There’s a familiar frustration that comes with trying to feed a crowd outdoors using just a standard grill. Flare-ups torching your burgers, sausages rolling into the flames, and the sheer impossibility of cooking smaller items or breakfast favorites outside. This challenge always left me scrambling, often finishing things inside on the stovetop, which completely defeated the purpose of cooking al fresco. Not solving this problem meant limiting entertaining opportunities and constantly dealing with messy, unevenly cooked food when trying to grill.
- Cook for a Crowd: Make up to 47 fried eggs, 21 pancakes, 30 burgers, or 27 steaks on this spacious 768 square inch griddle. Invite family and friends over for a delicious outdoor meal and enjoy...
- Cook for a Crowd: Make up to 47 fried eggs, 21 pancakes, 30 burgers, or 27 steaks on this spacious 768 square inch griddle. Invite family and friends over for a delicious outdoor meal and enjoy...
- Omnivore Griddle Plate Technology: This griddle was designed with built-in wind guards, heats more evenly across the griddle top, has better thermal shock stability, and uses less fuel per cook
Choosing the Right Outdoor Cooking Surface: What to Consider
When you’re looking to step up your outdoor cooking game, especially if you want to cook more than just traditional grilled fare, considering a griddle is a smart move. This category of cookers excels where grills often fall short – handling smaller ingredients, cooking breakfasts, stir-fries, and getting a perfect sear on items like smash burgers or fish without them falling through grates. The ideal customer for a flat top griddle is someone who loves to entertain, has a family, enjoys versatile cooking styles, or wants to move messy, splatter-prone cooking like bacon or fried rice outside. If you only ever grill a couple of steaks or burgers at a time and have limited space, a large griddle might be overkill; a smaller grill or a grill with a dedicated griddle attachment might suffice. Before buying a griddle, think about the size of cooking surface you need (how many people will you typically cook for?), the number of burners (do you need multiple heat zones?), the material of the cooking surface (carbon steel requires seasoning but offers great performance), portability (wheels, folding legs/shelves), and essential features like grease management.
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Introducing the Blackstone 1554 36” Omnivore Griddle
Enter the Blackstone 1554 36” Omnivore Griddle. This outdoor cooking unit promises massive cooking capacity and impressive versatility, aiming to be the central hub for all your backyard culinary adventures. When you purchase it, you primarily receive the griddle unit itself, including the sturdy stand with folding side shelves and the Omnivore Griddle Plate. While Blackstone offers various models, the 36″ is their flagship large-capacity option, often compared favorably to other brands in terms of value and performance, positioning itself as a strong competitor in the outdoor griddle market. This specific 36 inch griddle is definitely geared towards those who plan to cook for larger groups frequently or want the flexibility to cook entire meals outdoors simultaneously. It might not be the best fit for apartment balconies or small patios due to its size (measuring 62.5″ D x 22″ W x 36″ H).
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
* Vast cooking surface perfect for large gatherings.
* Four independently controlled burners allow for multiple cooking zones.
* Omnivore Griddle Plate Technology provides even heating and fuel efficiency.
* Highly versatile – cooks everything from breakfast to stir-fry and smash burgers.
* Rear Grease Management System simplifies cleanup compared to traditional grills.
* Sturdy construction and folding side shelves are practical.
Cons:
* The grease drain system isn’t perfect and sometimes needs a simple modification.
* Requires seasoning and proper maintenance to prevent rust.
* Can be heavy and bulky, potentially needing help with initial setup or moving.
* Some users report issues with consistent heat across the entire surface or reaching very high temperatures, though this varies.
Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty: Features and How They Perform
Having spent a considerable amount of time with my Blackstone 1554 36” Omnivore Griddle, I can confidently say it’s transformed my outdoor cooking experience. Let’s dive into the features that make this flat top grill such a powerhouse.
Generous Cooking Capacity
With a massive 768 square inches of cooking surface, the Blackstone 36 inch griddle lives up to its promise of cooking for a crowd. We’ve hosted numerous backyard parties, and this griddle handles the volume with ease. Imagine cooking 30 burgers or 47 fried eggs all at once – it’s genuinely possible. This capability is crucial when you have guests over; instead of cooking in batches for what feels like an hour, you can get most or all of the main course done simultaneously. For a large family, this means breakfast for everyone is ready at the same time, not staggered.
Omnivore Griddle Plate Technology
This isn’t just a flat piece of steel; the Omnivore Griddle Plate is a noticeable upgrade. It’s designed with built-in wind guards, which are incredibly effective on breezy days, preventing heat loss and ensuring consistent temperatures. The technology also aims for more even heating across the large surface. While you’ll always have slightly hotter and cooler zones (which, as I’ll mention, can be a pro), the overall distribution is quite good, minimizing frustrating hotspots found on cheaper models. Blackstone also claims better thermal shock stability and less fuel usage, which translates to a more durable surface that can handle temperature changes better and saves you money on propane in the long run. I’ve definitely found it to be fuel-efficient for its size.
Optimal Heat Control with Four Burners
The four independently controlled burners are a game-changer. This allows for true zone cooking. I typically set one side high for searing, the middle for medium-heat cooking, and the other side low for warming or cooking more delicate items. This versatility is unmatched by a standard grill. I can cook bacon on high heat on one side, pancakes on medium on another, and keep scrambled eggs warm on low on a third. This feature alone makes cooking complex meals outdoors straightforward and efficient. Getting used to the temperature control takes a little practice, but once you understand where the hot and cool spots are (often the edges can be cooler, which is great for warming), you gain precise command over the entire surface.
