I know a lot of you have run into the same thing I have on a flat top.

You don’t have enough room to actually prep all your food. That’s exactly why this Lowe’s exclusive Blackstone caught my eye. You get a cabinet, a fold-out side shelf, and 36 inches of cooking space. I’ve put it through its paces, and here’s what you need to know.

Blackstone 36" Culinary Cabinet Omnivore Griddle

Pros:

• Big fold-out prep shelf
• Enclosed storage cabinet
• Built-in tool and towel hooks

Cons:

• Undersized grease tray
• Slightly uneven far-left burner

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Lowe’s supplied this griddle for free in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are our own.

Who Is This Griddle For?

This one is for anyone who likes flat-top cooking but is tired of running out of room. If you’ve been on a base model Blackstone and find yourself juggling food in empty containers because you’ve got nowhere to put it, the flip-out side shelf alone is going to change how you cook.

It’s also a great fit if you’re setting up a dedicated cooking space. The cabinet, the tool hooks, the paper towel holder, it’s all built in. You’re not piecing a setup together after the fact.

If you’re really tight on space, it’s not the most compact option out there. But if you’ve got a spot for it and you cook often, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Specifications

Assembly

The assembly wasn’t too bad, but I did it all by myself, and that was a mistake.

The part where it really helps to have a second set of hands is putting the sides on the bottom cart. Even with the length I’ve got in my arms, I had to prop the thing up just to get the bolts in.

Here’s what I wish I’d known first. If you buy from Lowe’s online, they don’t just deliver it, they deliver it assembled. Save yourself the headache and get straight to seasoning.

One small gripe on the packaging. Blackstone always packs these well, but I wish they’d use less styrofoam. You’ve got to recycle it, and it’s not like cardboard where you can throw it on the campfire.

Design and Features

My favorite feature by a mile is the extension table. The two side shelves aren’t bad, but the extra room is what actually solves the prep problem.

Putting it away is easy too. Fold up the legs, pull the pin, drop it down, and it locks into place.

The tool hooks are a nice touch, especially if you’re running Blackstone utensils. They hook right on and come right off, or you can flip them around the other way. There’s also a paper towel holder that swings out of the way when you need to fold down the side shelf, and a garbage bag holder on the other side.

The casters are better than they need to be. They rotate and they lock, which matters on a unit this size.

The cabinet doors are solid, and there’s real room in there for your cover, your conditioner, or a few utensils on the rack or bottom shelf.

The lid is standard build, but I like how easily it comes off. Like most griddles, this lid isn’t meant to be closed while you cook. It’s there to protect the surface between cooks. Being able to pull it right off gives you better access from all sides while you’re working.

One thing to know before you start. The ignition is electronic, but they don’t supply a battery. Buy one before it arrives.

Cooking Space and Performance

At 768 square inches across four burners, you’ve got room to run different foods at different heat zones at the same time. That’s where a flat top earns its keep.

Breakfast is the best showcase. Sausage links on one side, French toast on the other, eggs in the middle. It keeps the mess out of the kitchen, and you’re only cleaning one surface. Do it a couple of times, and you’ll realize it’s twice as fast as the stovetop.

You can cook just about anything on here, but where it really kicks butt is burgers and grilled cheesesteak sandwiches. Around here, a cheesesteak has got to have pepperjack and a crispy baguette bun.

Heat is consistent across most of the top, with one exception. The far-left burner runs hotter than the other three. Crank it down a tad, and it evens right out.

The question I get most from friends who buy these is what temperature to cook at. Breakfast is always medium to low. The only time I go above 70 percent is smash burgers, when I want real color on the patty. Steaks get medium-high. Everything else sits around medium to medium-low.

If you’re new to flat tops, remember you don’t have to cook on high. Preheat hot if you want, but turn it down before the food goes on or you’re going to get scorched earth.

Seasoning

A new Blackstone ships with a coating on the griddle top, so step one is to crank it up and burn it off. Once the smoke stops, shut it down and let it cool naturally.

The second coat is where you actually apply oil or conditioner. I used the Blackstone seasoning and griddle conditioner. Dig out a clump, slap it on, then smooth it out even with a spatula and a low-lint paper towel.

I always do at least four coats. The last two I just use cooking spray, since there’s already a good base built up.

For a first cook, bacon is the move. It throws off a great grease that keeps seasoning the top. And for anyone who loves bacon, it’s a solid excuse to make BLTs.

Cleaning

Cleaning a Blackstone is simple. Scrape the debris into the grease catch, burn off any leftover residue, and put down a light coat of cooking spray to help prevent rust.

You can’t rely on the spray alone. If I’ve used some sticky sauce that doesn’t want to come off, I burn it as long as I can, turn off the valves, and add water once it’s cooled a tad.

That helps the stuck-on stuff let go. Repeat a few times, let it cool, then spray it down.

The one thing I’m not a fan of is the grease catch. It’s small. Those little foil pans make cleanup a lot easier; otherwise, you’re scooping it in and scooping it out.

I am a big fan of the grease port sitting at the back, though. It stays out of your way while you cook.

If your access isn’t great and you don’t want to unlock the caster wheels all the time, I could see how this could get annoying.

How It Compares

The most obvious comparison is the standard Blackstone 36-inch. Same cooking surface, same four burners, no cabinet and no fold-out table. If you’re short on space or don’t need the storage, the base model saves you money and still cooks great. But if you’ve ever wished for more prep room, the Culinary Cabinet is the easy step up.

The Camp Chef Gridiron is the other one worth a look. Similar price, four burners, and the cart build quality is honestly a bit better than the Blackstone.

The big difference is the grease drain. Camp Chef drains from the front, which is a little controversial. I prefer the rear port on this Blackstone, but plenty of people like front access, and there’s no denying it’s handy getting at the grease catch without reaching around the back.

Should you buy the Blackstone 36″ Culinary Cabinet?

After a few cooks, this griddle top is seasoned in nicely, and it’s been a pleasure to work on.

The fold-out table fixes the prep space problem. The cabinet keeps everything organized. The casters are great, and 768 square inches is plenty of room for a real meal.

If you’re already on a base model Blackstone and want more to work with, this is the upgrade that makes sense. And if you’re buying online, have Lowe’s assemble it. Skip the headache and get straight to seasoning.

Blackstone 36" Culinary Cabinet Omnivore Griddle

Pros:

• Big fold-out prep shelf
• Enclosed storage cabinet
• Built-in tool and towel hooks

Cons:

• Undersized grease tray
• Slightly uneven far-left burner

CHECK LOWE'S PRICE