Just kidding…it was totally just for me. I mean my wife could use it if she wants to, but outdoor cooking is more my thing than hers, and I’m cool with that. This beauty is the Blackstone 22” Tabletop Griddle and I love it. I was interested in incorporating some kind of outdoor grilling situation within our trailer life and this is what I came up with, and let me tell you…it was the right choice.
However, before I settled on this I considered a small gas grill or even a charcoal briquette grill. I also had remembered another cooking device that I saw this one time when I went to a party, you remember parties right? No? Well, let me tell you. Parties were these events wherein multiple individuals gathered to eat delicious food and mingle amongst each other, usually to celebrate a special occasion or sometimes it was just for fun, to swap tales of previous day’s happenings and what have you. They were truly delightful, but I digress.
Anyhow, I had seen a griddle set up at said party and it caught my eye. Maybe it’s a guy thing, but I was intrigued. “What is this glorious device that is capable of producing mass quantities of delicious cooked meats and vegetables for this eager assemblage of fine folk?” I asked myself. “Ahhhhh…a griddle…yes, yes…I see.”
After some research I landed on the Blackstone Products website and was greeted by the marvelous possibilities! Basic, deluxe, large and small cooking stations…so much to choose from. Alas, I could only choose one. What shall I choose? Would it be the Tailgaiter Combo with a griddle and gas grill all in one? Perhaps it would be the 28” Cooking Station? The 36” Cooking Station in Classic Black looked mighty fine as well. Oh my, what about the ProSeries 36” Griddle Cooking Station? As I dug deeper into the glorious options this fine company had to offer… I found it. There it was, calling my name, urging me to take a closer look. It was the Blackstone AirFryer Griddle Combo!
It was exquisite! With it’s 36” cooking surface, 4 independently controlled cook zones, dual air fryer drawers and single warming drawer, matte black finish, orange and silver accents…a single tear rolled down my cheek. This unfortunately wasn’t a tear of joy, it was sadness leaking from my face. For I knew that this griddle was not meant to be. As dazzling as it was, it was just too large for the lifestyle that we currently have. I had to keep telling myself it wouldn’t work. How could we travel with this? Perhaps I could build a special trailer…no, that’s impractical. I could just have the kids sleep in the truck…no, stop, that’s illogical. Ok, ok, enough, it will have to wait. Once we settle down into a traditional home it will be mine, oh yes…it will be mine.
So that’s when the 22” Tabletop Griddle came into my life. It’s impressive for its simple design. 22”x16” rolled carbon steel cooking surface, 24,000 BTUs of heat from two H-style burners with independently controlled heat zones…yes, this was the one. Portable and lightweight enough for our trailer life, I was sold. And cleanup is so incredibly easy with the scraper/chopper that was included with my Accessory Tool Kit.
Once my gift had arrived I had to first take part in the magical process of seasoning the steel cooking surface. This was all new to me. I have heard about this practice before, mainly in conjunction with cast iron cooking products. After a quick initial cleaning, the heat on high and a tasty adult beverage in my hand, I began. Now there are some people out there that will swear by using certain types of oil to season their griddles…meh I say, meh. I used what I had on hand. Just some good ‘ol fashioned olive oil..nay…good ‘ol fashioned organic olive oil. Not that the “organic” is necessary but, whatever.
I lightly applied layer after layer of oil which created the beautiful, blackened, non stick surface that was so desired. After about an hour of oil and burn, oil and burn, it was complete, a brand new addition into our family. Cute and lovable, providing so much joy to me and…well mainly me, and I suppose kind of indirectly to my wife when I’m the one cooking instead of her. All that being said, if you are still questioning whether or not you should try something on the Blackstone roster, I mean, c’mon really? Yes, the answer is yes you should.
And no, I am not affiliated with Blackstone Products in any way. This is just a pretty badass griddle…