FYI: I just picked up a Blackstone base model at Costco for $350. I researched ahead of time and realized without the recessed griddle, it wouldn't handle windy conditions like some of the others, but for the price, I got the same 4-burner set up as on the model you tested. Fold down shelves on each side and a speed rail on the front to hold all of your sauces and squeeze bottles. It also has two magnetic utensil holders, one on each side. No problems getting it to season and it was basically no-stick from the first use. I already had a mini Blackstone so I had familiarity with seasoning the griddle surface. But it's twice the size of my portable but less than twice the price. So ... there is a quality budget option out there.
I just got rid of our 36" Blackstone with air fryers (used those twice in 2 years) in favor of the Weber 36". I don't ever fold the shelves down so that wasnt a concern. Of note, the Weber gets way hotter (if the black stone was on high for something like smashburgers, the Weber is on medium). The side trays and lid stay much cooler on the Weber which was a nice surprise. Happy so far.
I think it’s really important to see which griddle maintains low temperatures without getting too hot or having to turn the burner off. How accurate are the temperature knobs on that Loco griddle? Thanks for the great reviews!
I love the idea of the temp knobs. But the results from the bread test were about the worst. So I’d say it seems like more of a gimmick than anything at this point.
One area that you didn't look at: some of the lids can be closed while griddling and some you cannot. The ones that can, like the Halo would be an advantage. Also, some of the griddles cannot maintain low temperatures for the things like eggs which need about 300 degrees.
I have a 17 inch blackstone tabletop griddle and that thing literally wont cook with any sort of breeze. With the huge gap between the plate and burner, the wind kills a lot of heat transfer. So having a wind test with sustained wind was a fantastic idea.
Awesome review. I have been a Blackstone user for 4 years and absolutely love it. I recommend a griddle everybody due to the variety of things that you can cook. I do have a 26” charcoal Weber for the times when I want to smoke meat. During those 4 years, my Weber gas grill simply rotted away. Buy what you can afford with the features you want. Nicely done.
I really appreciate this griddle comparison. I currently own (for around 5 years) a Blackstone 36" griddle with the rear grease trap and the surround shelf accessory. While I have been very happy with it, it is time to pass it on and downsize my griddle. I would like to say, that while griddles are a great tool to have and many things can be prepared on them, they are not an acceptable replacement/substitute for a grill. Gas or charcoal. There are some things that just require a grill.
That's the joy of you can own multiple units, I have a blackstone griddle, char-griller 3-1 (propane grill,charcoal grill,stove, and offset smoker), a pitboss pellet smoker, and a big chief aluminum smoker box for cold smoking. All have different purposes. Why limit yourself to one unit?
Can’t believe how fancy these have gotten. I bought a 28” Blackstone 5 years ago. Works great and I love it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The fancier the features, the more stuff that can break.
I have owned a black stone and a Traeger and hands down I love the Traeger. I did a lot of research on them prior to pulling the trigger on Traeger and I cannot say enough good about it.
I really appreciate your review! I am a 36" blackstone griddle woman and you nailed it at 30:00-30:30. That's exactly what I desired in my outdoor cooking experience. Thanks for your reviews. I'm so INCREDIBLY HAPPY with my Blackstone 36" but I can see how each person gets exactly what they desire in their griddle.
David and the rest of your crew I appreciate your testing .Some of these brands I was unaware of , was Impressed with Grilla Primate being a flattop and gas grill.
Excellent video. I hadn't done any research on anything and assumed a Blackstone was sort of a cult fav to everyone and was considering only that brand. This vid has made me give a closer look at options now. Thank you
Thanks for all the effort y’all put into the videos. They really are a cut above. I have the pit boss 4 burner ultimate and just had to have the top replaced due to rust under 2 years. Even with diligent cleaning. Overall I’m quite disappointed with the griddle, but I’m happy with Pit Boss customer service. It was one call and done. Now days that kind of service is hard to come by.
I was wondering about the Customer support with these griddles. I can tell you from experience, Blackstone stands by their products. Can't speak for the others. Glad to hear Pit Boss is good too!
Thank you for the review. I've had the Pitt Boss for over a year now in the Adirondack area of NY with all 4 seasons. It has always been on a covered porch so no elements, no rain or snow. You mentioned the non stick surface appearing to be wearing off , and that is happening with mine, again after just over a year. I never used metal utensils and cleaned the grill after cooks by wiping it off good. I was new to griddle cooking and chose the Pitt Boss for the non stick feature. I am now noticing rust on several places, including the cook top were the non stick is coming off. Bottum shelf and weld points are rusting. Paint has flaked off the grease cup as well. What did love, I'm now not. Just has not held up well at all. Thinking about scrapping for the Traeger and learning how to season.
Seasoning a griddle top isn't that difficult once you've done it. It's adding some maintenance into your griddle routine, but you shouldn't have to deal with some of the issues that you laid out above. I'm sorry that was your experience with your current griddle. I can't imagine any company hopes that is what a consumer experiences with their product.
