Today’s griddle showdown is old versus new, a.k.a. Blackstone’s cornerstone product, the 36” Original Griddle, and the brand new Camp Chef Gridiron 36 Griddle.

We compare the top features of both flat-top grills so you can choose the right one for you. But we will say Blackstone better watch its back because it has a fierce competitor on its hands.

Camp Chef Gridiron 36 Griddle	Blackstone 36″ Flat Top Gas Griddle
Pros: Oversized front grease trap Pre-seasoned griddle top Surface leveling Flamethrower ignition Spatula holders	Pros: Powerful burners Grease drain Huge grilling surface
Cons: No storage space Not Sidekick compatible	Cons: Side trays don't fold Struggles on windy days
Check Camp Chef Price	Check Amazon Price

Camp Chef Gridiron 36 Griddle

Pros:

• Oversized front grease trap
• Pre-seasoned griddle top
• Surface leveling
• Flamethrower ignition
• Spatula holders

Cons:

• No storage space
• Not Sidekick compatible

Check Camp Chef Price

Blackstone 36″ Flat Top Gas Griddle

Pros:

• Powerful burners
• Grease drain
• Huge grilling surface

Cons:

• Side trays don't fold
• Struggles on windy days

Check Amazon Price

Is the new Camp Chef GridIron BETTTER than a Blackstone?

Today’s competition definitely pits old against new. We’re comparing the brand new Gridiron from Camp Chef against the classic 36″ griddle from Blackstone.

It’s worth pointing out that Blackstone has a huge range of griddles, and a fairer comparison would be the Blackstone Omnivore which comes with a hood for the same price as the Camp Chef. But the 36″ is the flagship from Blackstone, it’s what we have in on our patio and it’s what most of you will be comparing.

Let’s meet our contenders

Blackstone

There’s a reason the Blackstone 36” Gas Griddle has stood the test of time. It pairs 769 square inches of total cooking space with four independent gas burners, giving you 60,000 BTU per hour output.

What we like:

• Total cooking area: The griddle’s cooking surface size is unbeatable. To put it into perspective, it can fit 21 pancakes or 27 steaks.
• Rear grease management system: This is an update from previous models, which we know many cooks prefer. You can easily direct fats and oil to the back for added convenience.
• Four burners: The four burners heat the grill quickly and have individual controls. This means you can efficiently create different heat zones, i.e., direct and indirect heat.
• Solid wheels: The four industrial-strength wheels (including two lockable wheels) make it easier to move around.

What we don’t like:

• Rolled steel surface: Unfortunately, rolled steel isn’t rust-resistant, so you’ll have to keep up with maintenance to prevent corrosion.
• Escaping heat: Heat escapes through the gap between the griddle plate and the burners. On windy days, getting the grill to reach your ideal temperature is more challenging. Blackstone does sell wind guards to prevent this, though.

It’s important to note the 36” Omnivore Griddle includes integrated wind guards.

Camp Chef

The Camp Chef Gridiron 36 Griddle has a pinch-less cooking space of 634 square inches. But it’s still paired with four independent burners and 48,000 BTU per hour output. The extras make up for it, though.

What we like:

• Front grease management system: If you prefer a front grease management system, you’ll love Camp Chef’s oversized drain with a hidden grease catch option.
• Flamethrower ignition: This ensures your grill ignites instantly every time. Quick and reliable lighting is a game-changer.
• Pre-seasoned griddle plate: Pre-seasoned with 100% palm oil, we’ll never complain about skipping this step! Plus, it ensures you have a high-quality, even seasoning on your griddle from the beginning.
• Surface leveling: The Gridiron has precision-engineered leveling screws you can easily adjust (even while cooking) to ensure your flat-top grill is always level.

What we don’t like:

• No storage space: The Gridiron lacks a bottom shelf, which is always helpful.
• Not Sidekick compatible: Camp Chef is known for its Sidekick accessories, but they aren’t compatible with this flat-top griddle.

Camp Chef vs. Blackstone: head-to-head

It’s time to pit these flat-top grills against each other to see who we crown as the victor.

Build quality

The Blackstone grill is made almost entirely of steel, so it’s not surprising that it weighs over 130 lbs. But this steel framework also means it feels durable and reliable, which is what you want from your griddle.

