Blackstone Grill: Definitive Review (2024)
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Interested in the Blackstone Grill today?
You’re in the right place – we have the full low down for you right here.
Camping meals can be rough…
You don’t have the comfort or convenience of your homely kitchen to work in, after all.
Sometimes getting a fire going can be the toughest task.
And even once you have a fire, cooking on it isn’t easy.
The great news is…
…the meals you eat while camping don’t have to be difficult to cook.
With the Blackstone Table Top Griddle…
…you’ll be able to cook TopNotch foods with a lot less struggle, starting now.
Cleaning up will be a whole lot easier too…
In this article, we’ll review the Blackstone Grill, including:
- Output Power
- Portability
- Cooking Area
- And lots more!
And after testing – both at home and – whilst we were away for a weekend in Tahoe with the boys from the TopNotch team – we awarded this grill our TopNotch Editor’s Choice both for its performance and value for the money.
Let’s get right to the nitty-gritty!
- Manufacturer: Blackstone
- Category: Tabletop
- Fuel: Propane
- Burners: 1 H-Burner
- Heat Output: 12,000 BTU
Bottom Line : An exceptional small gas grill that will meet or exceed your camping stove needs.
Pros
- 260 sq inches of cooking area
- Built-in grease catcher
- Portable design
- Easy-start electric ignition
- Solid grill surface
Cons
- Single burner configuration
- Solid grill surface
Our Verdict: Blackstone Grill
The Blackstone table top grill is super lightweight and easy to set up. You can have it ready to start cooking in a matter of minutes.
If you’re looking for a super convenient griddle to cook your favorite staples while car camping…
It’s here, the Blackstone.
One of the best bits first?
Blackstone offers two grill sizes:
The 17 inch Blackstone griddle and…
The Blackstone 22 inch table top griddle.
Just choose which will suit the size of your camping party the best.
The grill surface on both models are made of thick, rolled stainless steel.
This means no-hassle cleaning once you’re finished cooking.
The cooking area is also non-stick and distributes heat evenly across the entire surface.
We love the fact this grill uses just a small, one-pound propane tank…..
So you won’t need huge fuel storage!
The large cooking area on this table top griddle provides plenty of space to grill food for a family of four.
It also gives you all the control you need from a gas grill.
One thing that’s tough about cooking over a fire is the amount of time it takes to build a solid foundation of coals in the first place.
But not so here…
…the output power of this grill makes it super easy to grill up fast.
That’s why it’s our TopNotch Editor’s Choice for table top grills.
Read Full Review: 10 Best Portable Gas Grills
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
We’ve been on many camping trips where the amount of cooking area we had just wasn’t enough and we had to take turns to eat.
And we’ve also tested grills that sounded great until we realized how flipping difficult they were to set up.
Those “test-runs” are why we find the Blackstone grill so enticing.
Value For Money
For their size and output capacity…
… both the Blackstone 22” portable gas griddle and Blackstone 17” griddle are bargains.
Efficient fuel consumption is a TopNotch bonus of this grill.
It cooks lightning-fast so you won’t have to refill the propane tank after every other meal.
Value For Money Rating
Output Power
The Blackstone 17 griddle has a single H-burner with a heat output of 12,000 BTU.
The 22-inch model has two separate H-burners and a total heat output of 24,000 BTU.
To provide a little background…
Output Power Rating
‘BTU’ stands for British Thermal units.
This article from Essential Home and Garden is a great resource on BTU ratings.
For example, many broiler units in home ovens have a BTU rating of 12,000…
So these grills really pack a portable punch!
The stainless steel grill tops on the Blackstone 17 and 22 distribute their output power evenly across the surface for exceptional efficiency.
This’ll be a welcome relief if you’re used to cooking on an uneven grill!
Control
Precise control over your heat source is frankly impossible when cooking on a campfire.
While we know there’s something nostalgic about it…
… your food doesn’t always turn out the best.