FYI… I have the Camp Chef 600 and it is a full griddle and grill as one by removing the griddle top. It comes with the grill grates as well. That’s why it is called a FTG 600 (Flat Top Grill)
I thought so too, but looks like the newer versions of the Flat Top 600 do not have the grill grates. (From Camp Chef’s site:) “The Flat Top Grill 600 with Lid comes with a heavy-duty griddle top, 4-burner unit body, and a newly added hinged hood (no grill grates like it's predecessor.)”
You are correct, but the new mode is called "Flat Top 600" vs the model he tested which is the FTG 600. Which means it's like mine. It has no cover, but has the Flat Top and the Grill (FTG) @@Dust4Vomit
Great job on reviewing. I have a BS and keep it outside year round. It’s become a big pile of rust. Looking to buy all stainless with a stainless steel top
I love the look of the Grilla Grills, it looks extremely high end but the griddle looks so small. They need a version 2 where they better utilize the space in the grill to have a larger griddle cooking surface.
Great review. Very comprehensive with the most needed information. One thing I find as a relative newcomer to griddling is that most reviews pay a lot of attention to "Evenness" of the cook surface. I understand that under a few circumstances, that might be practical, I find that I rarely cook where I want the same temperature over the whole griddle. I suppose if I was cooking 20 smashburgers, that would be a good thing. But usually, I want hotter and cooler spots for cooking different foods and to park food and keep it warm. I think with experience anyone could learn their particular cook surface and use uneven heating to their advantage. I have a Blackstone and it is indeed hotter in the middle. But I am happy to have the cooler edges to park things, toast bread, cook eggs, etc. Great review!
With all due respect. That makes no sense. You want a completely even cooking surface. Then you can turn some burners up, and others down. Hot spots are ALWAYS a negative that we learn to deal with
We agree on the Grilla Primate, I have both size griddles and most often use the 3/4 size griddle and 1 grill at the same time which allows a great variety of options to cook multiple items in different ways together.
When going full griddle, do you find the surface area to be limiting for larger meals (for 12+ people)? I like the versatility, but want to make sure I can cook for a big group.
New subscribers, hubby & I both! Awesome review! We are now contemplating which way to jump with our first purchase of a griddle style grill, and your reviews of these are immensely valuable to us. Thankyou!
Loved the approach you took to this detailed comparison video. The pacing was spot on and I didn't feel like you rushed over anything as well as linger too long on other things. Glad Traeger was your overall choice as this is the one I am leaning towards... has features but most importantly has an even cooking temp across the surface.
Watched your video and bought a Grilla Grill a few hours later. I wasn’t even aware of the grill before watching this video. The 2 in 1 is a big selling point, being able to do 2/3 griddle and 1/3 grill is great, the wind test was great.. thanks for the video.
Now that was in depth man. I bought a 297 dollar Blackstone at WalMart and having a blast on it. Had it about a month. Cooking breakfast for half dozen people means meat is on with pancakes or bread or potatoes then when all that is done and plated clear the grease and cook the eggs in just a couple minutes. Its hard to imagine a griddle so perfect you could do all that at once! For 3 adults and my 4 Grandkids. Need a bit of food for that Brady Bunch😜
In the name of science, I did a bit of math. Since these were technically the same category, I was curious the BTU/in^2 surface area. The Loco had the smallest at 62 BTU/in^2, and the Grilla Grills had double that at 122 BTU/in^2. I have a hard time believing the Grilla Grills BTU number, as that kind of output should have made it the fastest to temp (assuming the same thickness of griddle top). The Camp Chef had the highest believable number at 79.5, but was the slowest to heat up. I think the Pit Boss heating up the fastest had to do with the enameled top, considering it has 67 BTU/in^2. which was about average. What I found interesting was that your two recommended "winners" (Weber and Traeger) were the two with the most even toast results, above average BTU/in^2, but neither heated up the fastest. I think they have thicker griddle tops that help spread out the heat more evenly, but have high enough BTU to not have to wait as long. And the Traeger is more of a 6 burner (3 zones) due to the spread out burner design. That's definitely going to make them the most consistent to cook with.
I often roll my eyes when I see a "shootout video," but this was the best video I've seen on this channel. Robust selection of griddles from all the major players. Great rundown of salient features and pros and cons of each. I never thought of a cover for the grease tray, but that's such a great idea as grease is a major attractor of rodents. In fact, I am going to make sure that my next griddle has a cover that is rodent proof 😆
Absolutely, you have done all the great testing and answered. All my questions on your video. You've done an excellent job on the video and you have a great voice. This answered every question I had before I buy a new riddle. Slice girl thanks so much
Nice job of comparing many of the features. But you left off cleaning and maintenance. I’ve had both stainless steel and blackstone and have had the Pit Boss ceramic for a year. And the winner for me is the Pit Boss. I can cook any of the surfaces but the cleanup and maintenance is so easy if you treat it right however none are hard if you take care of your equipment. Thanks again.
