Blackstone Iron Forged 36" Griddle with Hood vs Blackstone 28" Griddle with Air Fryer
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Quick take: The Blackstone 28" Griddle with Air Fryer costs $50 less; the Blackstone Iron Forged 36" Griddle with Hood offers more cooking space (768 vs 524 sq in).
| Spec | Blackstone Iron Forged 36" Griddle with Hood | Blackstone 28" Griddle with Air Fryer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$549 | ~$499 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Griddle | Griddle |
| Cooking Area | 768 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 | 4 | 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 | 64.5 x 28 x 41 in | 62 x 22 x 36 in |
| Weight | 130.5 lbs | 135 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Blackstone Iron Forged 36" Griddle with Hood
- ✓Four independently controlled zones let one plate run a sear zone, a hold zone and a low zone at once
- ✓768 sq in is the size where griddle cooking stops being a constraint on guest count
- ✓Extendable side shelf nearly doubles landing space, which a 36-inch cook actually runs out of
- ✓$549 buys the current-generation plate; the Culinary version of the same plate is twice the price
- ✓Hood makes steaming, melting and holding possible on an otherwise open surface
- ✗64.5 inches wide assembled — measure the patio before ordering
- ✗One-year warranty only
- ✗Open cart base leaves the propane tank and any storage exposed to weather
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