 BTUs. The new design includes:
- User-friendly front grease management.
- An updated side shelf that folds down for convenient storage.
- Bigger removable griddle tops for additional cooking space.
It has a 363-square inch cooking surface; it heats up quickly and to a high temperature and can burn any leftover food substances right off the grill, making it relatively easy to clean.
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Blackstone 17 Inch Portable Gas Griddle
The Blackstone 17-Inch Table Top Griddle Station is compact and convenient. Quickly cook everything from eggs and pancakes to quesadillas and grilled cheese to steak and potatoes, including Teppanyaki style foods and more. This grill offers 285 sq. of cooking surface for all types of cooking. The Blackstone griddle is simple to use and easy to assemble.
In addition, this durable, versatile griddle has high walls around the exterior of the grill to prevent splatter and mess. Its grease trap/drip tray allows you to throw away grease after cooking without splashing or spilling simply. This grill requires no propane tank to work, so you can easily use it in any location.
Blackstone Grills Buying Guide
Size
It pays to have the right size grill for your available space. Decide if portability matters to you and whether or not your space will handle a permanently installed grill. When choosing your unit size, be sure to consider how many people you are feeding. Will it only be the family, or will you hold frequent backyard barbecues?
The bigger the cooktop, the more burgers you can cook for friends and family. Portable units are great for tailgating and camping, while full-size units fit nicely into an outdoor kitchen or backyard bar area.
Front plate looks
Flat top grills are a step up from regular gas grills and create an open flat surface atop the grill. It comes with both pros and cons.
They provide a safe and stable cooking platform, have several valuable features, and are preferred by many pitmasters worldwide. Therefore, they’re the perfect thing to have in your backyard or on your patio.
Gas or electric
When choosing between Blackstone’s gas-powered and electric grills, consider how and where you want to use your grill. While gas grills are more popular for outdoor use, electric grills require less cleanup, making them a great choice for indoor cooking.
Gas-powered griddles can be used outdoors and indoors. Gas grills such as the Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station cook at a high temperature of over 500 degrees.
These are recommended for use in a wide-open space with good ventilation due to their high heat levels that create significant smoke.
Electric griddles such as the Blackstone 20 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station are usable indoors. They offer you the flexibility to use at home or outdoors for tailgating fun.
Accessories offered
Go for the following griddle accessories. Versatile spatulas, scraper tools, and more are perfect for flipping pancakes, cracking eggs, and cutting vegetables. Durable stainless steel construction can be used on any sloped surface.
Blackstone has a wide range of accessories designed specifically for their grills. These accessories will help you get the most out of your grill, and some are necessary, from drip bucket trays to side shelves/prep tables.
BTU
Heat output is measured in BTUs (British thermal units). The higher the BTU, the more heat the grill will produce.
Blackstone Grills’s high-intensity burners generate over 60,000 BTU in a short period. It is the secret to creating a restaurant-quality crust on your food. For example, the famous 36″ model delivers over 644 square inches of primary cooking area for steaks, burgers, and more. With 4 wheels and 2 locking casters, this grill is easy to move around and keep in place.
Price
Grills vary in price depending on their cooking area and configuration. Griddle, grill, and combination grills are generally in the low-to-mids. Flat top grills lack traditional burners and can heat up quickly.
They’re typically in the high range for Blackstone models. Note that you may need to purchase additional items to use your flat top grill, like a starter kit or professional-grade cover priced at around $20 and $50, respectively.
How to Use Blackstone grills
Blackstone grills are easy to use.
1. Clean your Blackstone griddle before first use. It isn’t hard – just scrape the cooking surface with the griddle scraper a few times to remove any residues from manufacturing, add a couple of drops of oil, and wipe them off with a paper towel.
2. Before you try cooking on your new grill, be sure to spray the griddle surface with cooking oil and heat it for 30 minutes before you add any food.
3. If you are cooking on low heat (less than 350F) and are searing or stir-frying, use the flat top of your Blackstone Griddle. If baking biscuits or hot dogs, or if you want to cook in toaster oven fashion, tilt up the front panel.
4. Do not preheat when using propane – just light it, and you’re ready to cook.
5. Blackstone grills only take a few minutes to heat up. Remember, propane is more reliable in the cold and wind than charcoal.
How to Clean Blackstone Grills
It is easy to clean your Blackstone Grill top with these 3 simple steps.
First, heat the grill for about 20 minutes with the lid on. Remove the grill from the stand and cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
Lastly, using a grill scraper, clean the surface! Follow these instructions monthly to maintain an excellent cooking surface.
After use, another quick and easy way to clean your grill is to first use a brisket scraper over the griddle top to remove all debris (both wet and dry). Make sure that you are only using the brass scraper on the hot griddle surface itself, as the scraper can scratch black steel.
Next, dip a towel in the water bucket, wring it out, then wipe down the surface. Your grill should be clean.
Common Problems and Solutions of Blackstone Grills
Top is Warping
If the grill top has anything hot on it and you put a cold pan or lid on the top of it, the top will warp. Just heat the grill before putting the cold item on it to prevent warping.
Here are a few solutions to fix it:
1. Check to make sure the grease catch pan isn’t too full and that there’s enough sand in it to absorb oil.
2. The firebox needs to be flat so as the surface expands and contracts, it will not affect the box.
3. Grease in that area can cause a scenario where grease catches fire and tripping off the safety features of your grill. To get around this, check to see if your grill ever has an excess amount of fire or heat.
Griddle Isn’t Getting Hot
If your grill isn’t getting hot, you may have the temperature set too low (or not high enough), or you might have food on it that is blocking the burners. Turn it up or down until you reach a temperature that works best for you to check the temperature setting. To prevent food from overlapping, try to limit how many items are added to your grill at one time.
You can also check to ensure that the burners under the surface are clean. It usually solves the problem if no debris is blocking them. If not, you should check that your grill is level and try moving the air shutter to a more open position.
Griddle Top is Peeling
The most common issue with the griddle top peeling occurs when the grill has not been properly seasoned before first use or was not maintained throughout use.
The top was painted on top of a smooth, grit-free surface. Since paint doesn’t stick well to smooth surfaces, the sides and edges start bubbling and peeling up over time. It can happen when food or water gets between the griddle plate and the paint. To fix it, just add a coat or 2 of high-temperature stove paint.
Griddle Top is Rusting
Over time, griddle tops can rust on certain cooking surfaces, but they can be restored if you act quickly. Below are a few options to prevent or remove rust buildup. Use a vinegar and water solution or acetone and water and apply it liberally to the surface with a paper towel. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wash the area thoroughly with warm water and soap. Repeat this process if necessary.
However, It is important to remember to re-season the Blackstone Griddle Top whenever it begins to look dull and grey from use, after cleaning, or if it has been exposed to the elements for long periods, such as leaving your unit outdoors.
How to Season a Griddle
Whether it’s an electric griddle pan, an outdoor cast iron griddle, or a large flat top griddle, seasoning your griddle is the key to keeping it working in tip-top condition. Find out how to season a skillet in a few easy steps.
Step 1: Clean the surface with warm water and a clean cloth.
Step 2: Turn on the stovetop to medium-low heat.
Step 3: Rub a thin coat of oil with a paper towel over the cooking surface.
Step 4: Apply an even coat of salt all over the surface. The salt will bubble, sizzle, and turn brown. Allow cooling. Store in a dry place until you are ready to use next.
Conclusion
Blackstone is an American company that makes small, portable grills for users to take on picnics and camping trips. Its grills are most well-known for their versatility and functionality, allowing you to cook in more ways than one.
But knowing who makes Blackstone grills above will help you make the right buying decision.
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