I have the Traeger Flat Rock, and I personally suggest using a separate propane gauge. The concept of the lights showing you the levels is awesome and I really enjoyed it, until I didn't... The lights were showing me just under half a tank used when I started up some french toast, just to have the burners turn off minutes in, leaving me to scramble my way into the kitchen to finish the cook. A second thing about the light I noticed is that it is EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT! It is awkwardly blinding from the corner of the eye. But other then the light I fully agree with your choice of the Traeger being overall. Great video!
I bought the Blackstone 36" without the hinged top for $240 from Tractor supply. My first one and I love it ! this is your true cheaper price! I am buying the wind baffles which is my only complaint. Also, I have very little seasoning issues like you showed, but I also used avocado oil and did 7 layers of initial seasoning. I want Blackstone to offer a stainless stell griddle top and that will be the Bomb!
I am thinking of getting a griddle. I normally cook outside using my Kamado Joe. I have an ancient Webber gas grill that is rarely used and in need of some repair if I want to use it. From your video which I appreciate immensely my two favorites for my use case is the Gorilla Grill primate at the 36” Weber. That toast test is very important. Having hot and cold spots is bad when cooking for large parties or multiple ingredients.
Great video. In depth but short and sweet. I wish all comparison videos were like this. Other RUclipsrs could definitely learn a thing or two from you here. Well done my man
I bought the Grilla Primate earlier this year specifically to build an outdoor kitchen around it and it hasn't disappointed. Important thing you noted, everything on the Primate is high grade stainless and is very heavy. The new built-in model (available as an option versus the cart cabinet) has a storage slot for the griddle top and belongs at home with a fancy outdoor setup or as a standalone rig. Not really portable due to weight, but that's likely why it'll last. Thanks for your reviews and your hard work!
This is such a great vid!! I love how you point out every detail that some of us wouldn't even think about at the time of shopping. Great work. thank you
Great work you guys did! I really appreciate it, I feel much more fortified in my confidence to know what to look for in Costco has a Blackstone 36" Griddle for $369. But now I think I might keep looking. And on another note, when I sell a product, I know how my product will be reviewed compared to others, so I can step up my game!! Thanks for the video!
Great vid. I just got the halo elite 4b for 4th of July sale thru hone depot foe 764.99. Love it. I do want to provide a correction to this excellent detailed spec review. The halo uses a 64lb HOT rolled, not cold rolled, griddle plate. I find this even better as hot rolled steel inherently lacks the stresses that cold rolled had and can not have to worry about thermal shock warpage.
That is not a key feature!. It’s a gimmick feature that doesn’t work. Just like wheels that don’t roll on the lawn, or attached lids that can’t be cooked under. A key feature is the ability to keep a consistent cook surface, or to easily clear grease.
Great video! Thanks for that and you deserve my subscription. What would have been nice is a temperature comparison on the side shelves. On some takes of your video I had a feeling that there is some imminent plastic melting
Great video! We don't have a lot of space on our patio. So have to make the decision if we would rather keep our Traeger smoker, or get a Weber griddle. Since we bought our Weber Grill a year ago we have only used our smoker once, so leaning toward selling it and buying a griddle.
Excellent format & presentation. The bread test was spot on and opened my eyes as I was a bit skeptical about the “strip” style burner designs. I’ll continue to use my griddle/Weber grill combo as I continue to contemplate a flat top purchase😊
Nothing wrong with the matching. I purchased a new CampChef 600 because there was nobody selling them on the used market. It does Pizza and Grills if needed. Much more 3rd party gadgets as well. There is something to say about the community keeping them. ;-)
Nice comparison video. I own two models of Blackstone and have enjoyed both of them. That Grilla Grill is very attractive and if I had to do it all again I'd have to take a closer look at that. I tend to use my indoor flat top most mornings just because I don't have to travel outside to cook breakfast but it has a feature similar to the PitBoss with a coated griddle top. Ive found that no matter what the surface coating is, it is eventually going to fail so I'd rule that feature out from the start and stick with the plain steel of most of the other versions.
This was an incredible video fam, very informative and well stated! We love all things griddle cooking for sure, and appreciate the honesty! Smashed the like button! GRIDDLE ON FAM!🔥🔥 (Also, the Ultimate has a 4 burner that is also portable, I’m sure you knew, just wanted to point it out!😂🤙).
I bought the Pit Boss 5 Burner Ultimate a few months before Traeger came out with the Flat Rock. I wanted a full cabinet with storage drawers etc rather than a cart, and the reviews said the Blackstone cabinets were cheap and didn't go together etc., so that was a big part of the decision. I like it well enough, but if I had waited a few months I probably would have bought the Flat Rock. I do think those gaping holes in the sides of the Flat Rock griddle (as opposed to just having raised handles that stick up out of the sides) are dumb, as I'd probably rake food through those by accident. That gigantic grease trap looks fantastic, and you're the second reviewer I've seen who did the bread test and showed it and the Weber as the most even of the bunch. As respectable as the Weber's performance is, I think it looks like a toy compared to Weber's other products, I don't know why they made it look so goofy. The giant side shelves on the Flat Rock are great. Hopefully Traegar comes out with a Flat Rock 2.0 that fixes the things I don't like about it and makes it even better. The Traeger and Weber are also apparently the lowest temps at Lo. My Pit Boss gets up to 450 at Lo if you leave all 5 burners on, so if I want to do eggs I have to turn the middle 3 burners off and wait for it to cool somewhat.
