Are you in the market for an outdoor griddle—a backyard griddle that would allow you to grill all your favorite BBQ foods as well as items like eggs, smaller vegetables, pancakes and more?
If you are, we have some great news.
We will provide you with some information on two of the leading corporations now producing these great outdoor griddles: The Camp Chef Company and the Blackstone Company.
We will also review four of their best outdoor griddles on the market today, highlight some of the advantages and drawbacks associated with each griddle and provide a camp chef griddle vs blackstone griddle comparison chart and summary.
The Camp Chef Company
Established in 1980, Camp Chef is one of the oldest and most well-known manufacturers of outdoor cooking equipment.
Offering the most efficient backyard grilling products, the company has strived for decades to turn out the best outside cooking apparatus for your camping and patio gatherings, giving you the ability to make quality food that is made right.
Established on the notion that outdoor cooking could be made easier and more hassle-free, Camp Chef has been responsible for creating hundreds of amazing products, ranging from full-service outdoor grills, powerful gas griddles and even pizza ovens that allow you to transform your outdoor space into a true pizzeria.
Made for campers, sportsmen, and everyday homeowners, the products by the Camp Chef Company are superb for budding cooks.
In addition to the ones previously mentioned, the corporation has also brought to life items such as BBQ boxes, flat-top grills and their patented True-Seasoned Cookware that is designed to meet the specs of all outdoor cooking systems.
The Camp Chef company is based in the heart of the Cache Valley in beautiful Utah, surrounded by wilderness locales that are ideal for field-testing their wide array of products.
The Blackstone Company
Although they have not been in business as long as the Camp Chef Company, the Blackstone Company has quickly made a name for itself in the world of outdoor cooking.
Specifically, their 28-inch and 36-inch outdoor griddle stations are now considered tops among outdoor cooking experts—cooking devices that are currently found in thousands of backyards around the country, and found at numerous campgrounds the world over.
The Blackstone Company first came to prominence in the year 2005.
After years of envisioning a better outdoor cooking product that people could rely on for all their cooking needs, they developed their 36 inch Blackstone Griddle Station that rapidly set the outdoor grilling community on its ear.
Since those early days, the professionals at Blackstone have partnered with chefs and backyard cooking masters to create a variety of outdoor culinary products that consistently produce the best results and last far longer than those of the competition.
All of the products at the Blackstone Company are designed and manufactured right here in the United States by American workers; workers who use the latest technological improvements currently available in the making of these products.
The result of these valiant efforts has been a complete and well-adored line of efficient and functional griddles that are as versatile as they are portable.
Even though the Blackstone Company has expanded dramatically since 2005, they are still committed to providing their loyal followers with the very best in personalized customer service and some of the most innovative cooking solutions we’ve seen thus far.
Camp Chef Griddle vs Blackstone Griddle Outdoor Griddle Reviews
Next, we will review four of the most popular and hottest outdoor griddles on the market today—griddles that are all made by either the Blackstone Company or the Camp Chef Corporation—and include some of the pros and cons associated with each griddle before comparing them side by side.
1. Blackstone 28 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station
Pros
- Durable. The Blackstone 28 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station is made from tough powder-coated steel that resists rust and corrosion.
- Smokeless. Unlike charcoal based grills and griddles, the Blackstone model is completely smokeless.
Cons
- No drain funnel. The Blackstone 28 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station lacks a drain funnel on the grill through which accumulated grease can be funneled to the grease trap
Looking to bring the quality of a restaurant-like grill into the outdoor spaces of your home?
If so, the Blackstone 28 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station just might be for you.
With a total of 470 square inches of cooking space, your new griddle will be the hit at any party, camping trip or outdoor BBQ.
Whether you are looking to fry up eggs and pancakes for a hearty breakfast, make a delicious grilled cheese with your favorite type of bread for lunch, or sear up a steak and veggies for dinner, this innovative griddle definitely has you covered with everything you need to get the job done right.
The flat-grill design of the Blackstone 28 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station will make you wonder why you ever fiddled aimlessly with your old gas or charcoal grill, as the cooking surface on this griddle permits you to innovate like never before.
In addition to its awesome cooking potential, the unit also boasts a bottom shelf for storage and two side shelves that will allow you to expertly prepare your food before cooking.
Easy to use and incredibly simple to assemble, this griddle will leave you wondering why you didn’t buy it sooner.
It features a propane fuel source and easy-start ignition button that eliminates the need for charcoal or lighter fluid; and with the included caster wheels you can move your new grill anywhere you please before locking the wheels into place prior to cooking.
With its powder-coated steel frame the Blackstone 28 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station is designed to withstand even the worst outdoor weather conditions; and its simple to clean cooktop will never leave a hard to clean mess.
The unit includes two burners, each with a 15,000 BTU output and all the hardware needed to quickly attach those burners to a standard 20-pound tank of propane, for which there is a built-in shelf on the griddle to keep it neatly tucked away.
2. Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station
Pros
- Four heat zones. With four independent burners and heat zones, the Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station allows for very specialized cooking of various items at one time.
- Easy to assemble. With a great instruction manual and coordinated parts that are marked very clearly, the grill is super easy to assemble.
Cons
- No back stop. The Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station does not have a cover on the back of the grill.
The Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station is a must-have griddle for any family that enjoys the delicious taste and splendor of outdoor cooking.
This restaurant-quality griddle station has everything you need to transform your patio or garden into a full-service outdoor café, a griddle that boasts its very own grease management system and a much larger space to work.
Eight inches larger than the company’s 28 inch model, this 36-inch grill allows you to cook for the entire family at one time.
The larger design is made possible by the four (instead of two) propane-fueled burners that keep this griddle hot from corner to corner with no dead spots.
