10 Items A New Blackstone Owner Actually Needs To Buy

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Blackstone griddles are having a moment. Not only are there a plethora of videos online about how to use the griddle to make everything from smash burgers and chicken tostadas to pumpkin French toast and breakfast crunchwraps, it's also out-pacing pellet cookers and gas grills in terms of popularity and frequency of use. In fact, according to Blackstone, 92% of Blackstone users say they use their griddle every week and 67% say they turn to it more than once a week to put food on the table.

Of course, part of this attraction is the fact that you can make just about anything on the Blackstone while keeping the smells and grease splatters outside. It's also easy to use, holds a lot of food, and requires minimal effort to clean. But, if you're new to cooking on this type of outdoor appliance, you may be wondering what types of accessories you need in order to get started, especially since there are so many options out there.

Here we discuss what every beginner should consider purchasing in order to cook their best meals on the Blackstone — and to protect their investment. From spatulas and scrapers to covers and more, we discuss what you truly need to buy in order to make the most of your Blackstone griddle.

Blackstone griddles aren't cheap. In fact, if you recently purchased a new Blackstone you may have spent anywhere from $200 to more than $2,000 on your new griddle, depending on the type you purchased and the retailer you bought it from. That's why it's so important to protect your investment from the elements with a waterproof cover. In fact, this is by far the most important accessory you need to buy for your new griddle, and one of the biggest mistakes people make with their Blackstone — not protecting it from water damage.

Even the summer months can wreak havoc on the cooking surface if it's not properly protected. High humidity, morning dew, and sporadic thunderstorms can trigger moisture that, when exposed to air, can cause rust to form almost instantly. It could even lead to chipping, flaking, and discoloring of the non-stick surface.

Keep in mind that Blackstone griddles are made of steel, which tends to rust easily unless properly protected. This means it only takes a small amount of water to do some serious damage. Your once pristine cooking surface can turn to rust in a short amount of time. But, if you keep it covered with a canvas, waterproof cover, and make sure it remains clean and seasoned with oil after every cook, your Blackstone should last a very long time.

If you've ever watched one of the millions of the how-to TikTok videos on using a Blackstone griddle, you've likely seen the content creator using two spatulas to flip, chop, and move food around on the griddle. In fact, when it comes to cooking on a flattop, you often need two large spatulas with long handles to make everything from fried rice to hash browns. Not only will it help you manipulate the food you're cooking, but it also speeds up the process and lets you move things quickly when you need to.

Most likely, the spatulas from your kitchen aren't going to work. Not only will plastic melt or the silicone not be sturdy enough, but you also need a long enough handle so that you aren't subjecting your hands and arms to the high heat that radiates off the surface. After all, you don't want to risk a burn from getting too close.

Look for stainless steel spatulas with a longer handle. Some users on Facebook say they prefer the signature series spatulas made by Blackstone while others prefer those made by Dexter. The key is that you find something sturdy that fits comfortably in your hand and doesn't feel too heavy. You also want something that cleans up well and will last a good amount of time. After all, these spatulas are the workhorses of outdoor griddles, so you need something that can stand up to the heat — and the workload.

It's easy to assume that your spatulas can double as bench scrapers, but the shape and design of the two are different. For instance, most spatulas have an angle to them; but a bench scraper contains a piece of wide metal with a handle without an angle. Most often, it's used to lift away stuck-on food and carbonized grease without damaging the surface or ruining your seasoning. It can even be used to scrape food scraps and excess oil toward the grease drain hole so that it doesn't build up on the surface.

Most users on Reddit use the scraper offered by Blackstone, though some have tried regular kitchen bench scrapers that are used for cutting dough or moving vegetables from a cutting board to a stockpot. The issue with these scrapers, though, isn't the size; it's the lack of handle. This puts your hand and knuckles very close to the griddle's surface, which could result in burns or discomfort. Again, look for a scraper that fits in your hand, is easy to grip, and has a long enough handle that you won't risk running your knuckles across a hot surface.

Whether you're seasoning your Blackstone, cooking on it, or cleaning it, you're going to need a quick and easy way to get oil on the surface and many people rely on a squeeze bottle filled with the oil of their choice to get the job done. You'll also likely need a bottle with water as well. This can help with cleanup and quickly moving burned foods to the grease tray. Just don't let the water stay on the surface because that could become a recipe for rust.

That said, you don't have to purchase the Blackstone squeeze bottles. Some Redditors complain that the stream from these bottles is never steady and that they're constantly fighting oil drips on the side. For this reason, some users recommend repurposing ketchup bottles or the Kinders BBQ sauce squeeze bottle while others recommend the OXO brand of bottle. Some seasoned Blackstone grillers even suggest using a glass spray bottle found on Amazon. Not only do you get more control over the amount of oil you're using, but the glass won't melt like a plastic squeeze bottle if it's placed too close to the griddle while it's in use.

Much like a canvas cover for your Blackstone, a silicone griddle mat can help you protect the surface of your flattop and prevent it from rusting. Once your griddle has been seasoned and has cooled from use, you simply place this mat on the surface before covering your griddle until the next time it's used. Not only does the cover add an extra layer of protection from moisture — even if you have the hard top — but it also keeps insects and small critters like mice from getting on the cooking surface and contaminating it.