Hello, My wife and I love to grill, and we are ready to buy a Griddle on which I can cook breakfast. also to cook my favorite Philly Steak & Cheese and to toast the Philly Grinder Bun top and bottom, my question is what size is best, and do they make larger than 36"Griddles? we entertain a lot and need a ton of space, next question is what cooks the best and most even heat distribution? which we feel is very important. Thank you from your New friends here in Lima Peru George and Carmen.
my attention span is usually pretty lacking, but you somehow managed to keep me engaged until the end. The video is well put together and informative. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I was sold on your ultimate pick pretty early on.
Greatest Review of grills I've seen.I have the Grilla Grills Primate with the 2/3 griddle as well. This grill has two shelves underneath for items you need while cooking. Also, has a towel and paper towel rack along with 4 tool hangers. I would have liked to see you choose the 36 inch regular Blackstone to compare instead. I choose the Primate as it is 3 Grills in one.
Very well done review, it's much appreciated as I am looking to upgrade from a two burner table top griddle to one that is worthy of a full time position on the deck. The Traeger and Gorilla Grills are the most interesting ones for me and it is great to see your results.
This will be like choosing your favorite child. Everyone will have a different need and want. I admire you guys for taking on this challenge.
FYI: I just picked up a Blackstone base model at Costco for $350. I researched ahead of time and realized without the recessed griddle, it wouldn't handle windy conditions like some of the others, but for the price, I got the same 4-burner set up as on the model you tested. Fold down shelves on each side and a speed rail on the front to hold all of your sauces and squeeze bottles. It also has two magnetic utensil holders, one on each side. No problems getting it to season and it was basically no-stick from the first use. I already had a mini Blackstone so I had familiarity with seasoning the griddle surface. But it's twice the size of my portable but less than twice the price. So ... there is a quality budget option out there.
The air fryer unit is $380 at Walmart rn
I just got rid of our 36" Blackstone with air fryers (used those twice in 2 years) in favor of the Weber 36". I don't ever fold the shelves down so that wasnt a concern. Of note, the Weber gets way hotter (if the black stone was on high for something like smashburgers, the Weber is on medium). The side trays and lid stay much cooler on the Weber which was a nice surprise. Happy so far.
I’m unimpressed with blackstone’s quality. Webber is pretty quality through and through
I have a 36 Blackstone with cover. I'm on my third regulator and it's already pealing and rusting at the top of the frame. Total China junk.
I think it’s really important to see which griddle maintains low temperatures without getting too hot or having to turn the burner off. How accurate are the temperature knobs on that Loco griddle? Thanks for the great reviews!
I love the idea of the temp knobs. But the results from the bread test were about the worst. So I’d say it seems like more of a gimmick than anything at this point.
@@Bigheadedwon I tend to agree. That bread test won me over for the traeger and the Webber
One area that you didn't look at: some of the lids can be closed while griddling and some you cannot. The ones that can, like the Halo would be an advantage. Also, some of the griddles cannot maintain low temperatures for the things like eggs which need about 300 degrees.
Yes!! This! ^^^^^^^^
the only one I know for sure is the Halo. i dont know about the others
@@Luketa1978 yep, having a functional lid adds to the functionality of a griddle.
No closed lid on the Treager, but it doesn’t need the lid closed. It cooks eggs, steaks etc quick and the temp control is great.
This question is why im here, but where is the answer?? LOL
Surprising results, I’m really glad you did the wind test. Wind has always been a big challenge, even with a griddle.
I’m with you there Pete. Wind has been a big challenge for us, and Melissa gets credit for devising that test.
I have a 17 inch blackstone tabletop griddle and that thing literally wont cook with any sort of breeze. With the huge gap between the plate and burner, the wind kills a lot of heat transfer. So having a wind test with sustained wind was a fantastic idea.
@@alexhafko5667 I believe they sell wind guards
Great video! No BS, in depth, and good videography. Keep up the excellent reviews
Thanks BrandonBert!
This is a thorough, well done video. Much appreciated!
got a flat rock 2 months ago and i love it.
After extensive knowledge with most of these as well...I completely agree.....really nice work...
I love my Traeger flatrock coming from a Pitboss
Awesome review. I have been a Blackstone user for 4 years and absolutely love it. I recommend a griddle everybody due to the variety of things that you can cook. I do have a 26” charcoal Weber for the times when I want to smoke meat. During those 4 years, my Weber gas grill simply rotted away. Buy what you can afford with the features you want. Nicely done.
