Blackstone 1883 Original 28-Inch Griddle

In this blackstone 1883 original 28-inch griddle review, the Blackstone 1883 Original 28-Inch Griddle earns our best overall spot because it gives most backyard cooks the most cooking surface for the money. It sells for $399 and holds a 4.7-star rating from 2,027 Amazon ratings, which places it second in Amazon's Grill Griddles category. The propane griddle spreads 524 square inches across two burners, enough for 21 burgers or 15 pancakes in one round. That makes it a strong fit for families, weekend hosts and tailgaters who cook breakfast and dinner outdoors. By contrast, renters with balcony grill bans should skip it, since it needs patio space, a propane tank and a 10 KW burner setup.

The Omnivore griddle plate is the center of the experience: it preheats faster, recovers heat quicker and reaches cooking temperatures with fewer BTUs than older griddle tops, and built-in wind guards keep hot air against the surface on breezy patios. Two burners give you a hot zone for searing burgers and a cooler zone for eggs, pancakes or grilled cheese, so a full breakfast and a barbecue can share one surface. Cleanup is where the Blackstone 1883 earns its keep: the patented rear grease management system lets you push debris and grease into a rear cup instead of scraping a front tray. Meanwhile, the counter-height side shelves add prep and serving room at a height that saves your back. The stainless steel body measures 32.7 by 21.7 by 17.7 inches.

At $399, this griddle costs about $0.76 per square inch of cooking surface, and few flat top griddles near that price match 524 square inches with this level of owner feedback. In practice, the trade-off is real: it is an outdoor gas griddle, so you need patio room, a propane tank and outdoor storage. On top of that, the painted finish and 1-year warranty are modest for a $400 purchase. Even so, the Blackstone 1883 stays at the top of our list of nine because two burners, an Omnivore plate and rear grease management cover the jobs most households actually do. If you host cookouts or cook big weekend breakfasts, this is the one to get.