One of the major downsides of many of our favorite tools for cooking is that they lack portability. Even a small charcoal kettle barbecue can be a hassle when there isn't a safe way to dump coals, or the risk of starting a wildfire is too high. Increasingly, some states are setting regulations that restrict the use of open fires – including campfires – when camping in an effort to reduce the risk of natural disasters.
A simple solution to these problems is a portable griddle. A griddle is much safer than cooking over a fire. It leaves virtually no mess, and it can be ready to pack up and go in a short time. A griddle for camping use gives you the ability to cook meals all day long without the need to tend a fire and you'll get superior results when cooking almost any meal.
We love using our full-size Blackstone griddles at home, and the smaller, portable Blackstone griddle designs are just as versatile, easy to use, and high-quality as the larger models. We'll show you why adding a Blackstone camping griddle might be one of the smartest decisions you make for cooking delicious meals no matter where you go.
Is a Blackstone Griddle Good for Camping?
Choosing to use a Blackstone griddle for camping is one of the best ways to bring your culinary skills on the road with you while offering convenience and versatility that you won't get with other cooking methods. Have you ever tried to fry an egg on a campfire? Sure, it can be done, but the results are hit-or-miss, and it's usually more hassle than it's worth.
A griddle makes it easy, and when you are using a Blackstone griddle, you'll have the surface area to handle eggs, bacon, and hash browns all at once without the risks associated with trying to cook on a fire or barbecue.
One of the best benefits of using a Blackstone griddle for camping is the fuel source. Propane is affordable, and you can use tank sizes ranging from small containers to massive propane cylinders. When you are using a barbecue, you'll need to carry charcoal or wood, and you'll have to deal with disposing of the coals safely. In some parts of the country, bringing wood into a park or camping area is banned, forcing you to buy supplies at inflated costs. That isn't the case with propane.
To make barbecuing even more difficult, many Western states enforce No-Burn Days in which it is illegal to have a fire indoors or out. California for example restricts the use of wood-burning fireplaces year-round and heavily regulates the use of wood fires and charcoal in campgrounds throughout the state. In most cases, you have to purchase a license to have a campfire in the state, adding to the hassle and expense.
A Blackstone camping griddle eliminates all of these problems and provides a clean-burning alternative to sooty, smokey cooking fires that lets you taste the flavor of your food – not the flavor of whatever wood you burn.
The Best Blackstone Griddles for Camping
Blackstone Griddles offers several different models with many unique features to meet your camping needs. In the portable range, Blackstone offers griddles with a 17-inch and 22-inch cooking surface, with models that include gas and electric options. Both sizes offer lots of flexibility and feature solid build construction and are easy to use.
Blackstone 17-Inch Models
The most basic 17-inch design from Blackstone Griddles is the recently-updated 17-inch design. The Original Tabletop Griddle features a single burner control and the newest rear grease management system. This design offers 267 square inches of cooking space, enough for up to nine hamburger patties. The H-Style burner produces 12,500 BTUs to ensure you can cook just about anything with ease.
The body of the griddle is made from stainless steel which makes it durable and a snap to clean. Plus, that shiny stainless looks great while you are cooking.
On-The-Go Models
There are two On-The-Go models available in the 17-inch griddle. Both feature a stand that incorporates telescopic legs for portability and stability. These models do away with the stainless steel face and opt for a painted black body. The cart features a handy shelf that makes it easy to arrange the next food items going on or gives you a place to set your cold drink while flipping burgers, bacon, eggs, or pancakes.
The second model in this range is identical to the first but includes a number of highly useful accessories. Included in the Bundle is a five-piece griddle tool kit, 10 disposable grease cups, an Adventure-Ready knife roll that provides two knives, a silicone mat, and salt and pepper shakers. You'll also find all of the extras you need to properly season and preserve your griddle surface.
Tailgater Model
When just having a griddle isn't good enough for your needs, the On-The-Go Tailgater model includes a griddle surface on one side and a grill on the other. The grill features cast-iron grates and a round burner to allow independently controlled heat zones between the griddle and the grill. The cart features wheels and folds for storage rather than telescoping like other 17-inch designs from Blackstone.
Combo Griddle and Air Fryer
This one is a great option for folks who are motor home camping or use a power generator when off the grid. It has a gas-powered griddle surface on one side and a 4-quart electric air fryer on the other. This model is designed to use a 20lb propane cylinder and also requires 12-volt power.
Blackstone 22-Inch Models
Stepping up to the 22-inch Blackstone griddle gives you a big jump in space while keeping the overall package reasonably compact for portability. The biggest advantage that you'll get with the 22-inch models over the 17-inch designs is the dual burners. Dual burners let you take advantage of heat distribution for dual-zone cooking on the flat top griddle.
Blackstone Original 22-inch Griddle
The classic Blackstone 22-inch flat top griddle has a stainless steel body and a hinged lid. The heavy-duty cold-rolled steel cooking surfaces are durable and easy to clean and season. The cooking area measures 361 square inches, enough to manage 12 hamburgers or nine steaks.
