I’d been looking at getting a flat top griddle for a while. I did my research looking at brands and options. I’d looked at adding a removable top to my Weber Propane, but ultimately decided to purchase a Blackstone. This is a basic unit, but the large 4-burner, and it also comes with a removable metal cover. I ended up purchasing it from Walmart for $327 — a cheaper price than Amazon, which had some sketchy reviews about not receiving the model advertised. Also, with something this large and over 100 lbs, I didn’t want the hassle of shipping it back if there was an issue.

Assembly was easy enough, and the instructions were decent. I did my research on seasoning it and decided to use the Blackstone seasoning product, which I also purchased from Walmart. It’s essentially like a large cast iron skillet and needs to be taken care of the same way. To season it, you light all the burners and get it very hot, then add a small amount of seasoning mixture and, with a paper towel, spread a very thin layer across the entire surface. You leave the grill on and let it smoke, and when it stops, you repeat the process. I did that five times to get it seasoned. The key is that if it’s seasoned correctly, food won’t stick to the surface when cooked.

Cleanup is an easy process and should be done immediately after cooking. While the grill is still hot, you do a light scraping of any particles off the grill, then apply a small amount of water to clean the surface. While it’s hot, it steams right away, which allows for a decent cleaning. Then you apply a small amount of oil, wipe down the entire surface, and shut it off.