I really appreciate this griddle comparison. I currently own (for around 5 years) a Blackstone 36" griddle with the rear grease trap and the surround shelf accessory. While I have been very happy with it, it is time to pass it on and downsize my griddle. I would like to say, that while griddles are a great tool to have and many things can be prepared on them, they are not an acceptable replacement/substitute for a grill. Gas or charcoal. There are some things that just require a grill.
That's the joy of you can own multiple units, I have a blackstone griddle, char-griller 3-1 (propane grill,charcoal grill,stove, and offset smoker), a pitboss pellet smoker, and a big chief aluminum smoker box for cold smoking. All have different purposes. Why limit yourself to one unit?
Can’t believe how fancy these have gotten. I bought a 28” Blackstone 5 years ago. Works great and I love it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The fancier the features, the more stuff that can break.
🎯.... Still cooking perfect delicious food on my Blackstone for about 4 year's now lol
I have owned a black stone and a Traeger and hands down I love the Traeger. I did a lot of research on them prior to pulling the trigger on Traeger and I cannot say enough good about it.
What made you choose the Traeger? I’m considering it
@@enmanuelmaldonado6196the evenness of the cook top was huge. Inset for wind protection. Built like a tank.
I really appreciate your review! I am a 36" blackstone griddle woman and you nailed it at 30:00-30:30. That's exactly what I desired in my outdoor cooking experience. Thanks for your reviews. I'm so INCREDIBLY HAPPY with my Blackstone 36" but I can see how each person gets exactly what they desire in their griddle.
So glad to hear that you found the right cooker for you Kori! Thanks for watching, and keep cooking!
Each to their own, Blackstone is way overrated. I’m selling mine I have a couple of major gripes about it.
David and the rest of your crew I appreciate your testing .Some of these brands I was unaware of , was Impressed with Grilla Primate being a flattop and gas grill.
Great recap- nice work -have the Weber and love it. Low temp control , can get high temps for smash, and easy clean up
You’re actually a hero for this video. Very informative and helpful!
That’s the nicest comment I’ve gotten all day! Thanks for watching!
AGREE!!!
Long but absolutely the best comparison video ever , thank you
Man o man you should of got with The Flat Top King. He's used almost all of them. Would of been a great collaboration.
We’re not worthy! That dude is awesome.
@@TheBarbecueLab yes you are. Love your channel
I can’t thank you too enough for all the work that you put into reviewing all these products I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you very much.
Excellent video. I hadn't done any research on anything and assumed a Blackstone was sort of a cult fav to everyone and was considering only that brand. This vid has made me give a closer look at options now. Thank you
I bought the full size griddle insert for my 4 burner Weber Genesis and it’s great. 😊
Thanks for all the effort y’all put into the videos. They really are a cut above. I have the pit boss 4 burner ultimate and just had to have the top replaced due to rust under 2 years. Even with diligent cleaning. Overall I’m quite disappointed with the griddle, but I’m happy with Pit Boss customer service. It was one call and done. Now days that kind of service is hard to come by.
I was wondering about the Customer support with these griddles. I can tell you from experience, Blackstone stands by their products. Can't speak for the others. Glad to hear Pit Boss is good too!
I almost bought a blackstone without any research. I’m glad I watched this video. Thank you.
Thank you for the review. I've had the Pitt Boss for over a year now in the Adirondack area of NY with all 4 seasons. It has always been on a covered porch so no elements, no rain or snow. You mentioned the non stick surface appearing to be wearing off , and that is happening with mine, again after just over a year. I never used metal utensils and cleaned the grill after cooks by wiping it off good. I was new to griddle cooking and chose the Pitt Boss for the non stick feature. I am now noticing rust on several places, including the cook top were the non stick is coming off. Bottum shelf and weld points are rusting. Paint has flaked off the grease cup as well. What did love, I'm now not. Just has not held up well at all. Thinking about scrapping for the Traeger and learning how to season.
Seasoning a griddle top isn't that difficult once you've done it. It's adding some maintenance into your griddle routine, but you shouldn't have to deal with some of the issues that you laid out above. I'm sorry that was your experience with your current griddle. I can't imagine any company hopes that is what a consumer experiences with their product.
FYI… I have the Camp Chef 600 and it is a full griddle and grill as one by removing the griddle top. It comes with the grill grates as well. That’s why it is called a FTG 600 (Flat Top Grill)
I thought so too, but looks like the newer versions of the Flat Top 600 do not have the grill grates.
(From Camp Chef’s site:)
“The Flat Top Grill 600 with Lid comes with a heavy-duty griddle top, 4-burner unit body, and a newly added hinged hood (no grill grates like it's predecessor.)”
You are correct, but the new mode is called "Flat Top 600" vs the model he tested which is the FTG 600. Which means it's like mine. It has no cover, but has the Flat Top and the Grill (FTG)
@@Dust4Vomit
Great job on reviewing. I have a BS and keep it outside year round. It’s become a big pile of rust. Looking to buy all stainless with a stainless steel top
I love the look of the Grilla Grills, it looks extremely high end but the griddle looks so small. They need a version 2 where they better utilize the space in the grill to have a larger griddle cooking surface.
