If you love preparing hearty breakfasts at home, you must invest in a griddle. This equipment will come handy when cooking eggs, grilled cheese, pancakes, and burgers, among other breakfast staples. Basically, it has a hot metal plate that allows you to put almost anything that you think of that can be cooked on the flat surface.
In this post about Camp Chef vs Blackstone, we will take a look at two of the best brands that are available. We will start looking at the brand in general and follow it up with a review of their best models to help you decide which one can make the better choice. They are great not only for preparing breakfasts but for meals that can be enjoyed any time of the day!
Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 600 Review
Features at a Glance:
- 604 square inches of cooking area
- Four 12,000 BTU burners
- Gas-powered
- Propane tank holder
- Two side shelves
- Weight – 147 pounds
- Dimensions – 62.5 x 37 x 22 inches
This griddle and grill combination comes with a 604 inches of griddle cooking surface and 501 square inches of grilling surface. Simply lift the flat surface on the top and it will magically transform into a grill, making it a versatile appliance to have. At its size, it can cook for an average of 50 to 100 people per hour.
The griddle comes with four burners each with 12,000 BTU. It is powered by a propane gas, which has a dedicated tank holder. You will have four individual heat zones that you can control separately.
The grill also features an even heat cooking system, providing an assurance that no parts of whatever you are cooking will be burnt while the others remain uncooked.
Aside from the main cooking area, there are two shelves on the side for warming and preparation. These shelves can be folded to make the griddle space-efficient when stored.
Right out of the box, the griddle is pre-seasoned and ready to cook. It also comes with a matchless ignition system, which you can instantly activate with the push of a button. For your convenience, there are two wheels on the side for ease of rolling the unit. It also has a convenient handle. Meanwhile, with the adjustable levelers on the leg, you can easily keep it in a stable position.
For ease of cleaning, the unit comes with a dedicated grease tray and catch bucket. The non-stick surface also makes cleaning a breeze.
Pros:
- Intuitive controls
- Heats up quickly
- Excellent grease catcher
Cons:
- Comes only with two wheels
- Can be easily prone to warping
Blackstone Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station Review
Features at a Glance:
- 470 square inches cooking area
- Four 15,000 BTU burners
- Gas-powered
- Controllable heat zones
- Two side shelves
- Propane tank fasteners
- Stainless steel frame
- Weight – 75 pounds
- Dimensions – 44.5 x 19.5 x 33.5 inches
Restaurant-style cooking is now possible in the comfort of your own home with the use of this griddle and grill combination. It has a 28-inch cooking area with a total of 470 square inches of usable surface for grilling. At this size, you will be able to cook 18 hamburgers, 10 steaks, or 52 hotdogs.
The professional-grade construction of the grill makes it durable. The frame is made of stainless steel and is powder-coated to minimize wear and tear, which also makes it perfect for outdoor use.
It is also well-loved because of its portability. The grill has four industrial-strength caster wheels for ease of moving around. Two of the wheels can be locked in place to keep the griddle in a steady position.
With the adjustable heat zones, you can cook different foods at the same time. The surface is divided into four parts, each section can be controlled separately. Each burner has a power of 15,000 BTU and a total of 30,000 BTU for the two cooking zones.
The unit also comes with electronic push ignition. With a push of the igniter, the fire will start and you can immediately begin with the grilling.
Right out of the box, the assembly will be easy. There is a comprehensive manual with detailed instructions. It is also already pre-seasoned, so you can start cooking right away!
In terms of the cooking performance, this Blackstone griddle is impressive. It cooks everything quickly and evenly. There are no burnt spots. The meat remains juicy. Also, because space is big enough, this is ideal for large families or if you like inviting a big group over.
There is also a rear grease management system. This collects grease automatically at the back of the griddle, although there are some who complained about how such can be always prone to clogging.
Pros:
- Durable construction
- Easy to move around
- Effortless assembly and cleaning
Cons:
- Grease drain can be easily clogged
- Can have problems with gas tank hook
Camp Chef vs Black Stone: A General Comparison
To begin with, let us have a look at some of the similarities and differences between the two brands.
Selection
Both brands have different models that are available, but Blackstone has more compared to Camp Chef. Camp Chef has three flat top grills, including the Flat Top Grill 600, the model that we will review later on. They also have a more compact griddle, the Flat Top Grill 475 and the largest version from the three, the Flat Top Grill 900.
Blackstone, on the other hand, offers a wider selection. They have a version that is ideal for tailgating, which trumps in portability. They also have a countertop grill, which has a cooking surface of only 17 inches. The largest of the group is 36 inches, the product that will be reviewed later on.
Price
If you are looking for affordable choices, Blackstone wins the battle. This is not because they have cheaper prices. Rather, it is because they have a wider selection. With this, if you are on a budget, you can easily find a model that fits your price range.
Portability
Both of the brands are also excellent in terms of their portability as they have wheels for ease of moving around. Both of them have also wheels that can be locked to make sure that it won’t move when you are grilling.
However, from the two products that will be reviewed below, it is worth noting that the one from Camp Chef only has two wheels while the one from Blackstone has four wheels. The grill from Camp Chef needs to be tilted on the side with the wheel when moving around. The Blackstone grill, meanwhile, can be laid flat on the floor as all corners have wheels.
Controllable Heat Zones
Both brands offer controllable heat zones, including the two products that will be reviewed below. This will allow you to cook up to four items at a time. You can cook burgers on one side and heat vegetables on the other. Each portion can be controlled individually through a dedicated knob.
While they both have heat zones, the difference lies in the power or the heat in each heat zone. In the case of the Camp Chef Griddle, there is only 12,000 BTU on each burner. Meanwhile, with the Blackstone griddle, each burner produces up to 15,000 BTU of heat. With this, the latter will be able to cook quicker.
Construction
While it may first seem like the two are of the same construction, the one from Blackstone is often favored when it comes to durability. They are both made of stainless steel with powder coating as a protective barrier from external elements. The grill from Camp Chef, however, can be problematic when it comes to warping and peeling. Regular cleaning and maintenance will be important to prevent such issues.
Ignition
Both of the brands offer push-button ignition, which means that there is no need to manually light it with a match or torch. Instead, all it takes is a push of a button and the ignition system will fire up and the grill is ready!
Wrap Up
In sum, as shown in this Camp Chef vs Blackstone comparison, the two products are both impressive. If we have to pick only one, I would say that the one from Blackstone is the clear winner. It has a more powerful cooking performance at 15,000 BTU per burner and it also seems to have a more durable construction, especially because it is not easily prone to warping.
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