We were on the lookout for a new grill as our decades-old one was rusting through and literally falling apart. We bought a smaller version of it and it worked well. However, as camp hosts, we have the opportunity to ask a lot of people what they like. As we do our rounds around dinner time, we get to see and smell them in action, too. The Blackstone Griddle name came up so often I wanted to know what all the love was about.
The Blackstone Griddle folks were gracious enough to send a 22” tabletop griddle to test out. There was a tool kit, seasoning oil and seasonings sent with it. They directed me to their video on how to season it for the first time. I watched it so much it went to autoplay!
I was a bit concerned when the box came a bit roughed up, but the griddle was packed so well there was not a problem with it.
Page Contents
Assembly
I followed the simple assembly instructions for setup. First, I easily installed the griddle feet, the propane regulator and grease cup, and laid the griddle on top. Easy peasy! The body is very lightweight, but be aware that the griddle top is well-made and heavy. Think h-u-g-e cast iron pan!
Seasoning the Blackstone Griddle
I was so excited to get going that even though it was 106 degrees and sunny out, I started the seasoning process, replaying the how-to video several times. It was easy to ignite: You simply push in the knob to start the gas flow, turn the knob to ignite and, once it’s lit, you turn it to high. I did the same for the other burner tube. Then you let it heat up for about 15 minutes until it’s super hot and the griddle begins to discolor.
I dropped about a tablespoon of seasoning oil on the griddle and spread it smoothly around with a paper towel. It was hot! I needed tongs!
It began smoking almost immediately. That is a sign that the oil is bonding with the surface. Let it continue to heat on high until the smoke has cleared and no longer shiny. Repeat three or four more times.
Cooking test
Now the real test. Does it cook as well as all those campers are raving about it? Could it really replace my standard camping grill?
I bought some precut grilling veggies, preheated the griddle, added a little olive oil and the veggies. I quickly learned that the griddle had some areas that were hotter and some cooler when the veggies started to scorch when directly over the burner tubes and the ones on outer edges didn’t. Later I found out that Blackstone designates different zones. I just moved stuff around to cook and char evenly. I put the chicken on later.
Cleaning
Does it really clean easily? Did I season it properly? I had read enough reviews to know that food could stick terribly or it could come off easily. Glad to say that I could squirt a little hot water in small areas on the griddle and scrape it clean.
I wiped it dry with a paper towel and then applied the oil with a cloth all over the surface and sides.
Bon appetite!
Now the taste test: The veggies are tender and wonderfully charred and the chicken is tender and done!
So, is it worthy of the hype?
The Blackstone Griddle performed even better than I anticipated. It was easy to use, and easy to light and control. While the initial seasoning process was a bit of a hassle (particularly at 106 degrees in Arizona), I am sure that proper and diligent seasoning is what will keep the griddle nonstick and evenly heating.
The 22” surface was plenty big enough for our use. Lots of veggies and chicken went on – easily enough for four people. I can see the griddle being a lot more versatile than our standard camping grill for breakfasts, lunches and dinners beyond just grilling meat.
The griddle top itself is much heavier than I thought it would be. It is definitely easier to handle when moving the unit by taking it off of the body. The weight is a consideration for any RVer. Can I really afford to add another 32-plus pounds?
It is important that the griddle is oiled at the end of each use and kept dry. Make sure to keep it covered if outside and out of the rain. It can rust. I have seen some pictures of what can happen and it is not pretty. I imagine that it does require a bit more maintenance than our grill did, but the bottom rusted out on our other propane grill, so there is that.
Not having a stand or tabletop to put the griddle on, my husband improvised with plant pots and a wood crate. I would certainly consider getting a stand to hold it and a top to help keep it clean.
I never thought a griddle could give me such flavor with such ease. Tomorrow I’m trying breakfast: pancakes, potatoes, sausage and eggs. How about grilled cheese, fajitas or steak?
Bottom line: Yes, it is worthy of all the love RVers give it.
Want to get one yourself? You can buy the Blackstone Griddle here or on the company’s official website.
##RVT1018
That seems like a nice setup.