Great review. Very comprehensive with the most needed information. One thing I find as a relative newcomer to griddling is that most reviews pay a lot of attention to "Evenness" of the cook surface. I understand that under a few circumstances, that might be practical, I find that I rarely cook where I want the same temperature over the whole griddle. I suppose if I was cooking 20 smashburgers, that would be a good thing. But usually, I want hotter and cooler spots for cooking different foods and to park food and keep it warm. I think with experience anyone could learn their particular cook surface and use uneven heating to their advantage. I have a Blackstone and it is indeed hotter in the middle. But I am happy to have the cooler edges to park things, toast bread, cook eggs, etc. Great review!
With all due respect. That makes no sense. You want a completely even cooking surface. Then you can turn some burners up, and others down. Hot spots are ALWAYS a negative that we learn to deal with
We agree on the Grilla Primate, I have both size griddles and most often use the 3/4 size griddle and 1 grill at the same time which allows a great variety of options to cook multiple items in different ways together.
When going full griddle, do you find the surface area to be limiting for larger meals (for 12+ people)?
I like the versatility, but want to make sure I can cook for a big group.
New subscribers, hubby & I both! Awesome review! We are now contemplating which way to jump
with our first purchase of a griddle style grill, and your reviews of these are immensely valuable to us. Thankyou!
Thank you, the toast test is a smart way to figure out the hot spots!!!
Loved the approach you took to this detailed comparison video. The pacing was spot on and I didn't feel like you rushed over anything as well as linger too long on other things. Glad Traeger was your overall choice as this is the one I am leaning towards... has features but most importantly has an even cooking temp across the surface.
Pretty hard to beat simple Weber every time😊
Watched your video and bought a Grilla Grill a few hours later. I wasn’t even aware of the grill before watching this video.
The 2 in 1 is a big selling point, being able to do 2/3 griddle and 1/3 grill is great, the wind test was great.. thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching, and I’m glad it was helpful. We really enjoy ours, and I think you will too.
These have really taken outdoor cooking by storm. I have yet to get one so this was the perfect video to watch. Thanks!!
The HALO is convertible to NG with a conversion kit. Also, you can cook with the lid closed which is a huge advantage.
Great job as always, and I love that white griddle with digital knobs😊
What an excellent video, you covered everything thoroughly and clearly without bias. Thank you 🙏
Great Video, we just bought the Weber 28" Flat Top Grill and we will put it to the Test this weekend hopefully, if it doesn't rain!
Now that was in depth man. I bought a 297 dollar Blackstone at WalMart and having a blast on it. Had it about a month. Cooking breakfast for half dozen people means meat is on with pancakes or bread or potatoes then when all that is done and plated clear the grease and cook the eggs in just a couple minutes. Its hard to imagine a griddle so perfect you could do all that at once! For 3 adults and my 4 Grandkids. Need a bit of food for that Brady Bunch😜
In the name of science, I did a bit of math. Since these were technically the same category, I was curious the BTU/in^2 surface area. The Loco had the smallest at 62 BTU/in^2, and the Grilla Grills had double that at 122 BTU/in^2. I have a hard time believing the Grilla Grills BTU number, as that kind of output should have made it the fastest to temp (assuming the same thickness of griddle top). The Camp Chef had the highest believable number at 79.5, but was the slowest to heat up. I think the Pit Boss heating up the fastest had to do with the enameled top, considering it has 67 BTU/in^2. which was about average.
What I found interesting was that your two recommended "winners" (Weber and Traeger) were the two with the most even toast results, above average BTU/in^2, but neither heated up the fastest. I think they have thicker griddle tops that help spread out the heat more evenly, but have high enough BTU to not have to wait as long. And the Traeger is more of a 6 burner (3 zones) due to the spread out burner design. That's definitely going to make them the most consistent to cook with.
My husband and I have been looking at the treagar. You’ve confirmed our choice
It’s a great griddle. I know you’ll love it.
I often roll my eyes when I see a "shootout video," but this was the best video I've seen on this channel. Robust selection of griddles from all the major players. Great rundown of salient features and pros and cons of each. I never thought of a cover for the grease tray, but that's such a great idea as grease is a major attractor of rodents. In fact, I am going to make sure that my next griddle has a cover that is rodent proof 😆
Thanks!
@@M14-p3b thank you!
Absolutely, you have done all the great testing and answered. All my questions on your video. You've done an excellent job on the video and you have a great voice.
This answered every question I had before I buy a new riddle. Slice girl thanks so much
So which one did you go with and why? Lolo
Traegar
You two helped me to decide what one I'll be buying!
Yay! Which way did you decide to go?
Nice job of comparing many of the features. But you left off cleaning and maintenance. I’ve had both stainless steel and blackstone and have had the Pit Boss ceramic for a year. And the winner for me is the Pit Boss. I can cook any of the surfaces but the cleanup and maintenance is so easy if you treat it right however none are hard if you take care of your equipment. Thanks again.