The new and improved shelf on the Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station makes the unit very convenient, serving as a potential cutting board; and the handily placed paper towel dispenser and trash bag hook means you will never have to leave the grill unattended.
Best of all, the grease management system, located at the back of the unit, ensures you will have no greasy mess to clean up after your meal has finished cooking.
The 36-inch griddle has four independent heat zones, which allows backyard chefs to cook a variety of different foods at different temperatures so as not to burn any of them.
The Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station is great for cooking thick steaks, juicy burgers, eggs, pancakes, French toast, veggies and more.
The independent stainless steel burners are not only water and weather resistant; they also allow for specialized cooking of various items.
Moreover, the easy-start ignition means you will never have to mess with lighter fluids or matches again.
The caster wheels, which are lockable, make the unit highly portable and transportable, and with 60,000 BTUs of combined power, you will never again have to use your antiquated gas or charcoal grill to cook up dinner outside.
3. Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 600 Outdoor Griddle
Pros
- Two Cooking Surfaces. Not only does the Camp Chef 600 come with a flat top grill, underneath is also a griddle so you have two cooking surfaces to choose from.
- Easy Cleaning. Like the 900 model, the 600 is simple to clean grease with a handy slide bucket.
Cons
- Only two wheels. Unlike the 900 model, the camp chef 600 only comes with two wheels. Some people prefer this, however I prefer a 2 wheel model for maneuverability
While our first two outdoor griddles were offered by the Blackstone Company, our final two, the Flat Top Grill 600 and 900 Outdoor Griddles, are from the company known as Camp Chef—a corporation with nearly 30 years of experience making outdoor cooking products.
The Camp Chef 600 Flat Top Grill truly is a game changer in the flat top grill market.
Not only does it come with a flat top grill you also have the option of a griddle so this bad boy is a 2 in 1 grill, which gives you multiple choices of cooking different styles of food in different ways.
The surface is 600 square inches and with it’s heat dispersing design you will never have to worry about uneven cooking – the 600 is purposely designed to cook your food evenly on any part of the surface.
The Camp Chef 600 comes with four 12,000 BTUs/Hr burners and with a matchless ignition system you don’t need to worry about using matches to start the 600 up.
You need to be aware that this isn’t some flimsy put together grill.
This is premium made, which in turn means it’s a little on the heavy side.
However, give me well made and heavy over flimsy and light any day of the week.
That being said, it’s two wheels and leg levelers make it easy to move and set-up.
The grease management system is very good with many purchasers commenting on how easy the Camp Chef 600 is to clean during and after use due to the grease catcher.
The 600 comes with a propane tank holder, two sturdy shelves below the griddle and two pull out shelves on the side so you won’t be short of storage space whilst you’re cooking.
With it’s dual surface options, sturdy construction, excellent grease management, the Camp Chef 600 is a fantastic grill for all occasions.
4. Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 900 Outdoor Griddle
Pros
- Adjustable legs. Not only does the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 900 Outdoor Griddle have adjustable legs, it also comes with leg levelers to ensure you have a flat cooking surface on any terrain.
- Easy grease management system. The larger grease bucket and advanced funneling system on this model helps keep grease off the griddle and out of your way.
Cons
Heavy. Some BBQers have complained that the weight of the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 900 Outdoor Griddle makes it a bit difficult to move, despite the four caster wheels with which it is equipped.
The Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 900 Outdoor Griddle doesn’t come with two or four burners, instead the 900 offers six burners, each of which has an output of 12,000 BTUs, for a total of 72,000 BTUs.
The pre-seasoned griddle is very hassle-free thanks to its non-stick, ready to cook cooking surface, but at 172 pounds the unit can be a bit difficult to move.
The match-free and lighter-fluid free Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 900 Outdoor Griddle is very highly rated.
It boasts an anti-grease management system that ensures healthy eating and easy cleanup, and its adjustable legs with levelers means you can set this unit up virtually anywhere and still maintain a flat cooking surface.
The Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 900 Outdoor Griddle is highly portable thanks to its locking lid with handles and fold-up legs; and the two side shelves allow for a lot of food prep and room to place your grilling utensils.
The griddle runs on propane gas and comes with all the connections you will need for a proper and successful hookup.
And the built-in tank holder ensures the fuel source is always nearby, yet tucked away.
The six independent burners enable you to cook a variety of foods at different temperatures, and the integrated thermometer lets you keep track of every single burner.
Camp Chef Griddle vs Blackstone Griddle – Side by Side
Below is a quick table of some of the key functions of each of the models reviewed above.
| MODEL | Blackstone 28″ Griddle | Blackstone 36″ Griddle | Camp Chef 600 Griddle | Camp Chef 900 Griddle |
| Burners | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Grill Surfaces | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Cooking Area | 470 Square inches | 720 Square inches | 604 Square inches | 877 Square inches |
| BTUs | 30,000 | 60,000 | 48,000 | 72,000 |
| Shelves | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Grease System | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Locking Wheels | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Leg Levelers | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Which Brand Is The Best?
The two Blackstone and and two Camp Chef grills offer some truly functional, innovative and convenient features, from caster wheels to advanced grease management systems to an all-steel construction that is highly durable and long lasting.
Some, of course, come with larger cooking surfaces than the others, and at the camp chef models come with leg levelers to ensure you are always cooking on a flat surface.
The four griddle stations come from two very established outdoor cooking companies—the Blackstone Company and Camp Chef, both of which offer friendly personalized service and warranties that are more than the fair in today’s marketplace.
You will not go wrong with any of the above models, but my personal preference in the camp chef griddle vs blackstone griddle cook off is the Camp Chef 600.
Although Camp Chef tend to be more expensive, the 600 offers two grill / griddle options and it’s a great size when cooking for large families and functions.
At the end of the day, it’s down to personal choice and your budget.