Plus, it's pretty easy to clean up if it gets dusty, dirty, or has bugs on it. Just make sure to check if both sides need to be cleaned. Because the underside of the mat comes in contact with the griddle's surface, it can become oily. Then when it's removed, pollen and dust can collect on it. Simply spray off the mat to remove the dust and debris. Once it's completely dry it's safe to place it on your Blackstone again. Of course, you don't have to purchase your silicone mat from Blackstone. Often you can find knock-offs at Walmart or on Amazon that work just as well — and save money.

If you've ever used a gas grill, you know how easy it is to forget to empty the grease cup. Then, before you know it, it's developing a rancid smell, attracting insects, or at risk of overflowing onto your patio, deck, or garage floor. The same thing can happen with a Blackstone griddle, especially because you often push excess grease and bits of food toward the grease cup. Leaving it in the metal cup can lead to corrosion and rust, especially if it's forgotten about. That's where grease cup liners come in.

You simply remove these each time you cook and either wash them out to use again. They not only make cleanup a little easier, but also keep the metal pan from getting caked with grease that can be hard to remove. Blackstone sells silicone grease cup liners that are dishwasher safe — and great for anyone who wants just a one time expense since they're reusable. You simply pop out the liner, dispose of the grease, and put the liner in the dishwasher.

If you prefer the convenience of disposable grease liners, Blackstone sells these as well, or you can find them from an online retailer, like Amazon. The beauty of using a liner is that it keeps grease management at the forefront of your mind and becomes part of your routine, so you're less likely to forget about its disposal if you're putting in a fresh liner before each use.

Cooking successfully on a Blackstone requires careful management of the surface's temperature as well as choosing the right heat level for each dish you prepare. Some food items will need to be cooked at a higher temperature that others. But, getting that perfect temp can be a challenge with just the knobs on your griddle. Wind, air, and other outside elements can affect the temperature of your cooking surface and there's no thermostat to verify what heat level you're using to prepare your meal.

This is where an infrared thermometer comes in handy. Not only can you measure the temperature of your griddle's surface, but you can do so at a safe distance without having to place the tool on your griddle. Then, you can adjust the temperature of your grill to ensure it's right where you need it to be. The key, though, is to make sure you measure the temp early on so that you don't overshoot your goal.

Of course, Blackstone sells an infrared thermometer, but you don't have to purchase their product to get the same benefit. There are countless infrared thermometers available online, like this one from Etekcity, so you can choose one that matches your needs and your budget. Some people even prefer getting an infrared thermometer that can serve a dual purpose. Not only is it capable of measuring the surface temperature, but you can also use it to check the internal temperature of your chicken or other meats.

Perhaps one of the most popular things to make on a Blackstone is a simple smash burger. In fact, some full-time griddle users say that making a smash burger before you make anything else on your flattop is a rite of passage and often the first thing people attempt once the cooking surface is seasoned and ready to go. After all, who can resist the crispy edges of a perfectly cooked smash burger?

To get that super thin burger, people often use a burger press, their spatula, or another kitchen tool to form the ground meat into a very thin patty so the maillard reaction can take place. Some Blackstone users and cooking experts swear by the burger press as the only way to get those perfectly uniform smashed burgers, while others on Reddit say you may be able to achieve the same effect by using other tools in your kitchen.

The key is to consider how often you think you will use it. If you plan to make smash burgers every weekend, this tool might be worth the investment. It also might be worth it if you tend to cook smash burgers for large groups of people. In these situations, a burger press can save you time and energy. But, if smash burgers aren't your thing or you don't make them very often, this tool may not be worth the money, especially if it's just going to sit in a cupboard somewhere collecting dust.

Whether you're melting cheese on your burgers or steaming vegetables, many Blackstone users find a melting dome particularly useful and recommend purchasing one — though it doesn't have to come from Blackstone unless you prefer their style and sizes. The key is to get something with a handle to make lifting it off the surface easier and to reduce the risk of burning your fingers.

Some people have found creative ways to mimic a melting dome and use everything from metal mixing bowls to roasting pan lids. The key is to be mindful of how hot the surface of your griddle can get. If you don't have a handle on the tool you're using, use your spatula to lift the cover away and consider wearing heat resistant gloves. One tiny burn from accidentally touching the hot surface can ruin the entire day.

To decide if this is a must-have accessory for you, think about how you will use it and what you have on hand that could be used in its place. Melting domes trap heat on the surface of the griddle allowing it to function like a lid on a frying pan or a mini oven at times, so they can also be used to keep food warm while you're cooking other things. You can buy a dome from Blackstone or find one on Amazon if you'd prefer a different size, shape, or price point.

Anyone who has tried to make a large number of fried eggs can tell you that no matter how hard you try, the whites of the eggs typically spread more than you might like on your cooking surface. The same is true when cooking omelets and pancakes. But, with egg rings and omelet molds, you can get perfectly shaped egg dishes or pancakes each and every time. 

If you're getting a Blackstone primarily to make large breakfasts for your family on the weekends, you might consider this a must-have for griddle cooking. Not only does it help you keep large batches of food more manageable so you can fit more on the surface at one time, but it also helps you produce uniform-sized portions — perfect for breakfast sandwiches or stacks of pancakes.

The key is to find rings or molds that are compatible with your flattop. You don't want to use something that will damage the surface, so look for silicone options or those that have been designed specifically for use on a griddle. Blackstone has an egg and omelet ring set, but you can also find similar products on Amazon. Or, if you want to get really creative, some Facebook users have repurposed the lids from large canning jars as egg molds. But, no matter what you use, it can help if the products are dishwasher safe to make cleanup easier.