After your review I just bought a Flat Rock - Traeger yesterday
Thank you
Great review! Some of these griddles I didn't even know about, thanks!
I have the Traeger Flat Rock, and I personally suggest using a separate propane gauge. The concept of the lights showing you the levels is awesome and I really enjoyed it, until I didn't... The lights were showing me just under half a tank used when I started up some french toast, just to have the burners turn off minutes in, leaving me to scramble my way into the kitchen to finish the cook. A second thing about the light I noticed is that it is EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT! It is awkwardly blinding from the corner of the eye. But other then the light I fully agree with your choice of the Traeger being overall. Great video!
I bought the Blackstone 36" without the hinged top for $240 from Tractor supply. My first one and I love it ! this is your true cheaper price! I am buying the wind baffles which is my only complaint. Also, I have very little seasoning issues like you showed, but I also used avocado oil and did 7 layers of initial seasoning. I want Blackstone to offer a stainless stell griddle top and that will be the Bomb!
I use a 24x17 cast iron griddle on my gas grill. Way cheaper than another appliance and works great.
Would love to see a review of the Char Griller Flat Iron Premium griddle and the Member's Mark 4 burner griddle! Thanks for the great review!!
Thanks for the time and effort put into this video. Much appreciated
I am thinking of getting a griddle. I normally cook outside using my Kamado Joe. I have an ancient Webber gas grill that is rarely used and in need of some repair if I want to use it. From your video which I appreciate immensely my two favorites for my use case is the Gorilla Grill primate at the 36” Weber. That toast test is very important. Having hot and cold spots is bad when cooking for large parties or multiple ingredients.
Funny enough I have a forever ancient Weber I’m looking to replace and also have a BGE.
This is my favorite youtube channel for reviews.
Thank you
So very kind of you. We thank you for watching!
My best outdoor griddle was the 28" blackstone i got on seasonal clearance for $90 new in box
I hear that.
winner on that deal. who wouldn't take that for 90
Fantastic information! By a real person and not a robot voice! Thank you so much!
Just pulled trigger on the Traeger Flat rock! Great video
Very helpful thank you , It answered the questions I had about the Loco that I needed before purchase. It earned you a sub!
Great video. In depth but short and sweet. I wish all comparison videos were like this. Other RUclipsrs could definitely learn a thing or two from you here. Well done my man
I bought the Grilla Primate earlier this year specifically to build an outdoor kitchen around it and it hasn't disappointed.
Important thing you noted, everything on the Primate is high grade stainless and is very heavy. The new built-in model (available as an option versus the cart cabinet) has a storage slot for the griddle top and belongs at home with a fancy outdoor setup or as a standalone rig. Not really portable due to weight, but that's likely why it'll last.
Thanks for your reviews and your hard work!
This video was awesome. Keep up the greatness.
This is such a great vid!! I love how you point out every detail that some of us wouldn't even think about at the time of shopping. Great work. thank you
Thanks for watching, and best wishes on your purchase!
Love it, very thorough and helpful for me to make a decision. Thank you
Great work you guys did! I really appreciate it, I feel much more fortified in my confidence to know what to look for in Costco has a Blackstone 36" Griddle for $369. But now I think I might keep looking. And on another note, when I sell a product, I know how my product will be reviewed compared to others, so I can step up my game!! Thanks for the video!
Glad it was helpful! I hope brands take into consideration some of our tests, and we all win with better products in the end. Thanks for the comment!
Victory Griddle from BBQ Guys is fantastic - all stainless, great looking, great quality, excellent even cooking and it's a metal-safe non-stick.
Great vid. I just got the halo elite 4b for 4th of July sale thru hone depot foe 764.99. Love it.
I do want to provide a correction to this excellent detailed spec review. The halo uses a 64lb HOT rolled, not cold rolled, griddle plate. I find this even better as hot rolled steel inherently lacks the stresses that cold rolled had and can not have to worry about thermal shock warpage.
The Traeger Flatrock is the one I’m gravitating towards. Glad to know it’s your go-to!
upgrading my Blackstone!! so can't wait
There's some great options here if you're looking for an upgrade! All the best in your search
Great video. To the point and lots of choices. Still trying to decide. thank you so much. Now, to watch it again.
I hope it’s helpful Timothy. Lots of options out there right now, and stick with us as we have some more griddle head to head content coming soon.
So the Traeger that has a key feature that doesn't work, even after going through customer service is the WINNER?
They all suck I guess
That is not a key feature!. It’s a gimmick feature that doesn’t work. Just like wheels that don’t roll on the lawn, or attached lids that can’t be cooked under. A key feature is the ability to keep a consistent cook surface, or to easily clear grease.
We know who paid him
Well, you hit the mark on your reviews. It was great to get the pro's and cons' of all the different manufacturers. Now to choose!
