Blackstone Iron Forged 28" Griddle with Hood vs Blackstone 28" Griddle with Air Fryer
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Quick take: The Blackstone Iron Forged 28" Griddle with Hood costs $100 less.
| Spec | Blackstone Iron Forged 28" Griddle with Hood | Blackstone 28" Griddle with Air Fryer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$399 | ~$499 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Griddle | Griddle |
| Cooking Area | 524 sq in | 524 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Propane/Natural Gas | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Rolled Carbon Steel (Omnivore griddle plate) | Rolled Carbon Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | 2 | 2 |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | 59 x 26.25 x 37 in | 62 x 22 x 36 in |
| Weight | 102 lbs | 135 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Blackstone Iron Forged 28" Griddle with Hood
- ✓Omnivore ridged plate is Blackstone's own fix for the uneven heat that defines the older flat-plate 28
- ✓524 sq in holds roughly 25 burgers, enough for a family cook without the 36's footprint
- ✓Hood lets it melt cheese and hold food, which the open Original 28 cannot do
- ✓Side-shelf rail accepts Blackstone's caddies and tool hooks rather than needing clamp-on aftermarket parts
- ✗One-year warranty, against ten years on comparable Weber gas equipment
- ✗102 lbs on caster legs is awkward to move over grass or a step
- ✗Cold-rolled steel plate rusts if it is not dried and oiled after every cook
- ✗No published BTU figure on Blackstone's own page, which makes cross-shopping against Weber Slate imprecise
Blackstone 28" Griddle with Air Fryer
- ✓Propane-fired air fryer drawer works away from power, so it functions at a campsite or tailgate
- ✓Warming drawer solves the griddle's real weakness — the first batch going cold while the last cooks
- ✓Same 524 sq in two-zone plate as the standalone 28, so nothing is given up on the griddle side
- ✓13,000 BTU dedicated to the fryer means it is not stealing heat from the griddle burners
- ✗135 lbs and a fixed cabinet base — this is not a griddle that gets moved
- ✗Air fryer drawer is only 4 quarts, roughly one round of fries for three people
- ✗Two enclosed drawers add grease-trapping cavities to an appliance that is already maintenance-heavy
- ✗One-year warranty on a design with considerably more to go wrong than a plain griddle
- ✗Sells at $499 on promotion against a $699 list, so the real price swings with the season