MCS strikes - love some advice on flat top griddle

[shify]

Thanks for posting this nunyaz and thanks all for the responses

'm in a similar boat, in that I've been wrestling getting a griddle for a while now but have held back as I just don't know if I would use it often enough to justify it and the potential downtime has me worried for rust as it would live on my deck (under a cover, of course) in the NY weather.

I rarely use my gasser as is but it is built in, so not really an option to replace with a griddle. I tried grill grates, both regular and flat side up, and hated them and eventually put the regular grates back on. Now I'm thinking of getting a griddle insert from Steelmade or an insert from Bull BBQ (which is the brand of my built in gasser) but can't get idea of a Blackstone or Pit Boss out of my head.

[Mosca]

I got my griddle in mid September. I have not used the Kettle nor the BGE since.

[nunyaz]

shify (& others) - I too wrestle with the need vs want dilemma
Also, still torn between the rolled steel vs ceramic (only from Pit Boss?) - really don't need another cooker sucking up my free time with maintenance/cleaning/etc. but some here say it's not that bad. I'm leaning toward the 4 burner Blackstone (at Walmart for $279!) but as I said earlier, I would need to get it home, set up, seasoned and a 5-star dinner cooked and served to the DW before she saw the size of that sucker!

[shify]

nunyaz - I'm less concerned with the day to day maintenance and more about what would happen if it sits unused outdoors for a month or multiple months between usage which has been the key driver of me not pulling the trigger yet. Even under a cover you have to deal with condensation and potential rust - so dont want to have to strip and re-season if I get busy at work or have to travel and have it sit for a while. Everyone has been really leaning towards pulling the trigger though...

[Washblue]

After proper coaching from texastweeter , I bought a double griddle to go on my double burner Camp Chef Yukon…

Portable, takes up little room… Can go camping, to the farm, the creek, the river or the stadium…

You can cook up a storm on that rig… so consider having portability…

No regrets here…. I can set up and be fired up under 10 minutes… and packed up in the same time after cool down…

[texastweeter]

I love mine.

[jfmorris]

If I ever get a camper a Camp Chef 3 burner stove and a griddle to go with it will be part of what I carry underneath.

[JoeSousa]

Gonna throw my recommendation in for a Blackstone. I have a 36" with a lid that I got at Ace Hardware last February and I love it. Great for burgers, great for stir frys, and of course great for breakfast. Very easy to season and it doesn't take a ton of work to clean or maintain.

Blackstone has a ton of different configurations and options so finding one in your price range shouldn't be too hard. A friend of mine just picked up one at Wal-Mart over the weekend for $120. It was a closeout model and the box was damaged but the griddle was just fine. Definitely worth checking your local Wal-Mart to see if they have something that will work for you.

[yakima]

I got a 2 burner Blackstone traveler model from Walmart. Cheap, works fine. Saw hot deal here, re pit boss ultimate. Bought 4 burner. With hard cover. Am impressed, like it for temp control. Am used to cast iron and its maintenance, including electrolysis, so cooktop not too important to me. Like front left grease drain. Like hard cover. Have been using griddles on gassers for years. Agree this may replace gasser. Main issues. Get a hard cover, and as many burners as you can accommodate/afford.

[nunyaz]

Sudden inspiration
We have a Coleman 2-burner camp stove (we've had this thing for years - it says "Made in USA" on the box!) and I break it out every June in prep for Hurricane Season. As I looked at 2-burner griddles for about $100 it finally occurred to me: I already HAVE a two burner cooker, so with the addition of a Lodge rectangular, reversible CI griddle viewed here ... BOOM! 🤯 I've got a 2-burner griddle



After a few cooks on this dude, a larger, stand-alone 4-burner of any flavor will be an easier sell

Many thanks again for all of the wise, well-seasoned (see what I did there?) comments, suggestions and ideas. You folks ROCK!!

Peace,
Nunyaz

[Uncle Bob]

That thing is REALLY small, and not much room for containment of runoff (once you start to use a griddle you'll appreciate what that means). Here's one I started with on a two burner stove https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-CGG...4322533&sr=8-7 and still use on occasion on my 4 burner outdoor stove. Only a few bucks more than the lodge but the extra space and larger catch trough makes it worth it.

[nunyaz]

Uncle Bob - yes, more real estate is bonus (it's actually twice the price of the Lodge) ... I *thought* I was willing to give up that extra real estate to buy "Made in America" from Lodge AND save $40 bucks - then I saw the one you referenced in "Used-Good Condition" from Amazon for only $64.38
Greatly appreciate the input, sir!

[nunyaz]

Resurrecting this thread to say (right after another B I G Thank You! to everyone who provided so much wise advice!! ) ...

We are now looking seriously at the Sam's Club (Members Mark) Five Burner for $399



Any real-time, hands-on experience with this by anyone here in the Pit?

Peace,
Nunyaz

[Panhead John]

Don’t blame ya! That’s a lotta dough, I’ll bet that Members Mark would be a nice addition. Have you put your hands on it in the store? Seem pretty sturdy?

[nunyaz]

Have and yes, it WOULD seem sturdy if it was properly assembled 🤷🏼♂️

[Mosca]

I don’t know about the griddle, but the Members Mark gasser I had lasted about 15 years, with very little maintenance. I think I rebuilt the guts twice: standard stuff like burner tubes and grates, nothing deep.

[acorgihouse]

Okay, Holy Smokes! Hate to nitpick, but am I the only one who honed in on that magnetic strip on front of the shelves, to hang your tools on? I am already figuring out how to rig up something like that here. Thanks!

[Panhead John]

Yeah I saw that, I like it too!

[nunyaz]

acorgihouse Panhead John

You mean something like this?

[acorgihouse]

Yes. i have one hanging in my kitchen, and one in my sewing room for scissors and other tools. even one in garage. Never thought to put one on grill, till now.

[nunyaz]

Besides several in my 'shop' (some folks call it a garage, what do they know?) there's THIS:



BUT ... Like you acorgihouse, I had never thought, until now, to put one on any of my cookers 🥴🤷🏼♂️

[acorgihouse]

Haha, nunyaz, great Florida minds think alike! I