Blackstone is a company that makes griddles. Their griddles are among the most popular on the market. Even though they are so popular, there still is a bit of confusion regarding the materials used for their griddle tops.
Many people are wondering if they make a stainless steel griddle. Stainless steel is a type of metal that is resistant to corrosion, and it is often used in kitchen appliances because of its durability.
The short answer is that Blackstone does not make a stainless steel griddle. All their griddle tops are made of cold-rolled steel. They also currently don’t offer any griddles with stainless steel frames or bodies but they do sell griddles with stainless steel front plates.
If you are interested in more details regarding the types of steel and iron used in griddles, read on.
Table of Contents
- Blackstone Griddles With Stainless Steel Front Plates
- Are Blackstone Griddle Tops Cast Iron Or Steel?
- Cold-Rolled Steel vs Stainless Steel Griddle Tops
- Does Anyone Make Griddles with Stainless Steel Tops?
- Final Thoughts
- FAQ
Blackstone Griddles With Stainless Steel Front Plates
The source of confusion regarding the materials used in Blackstone griddle tops may be the griddles with stainless steel front plates. As the name indicates, these griddles have their front plates made of stainless steel instead of the traditional black powder-coated steel.
The griddle tops or flat tops if you will, are still made of cold-rolled steel just like all the other griddles in the Blackstone range. The stainless steel front plates are just a design feature that some people may find more aesthetically pleasing than the black powder-coated steel front plates.
However, keep in mind that although the stainless steel is more resistant than plain carbon steel, the front plate will still be more likely to rust than the traditional black-powdered plate.
So, to summarize, Blackstone does not make a griddle with a stainless steel top. All their griddles have cold-rolled steel tops, but some of them have stainless steel front plates.
Are Blackstone Griddle Tops Cast Iron Or Steel?
As mentioned in the previous sections, all Blackstone griddles have their tops made of cold-rolled steel. They are not cast iron. However, when it comes to cooking performance, cold-rolled steel is very similar to cast iron.
Similar to cast iron, cold-rolled stell can and in fact should be seasoned before use. Seasoning is the process of coating the metal with oil and then heating it up. This creates a protective layer that prevents the food from sticking to the surface and makes cleanup much easier.
Seasoning also gives the metal a dark black color, which is one of the reasons why many people think that Blackstone griddles are made of cast iron. However, as we have established, they are not.
It is also worth mentioning that Blackstone griddles don’t come pre-seasoned from the factory. Therefore the first seasoning should be done by the buyer. There are some competitors such as Camp Chef who do ship their griddles pre-seasoned, allowing you to start griddling pretty much right away.
Cold-Rolled Steel vs Stainless Steel Griddle Tops
Are you wondering what is the difference between cold-rolled steel and stainless steel?
Well, the main difference lies in the fact that stainless steel is a specific alloy, while cold-rolled steel is simply steel that has undergone the process of cold rolling. Stainless steel can be cold-rolled as well.
In simple words, an alloy is a mixture of two or more metals. Stainless steel usually contains iron, chromium, and nickel but may contain other metals such as vanadium or molybdenum. Chromium is what gives stainless steel its corrosion resistance.
Cold-rolled steel can be just plain carbon steel but it can also contain other metals.
Does it sound confusing? Well, yes, it is confusing. Let’s just say that unless stated otherwise, when there’s no mention of stainlessness, then the product is most likely made of regular carbon steel.
When it comes to griddles, cold-rolled steel is a good material to use. It is strong, durable, and has great heat retention properties. It also doesn’t scratch easily.
Stainless steel, on the other hand, is not widely considered a good material for griddles. It’s more difficult to season (and it is usually not recommended to season stainless steel) and it doesn’t retain heat as well as cold-rolled steel.
In single-layer thin sheets, it is also prone to heat up unevenly, creating hotspots on the surface of the griddle top. This however can be alleviated with evenly spaced burners.
Food sticking to the surface can also be an annoying problem plaguing stainless steel griddles and pans. It has one huge advantage though – it is stainless.
Being stainless means the steel is much less likely to suffer from corrosion and it has better resistance to harsh chemicals and salts.
Don’t be fooled by the notion that cold-rolled steel has no disadvantages though. The main disadvantage of plain carbon steel is that it is prone to rust. It will rust whether you like it or not if proper care isn’t given. Fortunately, rust can be sanded away.
Some people may also not like the idea of having to season cold-rolled steel griddles. Yes, it does take some time and it requires a bit of experience, but it is totally worth it.
Does Anyone Make Griddles with Stainless Steel Tops?
I’ve done some research and there seem to be no companies making consumer-grade gas griddles with stainless steel tops.
If you know of any such griddles, then feel free to contact me and I will happily add them here.
I have however found quite a few electric griddles that come with stainless steel tops. So if you’re looking for an electric griddle with a stainless steel top, then there are quite a few options available on the market.
Stainless steel is also often the choice of material for the simple griddles that you put on top of your stove or grill but that’s probably not what you are looking for.
Final Thoughts
So, to answer the question – no, Blackstone does not make a stainless steel griddle. All of their models come with cold-rolled steel tops. Stainless steel is simply not a popular material for gas griddles.
If you’re looking for an electric griddle with a stainless steel top, then there are quite a few options available on the market. For gas griddles, you’re better off sticking with cold-rolled steel.
FAQ
Are all Blackstone griddles made of cold-rolled steel?
Yes, all Blackstone griddles have cold-rolled steel tops. The only exception is the griddles with stainless steel front plates we talked about earlier. Those still have a cold-rolled steel top, but their front plate is made of stainless steel.
What is the difference between cold-rolled steel and stainless steel?
Cold-rolled steel is simply steel that has undergone the process of cold rolling. Stainless steel is a specific alloy.
Why is stainless steel not widely considered a good material for gas griddles?
It’s more difficult to season (and it is usually not recommended to season stainless steel) and it doesn’t retain heat as well as cold-rolled steel.
What are the advantages of cold-rolled steel?
Cold-rolled steel is strong, durable, and has great heat retention properties. It is also steel with an extremely smooth surface which is a desirable trait for griddle tops.
What is the main disadvantage of carbon steel?
Carbon steel is prone to rust.
