The Blackstone 36 Inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Griddle (ASIN: B01E6V5S44) is the best-selling flat top griddle on Amazon.ca, priced at $449 CAD. With 720 square inches of cold-rolled steel cooking surface and four independently controlled burners, it's built for cooks who want to do more than grill.
17 mentions · 7 threadslast mention May 2026
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Not sure I'd call it fantastic. You can get the 36" with a removable lid for $279 from walmart, and Tractor Supply had it for $249 during Black Friday week. So $120 more for hinges and two extra from accessories. All the bells and whistles would be the air fryer version.
Got one for hubby last year. He uses it all the time and loves it. Plus when we lost power from a winter storm he moved it I to garage, opened garage door, and we had hot water and hot food.
I got the 36" from Sam's Club because it was cheaper than the Blackstone and I wasn't sure if I'd really be into it enough to justify the cost. Turns out I use it every single week, and it is absolutely great when you have people over and want to mass produce a lot of food quickly.
$400-$800 for a blackstone for pancakes and such just seems like a massive waste of money.
Seasoning done ✔️ Ten coats of flax seed oil, took about an hour to do but am well happy with the finish
Unfortunately yes you nailed it. I had one and loved it for a while but keeping it clean it is a pain (not to mention that anything can walk across the cooking surface). The only thing it truly excels at is making a bunch of smashburgers all at once.
I like the silicon mat tbh. It gave me some extra piece of mind when I put it away for the winter cause we often get mice and they have made nests on top of one of our grills and poop on the cooking surface
Bigger, hotter, easier to clean. Honestly the last reason is why I like mine. The harder the cleanup the less inclined I am to use a tool. No dishwashing, while its hot just push the greese down the trap, wipe it down with a damp cloth, spray a light layer of oil after use.
I like the flattop because my wife and I mostly eat dinners consisting of various combos of chicken, rice, and vegetables, and we like to meal prep all the food at once each week. You can throw everything down on the big 36" surface at once, do it up pretty quick, then scrape the grill off to clean it up nice and easy in a minute or two, and that's it for the week.
I don't see the appeal either. I have 3 charcoal BBQs and an offset smoker. I have no idea what I would do with a big ass flat top besides making breakfast.
Don't wait, just buy it, that's a fantastic deal. My 36" Blackstone is about 7 years old now (I believe) and that's about what it cost when I first acquired it way back then. It's been absolutely fantastic ever since and I still use it regularly.
I have a Blackstone with the same removable lid. I just set it off and on when using. As long as you have a place to set it when then grill is not in use, it works very well. My son has a Blackstone with a hinged lid and it works very well
Get a silicone cover! I like the off brand better because it covers the sides better than the blackstone one. (Keeps bugs and crap off the griddle that would still get on it with the regular cover, helps maintain seasoned coating.)
I have. Hood and kinda hate it. Wish I had the lift off cover. But could be saying I wanted the hood if I got the lift off.
I love mine! Keeping it clean isn't hard. You scrape the food bits and grease into a trap. Done. Inside you would have to clean multiple pans to make a full breakfast. Frying bacon inside gets grease everywhere.
No, don't use the hood when you cook. I believe they mean the steamer domes. Looks like a stainless steel bowl with a handle on the top. I'm a firm believer on the silicone mat. Keeps the grill much cleaner. Plus keeps the rodents off the grill surface if it's outside. Smash Burger press is good.
I have the hard cover. Never felt I was missing out by not having the hinged lid.
The Blackstone 36-inch is the go-to flat top griddle for outdoor cooking enthusiasts who want massive versatility and cooking capacity at a fair price. It excels at high-volume breakfast cooks, smash burgers, and anything that benefits from a flat surface — things a traditional grill simply cannot do. The steel surface maintenance is non-negotiable, so buyers who want a set-it-and-forget-it appliance should look elsewhere. For those willing to season and care for it, this griddle becomes the most-used piece of outdoor cooking equipment in the backyard.
