Comparing Griddle and Flat Top Grills: Camp Chef vs Blackstone

Over the years, flat-top grills have gained popularity to become one of the most sought-after household items. This staple requirement can come in different variations according to their power source. They can be powered by either charcoal, wood, or gas. You are most likely to find them in use even for commercial places. 

One of their many advantages is that these grills have spacious flat cooking services. These come in handy for various uses, such as preparing dinner, fast food in restaurants, and much more. However, their main selling point is the ability to handle different types of food. In fact, some of these cannot be easily prepared on the average grill (pancakes, eggs, etc.). A flat-top grill is a suitable option even for large families.

Many companies produce smokers, griddles, and grills all around the world. However, two brands, Camp Chef and Blackstone, have been at the forefront in producing them for the past few years. Their top-quality and compelling items have successfully made a name for the brands. However, these two do not have the same traits and features. Below is a detailed evaluation for the Camp Chef vs Blackstone comparison.

Design

At first glance, these two grills might trick you into thinking that they are similar. However, a closer and more professional look into the finer details will change this. They have several notable differences in design. The design can help you make your decision for Camp Chef vs Blackstone grills.

To begin with, the Camp Chef flat top grill designers incorporated a cart-style design to make things easy for you. It also has double shelves just beneath the grill's cooktop. The cooktops are spacious enough to handle a large amount of cooking at a go, making them quite the option, especially for outdoor cooking and barbecues. The grilling area also has a pair of shelves with handles on the edges.

Additionally, this flat top grill has red control knobs that make it easy for you to use even when cooking at nighttime. The Camp Chef Flat top grill has wheels on two legs for more effortless movement, making it easy for you to move your grill around. However, the two remaining legs do not have wheels, ensuring that your grill has all the stability needed to work even on uneven surfaces for outdoor cooking.

On the other hand, all four Blackstone flat top grill legs have wheels. One might think of this as a not-so-logical addition since the grill might roll away when working. However, this is not the case, as two wheels have locking mechanisms. Once you finish moving your grill around, all you have to do is lock the two lockable legs and get down to business. You have nothing to worry about; the grill will do just fine for outdoor cooking.

Blackstone grills have shelves too, but less. They are only underneath the cooking station on each side. These shelves are less spacious compared to the Camp Chef cooktop.

Design-wise, Camp Chef Flat Tops have a better and more efficient design. They are also slightly less bulky and have an attractive design. These are two of the most desirable traits when shopping for grills. 

Cooking Area

Most people opt for grills because of their extensive cooking area. These two brands are much deeper and broader than the typical grill. They, therefore, offer a bigger space for a hot plate to cook on. The Camp Chef grill, for example, has 605 square inches of cooking surface. The Blackstone grill is much bigger, boasting a 721 square inch cooking space. These two have approximately 200 square inches of additional space to work with compared to the average grills. 

With such differences in space, it is up to you to weigh your options and make an informed decision on the most suitable grill to get between Camp Chef vs Blackstone, which will depend on the number of people you plan to feed. The Blackstone grill is the obvious choice for those looking for one to cook for a bigger crowd.

Pre-seasoning your Griddle

Every cooktop grill has to be pre-seasoned before you can use it in your outdoor kitchen for cooking, which creates a protective barrier that prevents rust. It also gives your grill the much-needed non-stick trait. 

You have to pre-season your Blackstone grill before using it for the first time. To do so, you apply a thin oil layer on the surface and burn it at high heat. This procedure is repeated several times until the oil bonds to the plate to create a non-stick coating.

Camp Chef griddles are already pre-seasoned even before you buy them. The cast-iron cooking surface might require reconditioning in the future, but you don't have to pre-season it before cooking your first meal.

Price

One of the things that should top your priority list is staying within your budget when out shopping for your outdoor kitchen requirements. However, the good thing about these two brands is that they both set their prices with their customers in mind. You won't have to break your bank to buy one of them. These two grills fall around the same price range.

That said, you will most likely find the Blackstone grill at relatively lower prices. One might think that the Blackstone option is less effective or less decent. However, you will be getting a good deal from this, especially with the top-notch build quality and proven functionality.

Leveling and Grease Flow

Unlike their modern counterparts, traditional grills would effectively burn off extra grease, so you wouldn't have to consider factors such as leveling for functional grease flow patterns. They were  not as suitable for outdoor kitchens as the modern options, but this is one of their strongholds. Modern cooktop grills do not burn the grease, meaning you need to level the appliance. You have to set your grill in a way that excess grease flows into the grease trap.

These grills have different ways of getting rid of excess grease. The Camp Chef griddles are the most efficient of the two. You can adjust their leg levers accordingly to make the set-up easier to collect the grease. However, this is not the case with Blackstone Grills. You cannot adjust its legs.

The Bottom-line

Even with a heated Camp Chef vs Blackstone debate, having either of the grills will save you the time and effort of grilling the same ingredients over and over again by expanding your cooking repertoire. They also add a touch of class to your outdoor kitchen. Choose the one that makes your outdoor cooking as enjoyable as possible.