Call me old fashioned but I found a 100 year old small cast iron griddle at a flea market for $5. It weighs considerably less than the one I have at my sticks and bricks. I can use it on the stove inside or it fits perfectly over my charcoal grill. To me, there’s an extra goodness to food cooked on cast iron.
Haters gonna hate. I have a 22″ I bought in April of 2019 from Walmart that included the stand, cover, and lid for less than $150. Go shopping people, no need to buy separate components because you can get it all at once. Oh, it’s not a grill? You’re right. It’s better. On the front of the Blackstone it says “cook anything, anytime, anywhere”, and it’s true. The only limitation is your experience and skill. I can cook anything you can cook on your grill and many things you can’t, and do it faster and just as good if not better. For those worried about the weight, there’s not much to be done about it. I guess that means you should whittle a point on a stick and spear your hot dogs over your campfire.
I love other people’s grills, but the weight and space thing is the issue for us.
Ditto here, especially when space becomes a premium in your RV – doesn’t it ALWAYS end up being a problem sooner or later? And when only cooking for a couple, it may not be worth the trouble if you’re on the move each day (setup, takedown, cleaning).
EDIT – oops, I didn’t realize that RV Travel recirculated their posts and after making this comment, I see I made a similar post a year ago. So while I didn’t immediately realize this was the exact post I replied to a year ago, at least I’m fairly consistent with my responses so God ain’t through with me yet!
I have the 17 inch Blackstone. It works great, but if I had to do it all over, I would get the 22 inch with the dual burners. Also, I’ve noticed if I’m camping at high elevation, (which we do a lot living in Utah) my 17 inch will not get very hot & it takes a long time to cook something. Just my experience if anyone is thinking of getting one.
A little off topic but when we need to fry something in a pan or boil something- we use a single burner butane stove. They are extremely light (maybe 1.5 pounds) and heat very quickly. Between that and my Smoke Hollow grill I can cook anything.
Don’t have a Blackstone griddle but a couple of comments nonetheless. Griddle isn’t cast iron but heavy gauge steel. As such it will warp – numerous reviews on Amazon attest to the fact. Additionally, apparently griddles ordered through Amazon will not be warranted by Blackstone. Customer service seems lacking although the product seems to have a strong following.
Nanci, I went to home depot and purchased a couple handles and attached to each side of the grill. Makes it so much easier to schlep around.
But, can you connect to onboard propane instead of carting dozens of propane bottles with you. And like the writer below says, it’s griddle. Not a grill. Not for me. I have a lightweight solaire
Easy peasy. I hooked up my Weber BBQ using a “T” from one of my RV 30 lb. tanks. Then just run a propane extension hose from your BBQ to the “T”. Works marvelous!
Yes. I have the 17″ Blackstone. I have a Rev Renegade B+ with an on board propane tank. I needed to buy the adaptor from Blackstone to alleviate their regulator for a quick connect fitting without the regulator. I believe it was less than $20.00 but not sure. I already had a propane quick connect hose that I used for other grills that connects to the coach via a quick connect fitting. Works great and worth every penny. It does take some effort to “season” as explained in the article, and you must oil after every use. Also, I recommend the BLUE shop towels from Walmart auto section. Very little if any lint and they hold up. You do use A LOT of towels! Also, you will need some type of container/bag to store the grill when not in use. We found ours at Walmart.
Yes. We connect ours directly to the RV’s propane outlet. You do have to remove the regulator from the griddle, but that’s just a matter of unscrewing it and keeping it in a safe place should you need/want to use a canister.
I have had both the 22″ and the 17″ Blackstone griddles and I love cooking on them. However after only one season I find the finish is flaking off on the base and the lid. The cooking surface on both is not very flat. If I could do it over I would have spent a little more and bought the Camp Chef griddle, much higher quality product IMO.
I had a 32″ at home and loved it, so after selling it and the house we bought a 22″ for our RV. We bought it at Walmart and it came with a lid and a table so we don’t worry about where to set it up. Later we bought a cover for it somewhere.