The Original uses a brass regulator connector and is designed for use with one pound propane cylinders. An optional adapter is available to allow the use of larger tanks.
The dual H-Pattern burners provide as much as 24,000 BTU's of heat, plenty enough for searing, sizzling, grilling, and frying. A patented rear grease management system, Piezo electric igniter, and updated control knobs make this one of the best portable griddle designs we've seen.
22-inch On-The-Go Models
The line includes two options for on-the-go cooking. The first model is similar to the Classic, but includes an additional side burner for convenience while outside cooking. The griddle surface is the same as the Classic, but the body on these models is black rather than the stainless steel front plate.
The side burner adds an additional 12,000 BTU's of output, bringing the total up to 36,000. This griddle is intended for use with larger propane cylinders. The side burner is perfect for heating up a pot of coffee while making scrambled eggs for a delicious breakfast.
The second on-the-go model is similar to the Classic model and uses the same cold-rolled steel cooking surface with a hinged lid. It includes a cart with a folding tray for convenience. The cart does have fixed legs, making this design less practical for some options. But it's still great for outdoor cooking. It has the same rear grease trap system as other Blackstone models and is intended for use with a bulk propane tank.
22-Inch Electric Griddle
The newest griddle design from Blackstone is the E-Series. This is an electric griddle perfect for inside or outside cooking. While similar in appearance to other griddles from Blackstone, there are several key features that set this design apart.
The first thing, and arguably the most important, is the difference in cooking surfaces. Other Blackstone griddles use a cold-rolled steel cooking surface that must be seasoned before and after use. Instead, this new grill design uses a ceramic-coated titanium cooktop that is lighter in weight and easier to maintain. It doesn't require seasoning, so you won't have to spend time burning oil off each time you use the griddle.
The downside is that you won't be able to use metal utensils on this griddle top because of the risk of scratching the coating. Fortunately, there are a number of really good silicone utensils perfect for cooking on the E-Series griddle.
How to Choose the Right Griddle
Picking the right griddle for camping is important. You want to get a large enough griddle surface to cook the foods you want, but going too big will result in a product that isn't easy to transport and can be a hassle to use when you are off the grid. Larger griddles will also consume more propane, making it necessary to carry additional fuel.
A single burner design isn't as flexible as griddles with two burners, but the more compact size makes them have a better portable design. If you are cooking for a small family or just yourself, the 17-inch designs offer plenty of space, but if you are cooking for a large family or a whole group, you'll need to go with a larger design like the 22-inch models.
Types of Propane Tanks
There are several different sizes of propane tanks you can choose from, but they are not all interchangeable. Small, one-pound bottles are great for camping when you don't want to lug around a heavy fuel tank, but they also won't last for very long. So you'll need to pack a few if you plan on doing lots of cooking in the great outdoors.
Propane is available in 5-pound, 11-pound, and 20-pound. The 20-pound tank is what you'll see when you go to the "exchange" cage at your local gas station. These are ideal for larger burners and grills, but they are also heavy and difficult to store when transporting. If you've ever tried to carry one for any distance, they are quite cumbersome. The 11-pound propane tank is simply a half-size of the 20-pound tank.
How Long will Propane Last
Under the most demanding conditions, a one-pound propane bottle may only last for about an hour. However, in most scenarios, you'll get more than that out of one bottle. It's pretty common to get three to four hours from a one-pound cylinder. The temperature that you cook at and the BTU's of the burner will dictate how fast the propane is used up.
What Tools Do You Need for Griddle Cooking?
All of the propane-powered designs from Blackstone use a cold-rolled steel surface that is excellent for cooking at high temperatures. What you'll need is a good-quality set of griddle tools that includes a spatula, tongs, and other useful accessories.
We also recommend buying the appropriate tools to scrape grease from the top and paper towels for seasoning and cleaning. Unlike a regular grill, you'll need some supplies to season and clean the griddle top. This can include most high-smoke oils like peanut or avocado, while flax oil and pre-mixed seasoning oils are also popular choices.
What Can I Cook on a Blackstone Griddle?
One of the best things about Blackstone griddles is their versatility. You can fry bacon, make scrambled eggs, hash browns, and toast bread all at once. Then, simply clean the griddle surface and you are ready to cook hamburgers.
When dinner time rolls around, a Blackstone griddle is ideal for searing steaks, cooking fish, and all sorts of other delicious recipes. At the end of the day, the portable designs don't take up a lot of storage space, they are easy to clean, and you can be ready to pack up and go very quickly.
Final Thoughts
We think that the portable griddles from Blackstone are some of the best on the market. We use ours all the time – whether it is for a family get-together, a tailgating party, or when we are camping or fishing. The griddles have solid construction and excellent heat retention that makes them a pleasure to cook with, no matter where you are headed.
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