If you can believe it, the Camp Chef grill is even heavier, weighing in at 150 lbs. But it’s also made nearly entirely of steel and looks sleek.

If you factor in that Camp Chef’s griddle includes a dual-walled reinforced lid, it wins this round. Once again, the 36” Omnivore Griddle is Blackstone’s lidded alternative.

Cooking surface

Nobody competes with Blackstone’s 769 square inches of total cooking area. As mentioned, that’s the equivalent of 27 steaks or 126 hot dogs!

The four independent burners also mean you can simultaneously cook multiple food items at different temperatures. The heat control is fantastic, especially if you want to do some reverse searing.

Another pro in the Blackstone column is the removable griddle top, which makes cleaning much easier.

Camp Chef isn’t exactly skimping on space, with 634 square inches of cooking area. That’s still enough room to cook a feast and create different heating zones with the four burners. We also found that this grill maintains a consistent temperature.

One thing Camp Chef does differently is the built-in notches on either side of the grease trap where you can rest your spatula. The small things make a big difference.

Both griddle surfaces are made from rolled steel. Unfortunately, this isn’t corrosion-resistant. So, you’ll need to thoroughly clean the large surface and oil it lightly after every use to prevent rust. Basically, you season it like a cast-iron pan, just on a bigger scale!

Grease management

The Blackstone 36” Griddle includes a rear grease management system. Direct the fat and oil to the back and let it do the rest.

The Camp Chef Gridiron Griddle has a front grease management system, which we personally prefer. It’s a large, hidden bucket with removable liners, making life much easier. You could cook half a dozen meals without worrying about it – it’s that big!

Camp Chef says the hidden grease bucket is “more visually appealing, accessible, and safer than other options on the market.” We have to agree.

Storage

Blackstone’s griddle has improved over the years and now includes foldable side shelves. This pairs with the existing large bottom shelf. One of the side shelves includes a built-in cutting board, paper towel holder, magnetic toolbar, and trash bag hooks.

Unfortunately, the Camp Chef lacks a bottom shelf but includes two foldable side shelves. However, you can only fold down one of the shelves as the propane tank interferes with the other.

You can also customize your grill with Camp Chef’s magnetic accessory system, which includes a paper towel holder or tool hooks.

The added convenience and included accessories mean Blackstone wins this round.

Camp Chef’s standout features

The Camp Chef Gridiron 36 Griddle includes a few standout features we’d be remiss not to highlight.

• Surface leveling: As mentioned, this is one of our personal favorite features. On nearly every other griddle model, there’s nothing you can do if your grill isn’t level. But with the Camp Chef, you can adjust the level anytime, including while cooking.

• Flamethrower ignition: This electric ignition feature consistently lights the grill instantly and quickly every time. There’s no need to waste time bending down to check if the burners are lit, which saves you time and effort.

• Pre-seasoned griddle top: Seasoning a griddle is time-consuming, so the fact the Camp Chef’s griddle surface comes pre-seasoned is a big plus.

Brand history

Blackstone

When you think of griddles, we bet your mind immediately thinks of Blackstone. It established itself as a griddle-exclusive brand in 2005. Blackstone’s first product is the 36” Original Griddle we’re focusing on today.

The top griddle brand on the market, Blackstone took off during the pandemic. If you look up the brand on TikTok, you’ll find the hashtags #blackstone and #blackstonegriddle are used on over 120,000 posts!

Camp Chef

Camp Chef has been around for much longer, starting in 1990 with the Pro 60 Stove Cooking System. The brand’s aim was to create a versatile outdoor cooking system. Since then, it has added portable camp stoves, pellet grills, fire pits, and cast-iron cookware to its product list.

Camp Chef has two flat-top grills on the market: the brand-new Gridiron 36 Griddle we’re reviewing today and the Flat Top 600/900.

Final thoughts

So, should you choose a Camp Chef or a Blackstone griddle?

Pick the Blackstone griddle if:

• You want a removable griddle top.
• You’ll regularly be cooking for large crowds.
• You want additional accessories included.

Pick the Camp Chef griddle if:

• Surface leveling sounds like a game-changer.
• You prefer a front grease management system.
• You want a pre-seasoned griddle.