Why do I love it so much? Because we can make pancakes, vegetables, fish, meat, etc on it. It’s an all in one, and so what if it needs to be seasoned every time? So does a dutch oven and our stir fry pot. Better than scrubbing with a wire scrubber I say 🙂 Just burn the fat off, wipe, and add some grease, simple!
I have a 22 inch Blackstone, amd a Webber Q2200 grill. Haven’t used the Blackstone a lot, but each of them have their own purpose.
I don’t mean to be a buzzkill, but you seem to have confirmed everything I expected to HATE about the Blackstone. I know, there’s a freakish CULT following, but I have yet to have any of 30 people I’ve probably asked explain the love to me.
It’s a GRIDDLE (aka frying pan) and NOT a grill. That almost kills it dead in one sentence, but I’ll continue.
It’s a big cast iron plate — which should be great for even heat, except everyone tells me they get the uneven performance you noted (and don’t try to tell us it’s zoned “feature”… it’s a failure). Killed again.
It’s needs a stand… For camping, that’s another big kill.
My grill (Coleman Roadtrip) has attached legs. And two REAL heat zones with even heat within each. And fits easily through my storage door. And it gently sips LP compared to Blackstone. Oh, and it’s ACTUALLY a grill. 😀
I could see outdoor pancakes or bacon cooking, but I have a frying pan for my grill. Nope, still beat BS.
Yes but it was an interesting commercial, the problem I had was the picture showing slip-joint pliers on a nut. Definitely a no no, you’ll never get it tight enough where it won’t loosen and in the process you’ll probably ruin the nut where a proper wrench will never work. At least use a “knuckle buster” crescent wrench.
While even our small 17″ Blackstone griddle is a bit of an overkill for the two of us from a standpoint of size, weight, fuel and cleaning, agreed for a bigger family it’s makes a wonderful cooking surface. But for our more meager needs, we still love our older classic 2 burner Coleman stove (only 10 pounds a 6 inches high vs. 21 pounds and 9 inches high). Of course the Coleman’s heat is far more concentrated – a huge plus or negative, depending on what you are cooking.
I have a Megamaster griddle that is porcelain coated. It’s easy to clean and don’t need to seasoned. At the Hershey Rv show I saw a new griddle that also had a porcelain coating. Don’t remember the name
We just remodeled our kitchen and needed something to cook with while our kitchen was torn apart. We bought from Walmart the smaller electric Blackstone griddle. It is aluminum with a non stick coating on the griddle. It works great, but for eggs you have to spray Pam on it before cracking the eggs. I use it when camping now instead of the Megamaster Griddle. Just make sure you don’t overload your RV circuit and kick the circuit breaker. I run a separate 20 amp extension from the outside panel that supplies power to my Travel trailer.
I have the 22″ and that can be difficult to move around, especially since we have the optional lid. I went to a big box store and bought two heavy-duty gate handles. I used self-locking nuts, bolts, and washers to screw a handle horizontally to each side of the griddle. Now I can grab a handle on each side and easily lift the Blackstone in and out of the storage compartment.
After reading and watching several videos we bought a 17” Blackstone griddle for our fifth wheel and a 28” for our home. We loved them. Very versatile, easy cleanup and great food (especially hash brown potatoes). We replaced our Weber Q1200 in the fiver with the 17” Blackstone and life was good—until earlier this year when we were boondocking north of Moab, UT. It was chilly and windy and I could not get the Blackstone hot, nearly ruining two magnificent rib eye steaks. On our return the Blackstone was replaced with our old little Weber Q1200 in our Montana. Not as versatile, but more dependable in varied situations.
There are videos on Youtube that show how to make and install a wind shield that will keep the Blackstone working well in windy weather.
Pliers, really? Good tools are meant to be used.
My main reaction to the whole article, too. Even a Crescent wrench, marginal as they are, beats pliers all silly for turning a nut.
My other main reaction: uneven heat? Really? In something that heavy and expensive? Oh, those are “zones”? Not hard to imagine how *that* discussion went in the marketing department, is it?
Yup- would have loved a wrench! Unfortunately my non-mechanical father only had this old rusty pliers!
Yup- would have loved a wrench. Unfortunately my 98 year old non-mechanical father only had this old rusty pliers! Think the pliers are about the same age…