Blackstone Griddle With Side Shelf & Cooking Hood - 36" (257-2151EU)

BBQ Grills have been the favourite option in the UK for many years, but with the recent introduction of Blackstone, things are starting to change.

But what are the main advantages of going for a Blackstone griddle?

1. Versatility: as the griddle uses a flat plate, food can’t fall through any gaps, meaning you can cook any meals you'd be able to cook in a frying pan.
2. Heat control: when you think of a wood or charcoal burning bbq, it needs to be timed perfectly to get the right cook, with areas of the grill being hotter than others. However, with the griddle burners, you have complete control over temperature at all times with an even heat distribution.
3. Affordability: the Blackstone range is extremely affordable without taking away from quality. 
4. Cleaning: when properly seasoned, the griddle takes very little effort to clean, and I’m sure we all know the pain of cleaning a BBQ Grill!

However, if you’re looking for a smoky, char-grilled flavour, then you're going to struggle to do this on a griddle, and a BBQ grill would be a better option for you.

Seasoning the flat top of your griddle is the first thing you should do after getting your hands on your Blackstone. The seasoning process creates a non-stick surface for you to cook your meals on, making cleaning and cooking a whole lot easier. It is done by creating a polymerised layer of oil that sits on the surface of the flat plate.

Please see our step by step guide below:

Step 1: Clean the flat top

Clean the griddle thoroughly with soapy water to remove any residue from the manufacturing process. Make sure to fully rinse and dry after cleaning

Step 2: Heat the griddle

Put the burners on full blast and allow the flat top to heat up fully. Allow the griddle to brown - it should take around 10-15 minutes.

Step 3: Add the oil

Spread a thin layer of oil across the entire flat top using a paper towel, cloth, or something of the sort. Make sure to use an oil with a high smoke point (vegetable oil, flaxseed oil, etc.).

Step 4: Let it smoke

Once the oil has been applied, leave the burners on high and let it smoke. Do this for for 15-20 minutes.

Step 5: Repeat the process

Apply another layer of oil and let it smoke for another 15 minutes. Repeat this 2-3 times in total.

Step 6: Cool and wipe

Let the flat top cool completely before wiping it down to remove any excess oil, and you will now have a seasoned griddle, ready for your next cook!

Note: remember to season the griddle after each cook. You will only need to apply 1 thin layer of oil when the griddle is still warm before putting it away.

Cleaning a griddle is a simple and painless process, made significantly easier if your griddle has been seasoned properly.

Start by scraping any residue from your cook, and pushing it into the grease tray. Make sure that the flat top is very hot when you do this (burners on high).

Once the residue has been removed, you can then clean the griddle with 3-4 tablespoons of water at a time. It is best to use one of the Blackstone squirt bottles to control the amount of water, and use your scraper to remove the dirt.

Note: never use large quantities of water on a hot flat top, as the sudden temperature change will cause warping.

Once the griddle is back to a clean, dark brown colour, apply a light coat of oil and turn the burners off. Once it’s fully cooled down, wipe off any excess oil with and you’re good to go!

Cooking with a griddle is significantly cheaper than using a BBQ grill, especially when feeding a crowd.

Lets take steak as an example. For a family of five, grilling can mean five individual steaks (one per person). At £7 each, that’s £35 spent on steak alone! But with a griddle, you can rethink the dish entirely. Instead of serving whole steaks, slice up just 2–3 steaks and create a teriyaki steak and bean stir-fry. Add in some colourful vegetables and a simple sauce, and you’ve got a dish that is more interesting and healthy, that still serves five!

In this example, you’ve halved your steak costs to £17.50, and vegetables and sauce costs around £4. That brings your total to just £21.50, saving you £13.50 on a single meal!

Now, imagine scaling that up for a garden party or summer gathering. Multiply your saving across ten, twenty, or even thirty people, and the cost reductions are huge!

A griddle gives you the freedom to stretch ingredients further, cook creatively, and serve up crowd-pleasers, without the hefty ingredients bill. It’s a smarter, more economical way to entertain.

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