First cooks on the Blackstone

[ComfortablyNumb]

I seasoned and used my new griddle yesterday. Pretty much followed this for seasoning:

except that I used avocado oil and an old sock.



Set up and ready to go. It came with a hard top, but I took it off to make cleaning and seasoning easier. Fired it up and started putting on the oil. Let it burn for about an hour and kept adding oil.



Let it cool down and then started cooking. Breakfast being my favourite meal, it was the meal of choice, even if it was the end of the day. Started with some bacon and diced potato.



Moved the bacon to the cooler front portion of the griddle and added some onions and bell peppers.



Mixed up the potatoes, onions, and peppers and moved them over. Started the eggs on the side as i didn't know how hot the centre was, but moved them over to finish. I had the middle burner on high, the right on low, and turned off the left after it heated up.



Plated with a couple of English muffins..



Tonight the plan is for fajitas.

[58limited]

Looks great! I'm hoping to get a Blackstone this year, waiting to see the reviews for the new model coming out this month - the one with the air fryer built in.

[58limited]

A friend has that one which is what got me interested in Blackstones to begin with. I once had a gas grill with side burner, rarely used it but I think I would use the air fryer if it is a good one.

[Craigar]

Great looking break in cook! I see the hens are still producing double yolk eggs.

[klflowers]

Nice looking cook. I used my Camp Chef Tahoe in Florida last month - I was surprised at how hot the griddle got and I pretty much burned up the bacon before I adjusted it down. I haven't been able to use it since we got home, but it is fun to cook on.

[Black99vette]

ComfortablyNumb I hit mine with the IR gun and got as high as 600 above the right most burner and high 300s in the front corners. Interesting thing was that I got higher temps after the first seasoning. It appears the height of the gun from the griddle surface makes a difference as well.

[MBMorgan]

ComfortablyNumb - If you're wanting a good IR gun at an equally good price, Thermoworks is currently running a big inventory reduction sale. The IR-S gun (the one I use) is 52% off:

https://www.thermoworks.com/IR-Gun

[ComfortablyNumb]

Breakfast this morning, French toast, a couple eggs, and bacon. Bacon cooks fast!

[ComfortablyNumb]

I made the fajitas tonight, and I must admit I have one regret. And that is I wasted 62 years of my life before getting a flattop griddle. I may never use the kitchen stove again except for heating the coffee pot. It's like having a large cast iron skillet in front of me and I can move the food about on it. I still have much to learn about heat management, but foresee having a hot cooking zone, a medium cooking zone, and a warming area all in one large skillet.

Now I'll let you in on one of my pet peeves, and that is the gross abuse of the word 'awesome'. The word is meant to be applied to something that inspires awe, something so impressive it inspires great admiration. I'm sorry, but getting fries with my burger is not 'awesome', but the kid behind the counter will say so when I answer positively his question, "Do you want fries with that?" Now, with that in mind, I won't say the flattop is awesome, but it is pretty damn close!






Tomorrow night I plan on dropping a pork chop into the hot tub and then searing it on the griddle. The following night is smash burger. Stay tuned.

[Craigar]

Awesome, dude!

[Mr. Bones]

Admit it, th thing's awesome lol!

[surfdog]

I don’t have a Blackstone but my Blue Rhino is an awesome fajita cookin’ machine. That’s probably my number one use for it...though anything that can be done in a skillet can be done there as well. Congrats on the new toy.

[Black99vette]

Got my Blackstone ProSeries 28" seasoned tonight. I may have to hit the store tomorrow to collect some more food for the griddle.

[ComfortablyNumb]

Better stock up, once you get started you aren't going to want to stop!

[WI Bubba]

My local big box has these on sale right now, but after looking at it I was concerned with how thick the cooking surface was. In the short time you have had it, have you noticed any trouble with hot and cold spots?

[ComfortablyNumb]

When I get my hands on an IR thermometer I'll have a better idea. Black99vette has posted some results in a comment above. The best answer I can give you know is when first seasoning I could see how the heat moved on the surface. Obviously the centre of the griddle first showed discolouration from side to side. This gradually spread towards the back and front, It made it to the grease drain, but the back corners did not discolour. A few inches from the front did not discolour.....

[ComfortablyNumb]

….however this area is not directly over flame. I wouldn't worry about 'cold' spots, the entire griddle gets hot. My sense is that with proper management there will be temperature variances, which will be beneficial. I foresee a 'hot' zone for cooking, a 'medium' zone for less heat, and a 'warm' zone to keep food warm while the rest cooks. I plan on using the right burner on high, the middle medium, and the left on low or off and move the food from right to left as it cooks.

[DavidNorcross]

There is no question that the flat top is my favorite cooker. I know this may sound like crazy for some but if I had to pick one that I would not want to do without it would be my flattop. Great post ComfortablyNumb good luck with your new stone!

[ComfortablyNumb]

With only three cooks under my belt I'm inclined to agree. With smokers and grills you don't interact with the food, it's covered and all one does is check temps and add fuel or adjust air openings. With the griddle and two spatulas you are like a conductor of an orchestra and watch the food cook.

[Craigar]

ComfortablyNumb How soon before you're flipping shrimp thru the handle of a teapot and on to a plate?

[ComfortablyNumb]

Craigar I'm sure the dogs would like me to start practicing that trick!

[HouseHomey]

My flattop get screaming hot in most places. Not really any cold zones.

[ComfortablyNumb]

Hey Paisano! I remember you got the big, bad boy. I agree, I'm not putting my hand anywhere on that griddle, unless I want a third degree burn.

[HouseHomey]

Now that you thought of it.... I have a hard time placing utensils on the left side shelf as they get screaming hot as do plates and sheet pans.

catches this old cook off guard sometimes.

[surfdog]

I love the shelves on mine...but have made the mistake of grabbing covers/melting domes after setting them closer to the fun zone than I should have. Yikes!

[HouseHomey]

Hey numb, Just watched the video. Love that!!

I beat the crud out of mine and haven’t used it in a while as banquets cooks and the holidays are..... well you know.

maybe I’ll do a reveal tomorrow as I pull the cover off of it on this cold winter period or rain and winds.

[ComfortablyNumb]

LOL, I hear Cali has had a bit of snow lately. Most all snow melted around here and we are in the 40s. I'm about to dig out an old pair of board shorts and work on my tan! Hope all is well with you and the family, mi hermano de una madre differente!

[Santamarina]

Love my Blackstone. I cook multiple times per week on it. Haven’t made breakfast inside since I got mine (May 2019). An IR gun helps with the temps. It’s definitely my favorite cooker right now.

[ComfortablyNumb]

I'm with you, I don't think I'll ever cook breakfast in the house again. In fact, I don't see myself even using the stove again except for heating up the coffee pot. We actually already have an IR gun, my wife uses it for making soap and it is at our other house. I'll 'borrow' it next week. I'm confident it will up the game, so to speak.

[ComfortablyNumb]

I did the pork chop last night. A couple of hours in the hot tub and then on the screaming hot griddle.





In the past I would have done this in the house on a cast iron skillet. Grease would have splattered all over the stove and smoke fill the air, which would take quite some time to clear. Now the grease stays on the griddle and the smoke drifts across the hayfield to let the coyotes know what they are missing. And speaking of dogs, mine are going to be ecstatic as this chop is from one of the ones I butchered down and dirty when I was eliminating the herd, they get all that fat I left on.

[Craigar]

So ya didn't griddle the beans with some bacon?

[ComfortablyNumb]

Craigar Good suggestion. Next time!

[Spinaker]

Looks like your having fun with it. I love making breakfast on mine, but my favorite if steak sandwiches.