Increased Cooking Versatility
This outdoor cooking unit is incredibly versatile. It goes far beyond burgers and hot dogs. We regularly cook breakfast – pancakes, bacon, eggs, hash browns – all at once. Lunch can be Philly cheesesteaks or perfectly seared tuna steaks. Dinner opens up even more possibilities: stir-fries, fried rice, smash burgers with that perfect crust, or delicate fish filets that would fall apart on a grill grate. Cooking fish and veggies outdoors also means keeping those stronger smells out of the house, which is a significant win. It genuinely replaces the need for certain indoor cooking methods and allows you to try recipes you wouldn’t dream of making on a grill.
Easy Grease Cleanup
Blackstone’s patented Rear Grease Management System is a notable feature designed to simplify cleanup. The concept is simple: guide food debris and grease towards a small hole at the back of the griddle surface, which drains into a cup located at the rear. In theory, this is much cleaner than front-mounted systems or just scraping onto the ground. However, as many users (myself included) have noted, this system isn’t flawless. Grease sometimes defies gravity or surface tension and runs down the leg of the griddle instead of cleanly into the cup. It’s a frustrating design flaw that Blackstone hasn’t fully ironed out. The good news is there are simple, inexpensive fixes, like using a wire or a small piece of foil inserted into the hole to guide the grease flow, or a dab of heat-resistant epoxy to slightly extend the drain nipple. Once you implement one of these small modifications, the system works much better, making cleanup genuinely easy compared to scraping down grill grates.
Assembly and Setup
Assembly was surprisingly straightforward for such a large unit. It arrived well-packaged, and following the instructions (or one of the many helpful online videos) made it manageable. It took me about 15-20 minutes on my own, though having a second person to help lift the heavy griddle top is advisable. The parts are clearly labeled, and the process is mostly attaching the legs, side shelves, and then placing the griddle top. Checking for level before cooking is important, as recommended in many user guides; you want to ensure grease flows correctly towards the drain hole, which might require shimming a wheel if your patio slopes.
Seasoning the Griddle Top
The cooking surface is carbon steel, and like cast iron, it requires proper seasoning. This initial seasoning, and subsequent maintenance seasoning, is crucial for creating a non-stick surface and preventing rust. The Blackstone griddle comes with a protective oil coating that needs to be washed off first. Then, you apply thin layers of oil (many recommend flaxseed oil for a durable initial seasoning, though cooking oils like vegetable or canola work for maintenance) and heat the surface to a high temperature to polymerize the oil. Repeating this process multiple times builds up a slick, black patina. While it adds a step before your first cook, it’s essential for the long-term performance and health of the griddle. Regular cooking with oil and scraping after use continues to build the seasoning.
Portability and Stability
The inclusion of casters makes it easy to move the Blackstone 1554 around on a flat surface like a patio or deck. The folding side shelves are incredibly useful for food prep and holding tools, then fold down compactly for storage. However, one minor point worth noting, which some users have addressed with simple mods like self-tapping screws, is that the legs can feel a bit less rigid if you’re constantly folding and unfolding them or moving the unit frequently over uneven surfaces. For a stationary setup, they are perfectly stable.
Durability and Build Quality
The griddle feels robust and well-built, especially the heavy steel cooking surface and the powder-coated steel frame. It’s designed to withstand outdoor use, though a cover is highly recommended to protect the seasoned surface from the elements when not in use. My unit has held up well over time, showing minimal wear and tear beyond the expected development of the cooking surface patina.
Customer Service
Based on my own limited experience and what I’ve seen online, Blackstone’s customer service seems responsive and helpful, which is reassuring when investing in an outdoor appliance.
What Other Users Are Saying
Looking around online, the general sentiment from people who own the Blackstone 1554 echoes my own positive experience. Many users praise its incredible value for the price, noting that while higher-end griddles exist, they come at a significantly higher cost. The ease of assembly is frequently mentioned, with most people getting it set up and ready for seasoning quite quickly. Owners rave about the cooking versatility, from mastering restaurant-style smash burgers and hibachi to making large breakfasts for the whole family. The large size is consistently highlighted as a major plus for entertaining. The main criticism that comes up repeatedly, aligning with my experience, is the less-than-perfect grease drain system, often necessitating a small user-added modification to ensure clean flow into the drip cup. Some also mention potential shipping damage due to the weight, but praise Blackstone’s customer service for resolving such issues promptly. Overall, the consensus is that the Blackstone 36″ griddle is a fantastic addition to the backyard, offering great cooking performance and simplifying cleanup compared to traditional grills for many types of food.
Final Thoughts
If you’re tired of the limitations of grilling and want to expand your outdoor cooking horizons, the Blackstone 1554 36” Omnivore Griddle is an outstanding solution. It solves the problem of cooking large quantities, small or delicate items, and messy foods outdoors, preventing you from being stuck inside or constantly cleaning up grease fires. Its large capacity, precise heat zoning, and incredible versatility make it a great fit for anyone who loves to cook for family and friends. While the grease drain needs a simple user fix, the overall performance, build quality, and value proposition of this Blackstone griddle are exceptional. It’s a cooking machine that genuinely enhances your outdoor lifestyle. To learn more or purchase this fantastic outdoor griddle, Click here to check it out.
Last update on 2025-09-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API