Blackstone Iron Forged 28" Griddle with Hood vs Char-Broil Performance Series 36" 4-Burner Gas Griddle
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Quick take: The Blackstone Iron Forged 28" Griddle with Hood offers more cooking space (524 vs 36 sq in).
| Spec | Blackstone Iron Forged 28" Griddle with Hood | Char-Broil Performance Series 36" 4-Burner Gas Griddle |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$399 | ~$399 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Griddle | Griddle |
| Cooking Area | 524 sq in | 36 in griddle plate |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Propane/Natural Gas | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Rolled Carbon Steel (Omnivore griddle plate) | Rolled Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | 2 | 4 |
| 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 | — |
| Weight | 102 lbs | — |
| Warranty | 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
Char-Broil Performance Series 36" 4-Burner Gas Griddle
- ✓Typically the cheapest 36-inch four-burner griddle from a major brand, undercutting the Blackstone 36
- ✓Four separately controlled burners give a full warm-to-sear gradient across the plate
- ✓Rolled steel plate seasons and performs the same way the category leaders' surfaces do
- ✓Char-Broil's parts and retail distribution are broad, so replacement burners and igniters are easy to find
- ✓A Deluxe version at $549 adds a hard cover on the same chassis if you want one later
- ✗No lid or hard cover at this price, so the plate is exposed to weather unless you buy one
- ✗Currently listed out of stock on Char-Broil's own site
- ✗Char-Broil does not publish cooking area in square inches for this model, only plate width
- ✗No published warranty on the product listing
- ✗Thinner cart construction than Blackstone's, and the side shelves flex under load