On the Blackstone 17” table top griddle…
Control Rating
… a single control dial allows you to adjust your heat setting for more accurate cooking.
The 22 inch Black stone table top griddle has two control dials for heat control. This gives you the freedom to heat each side to a different temperature – great for cooking different types of food at the same time.
Reliable heat control will expand the possibilities for camp cooking or tailgating.
These grills allow you to dial in temps for veggies and meats all at once…
So you won’t have to wait around for everything to be ready to eat!
A final word:
Both models come with electric ignition so you won’t have to scramble to find matches or a lighter to get them going.
It can be hard to get the heat control right when day camping or cooking out on a road trip.
With the 17-inch Blackstone grill (or its 22-inch counterpart)…
You’ll be able to make micro-adjustments to the heat level so you don’t burn anything!
Portability
When you’re ready to pack up and head to your next campsite…
The Blackstone 17 and 22 are super easy to store.
The grill top flips over and sits right on top of the burner units.
This protects the burners and creates a slim design that won’t be a challenge when you’re playing your next game of ‘Road Trip Tetris’….
Portability Rating
(“How did this fit in before?”)
The Blackstone 22 inch table top griddle measurements are…
22.5” by 19” by 9” and weighs 32 pounds.
The Blackstone 17 inch table top griddle measures…
17.5” by 18” by 8.5” and weighs 21 pounds.
Cooking Area
Both the Blackstone 17” grill and the 22 inch version offer a TopNotch cooking area for pancakes, burgers, or a healthy selection of seasonal vegetables.
The 22 inch Blackstone grill features a total cooking surface of 330 square inches.
The Blackstone 17 inch grill has a total cooking area of 260 square units.
Cooking Area Rating
For reference…
A simple circle area calculator can help us determine the cooking area of a 12-inch cast iron pan.
This calculation comes out to just more than 113 square inches…
Which is less than half of the Blackstone 17” tabletop griddle!
The Blackstone Table Top Grill
Wind Resistance
Wind can be a real pest when you’re cooking outside.
Even if you’re using a larger gas grill with a cover, you tend to lose a lot of heat every time you open the lid.
An open cooktop is especially susceptible to heat loss from wind.
Wind Resistance Rating
The good news is:
The Blackstone grills boast raised grill edges to reduce heat loss.
The grill edges on the 17” and 22” models keep wind from wreaking havoc on your cooking times.
The enclosed compartment underneath the cooktop protects the burners and…
…makes it easy to control heat in windy conditions with your Blackstone grill!
Our Final Verdict: Blackstone Grill
Here’s our final Line Up of the best gas grills for you today – with our Blackstone in Gold Medal Place.
Conclusion: Blackstone Grill
Fantastic, you made it to the end.
You made a wise choice to check out the Blackstone Table Top Grill – it certainly checked all the boxes for us.
It’s got TopNotch power and abundant cooking area for your favorite camping foods.
It gives you the ability to control cooking temperatures to achieve grilling perfection.
When you’re finished cooking, simply flip the cooktop over and slide the whole grill away for later use.
Even when the weather isn’t cooperating…
The raised griddle edges keep heat in and provide extra wind resistance.
Additionally…
The Blackstone grill models come with built-in grease catchers!
If you love camp cooking but hate the mess…
You’ll love having the grease collect in one spot for super easy disposal.
Best of all, you won’t have to break the bank to add this grill to your camping kit collection!
The Blackstone Grills are TopNotch table top grills for car camping, tailgating, hunting, road trips, or everyday outdoor use.
Both the 17 or 22 inch models will take the headache out of camp cooking – all you have to do is choose which size is right for you!
Wake the family up with eggs and bacon in the morning…
And make sure those tasty burgers are fully cooked in the evenings.
I can smell them now…
You’ll never cook out the same again!
We’ve made our (TopNotch Editor’s!) choice – now we pass the baton over to you to make yours.