I love my 36 inch Blackstone, but I'll admit some of the others are intriguing..especially the Loco
Thanks for the video. Includes some points that I didn’t think of. Great job!
Great video. Please review the Weber slate 36" griddle?
Thanks for letting us know!
Great video! Thanks for that and you deserve my subscription. What would have been nice is a temperature comparison on the side shelves. On some takes of your video I had a feeling that there is some imminent plastic melting
Just picked up the Traeger flatrock and assembled it. Can't wait to use it. Nice comparison video btw!
Great video! We don't have a lot of space on our patio. So have to make the decision if we would rather keep our Traeger smoker, or get a Weber griddle. Since we bought our Weber Grill a year ago we have only used our smoker once, so leaning toward selling it and buying a griddle.
Excellent format & presentation. The bread test was spot on and opened my eyes as I was a bit skeptical about the “strip” style burner designs. I’ll continue to use my griddle/Weber grill combo as I continue to contemplate a flat top purchase😊
Awesome review. Thanks for putting it together
Thanks for watching!
Best review video I've seen yet for multiple griddles
Nothing wrong with the matching. I purchased a new CampChef 600 because there was nobody selling them on the used market. It does Pizza and Grills if needed. Much more 3rd party gadgets as well. There is something to say about the community keeping them. ;-)
Nice comparison video. I own two models of Blackstone and have enjoyed both of them. That Grilla Grill is very attractive and if I had to do it all again I'd have to take a closer look at that. I tend to use my indoor flat top most mornings just because I don't have to travel outside to cook breakfast but it has a feature similar to the PitBoss with a coated griddle top. Ive found that no matter what the surface coating is, it is eventually going to fail so I'd rule that feature out from the start and stick with the plain steel of most of the other versions.
What a great review! Well thought out and experience tested over 1 year. I was amazed to see the fajitas on each one.
This was an incredible video fam, very informative and well stated! We love all things griddle cooking for sure, and appreciate the honesty! Smashed the like button! GRIDDLE ON FAM!🔥🔥 (Also, the Ultimate has a 4 burner that is also portable, I’m sure you knew, just wanted to point it out!😂🤙).
I bought the Pit Boss 5 Burner Ultimate a few months before Traeger came out with the Flat Rock. I wanted a full cabinet with storage drawers etc rather than a cart, and the reviews said the Blackstone cabinets were cheap and didn't go together etc., so that was a big part of the decision. I like it well enough, but if I had waited a few months I probably would have bought the Flat Rock.
I do think those gaping holes in the sides of the Flat Rock griddle (as opposed to just having raised handles that stick up out of the sides) are dumb, as I'd probably rake food through those by accident. That gigantic grease trap looks fantastic, and you're the second reviewer I've seen who did the bread test and showed it and the Weber as the most even of the bunch. As respectable as the Weber's performance is, I think it looks like a toy compared to Weber's other products, I don't know why they made it look so goofy.
The giant side shelves on the Flat Rock are great. Hopefully Traegar comes out with a Flat Rock 2.0 that fixes the things I don't like about it and makes it even better.
The Traeger and Weber are also apparently the lowest temps at Lo. My Pit Boss gets up to 450 at Lo if you leave all 5 burners on, so if I want to do eggs I have to turn the middle 3 burners off and wait for it to cool somewhat.
Really great review. This is the only video you need to watch. It’s really goes into detail about everything. Great job.
Lots of good honest info. Will have a better idea of what's in the market and how they perform.
Hello, My wife and I love to grill, and we are ready to buy a Griddle on which I can cook breakfast. also to cook my favorite Philly Steak & Cheese and to toast the Philly Grinder Bun top and bottom, my question is what size is best, and do they make larger than 36"Griddles? we entertain a lot and need a ton of space, next question is what cooks the best and most even heat distribution? which we feel is very important. Thank you from your New friends here in Lima Peru George and Carmen.
extraordinarily video mate!... great detail, you cover all!
my attention span is usually pretty lacking, but you somehow managed to keep me engaged until the end. The video is well put together and informative. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I was sold on your ultimate pick pretty early on.
Thank you for doing this. You are answering all of my questions.
loved the video and appreciate the opinions!!! glad you got so many awesome griddles to compare - was really helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Greatest Review of grills I've seen.I have the Grilla Grills Primate with the 2/3 griddle as well. This grill has two shelves underneath for items you need while cooking. Also, has a towel and paper towel rack along with 4 tool hangers. I would have liked to see you choose the 36 inch regular Blackstone to compare instead. I choose the Primate as it is 3 Grills in one.
Yes, impressive on the attention to detail testing of the eight griddle’s 👏👏👏👏
Very well done review, it's much appreciated as I am looking to upgrade from a two burner table top griddle to one that is worthy of a full time position on the deck. The Traeger and Gorilla Grills are the most interesting ones for me and it is great to see your results.
I like the ones that have the tank under the griddle vs shelf.
Thanks, I like Weber products. I think that’s direction I’ll go.
Hard to go wrong with that one.