5 Disadvantages Of A Blackstone Grill

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Whether you're planning to make burgers for a big group of friends or a breakfast for the family on a Sunday morning, Blackstone is likely one of the first names that comes to mind. Not only are these flat-top grills perfect for making large amounts of food or for cooking multiple things simultaneously, but they are also reasonably priced and highly rated.

Blackstone sells a wide range of products, from griddles and pizza ovens to pellet and camping grills, many of which are priced very reasonably, in the $300 to $600 range. Its griddles were featured prominently on our roundup of the best models for outdoor cooking. The 36-inch, four-burner Portable Steel Griddle Cooking Station, in particular, is a major favorite. Clearly, this is a company that has a finger on the pulse of the average backyard grilling enthusiast. 

Having said that, very few things in life are perfect, and Blackstone grills aren't without their flaws, as customers and reviewers have pointed out. In case you're planning to invest in one of these popular outdoor grills, it's best to be fully informed — not just about the pros, but also about the cons.

According to experts, the one detail that can reveal whether a grill is built to last is its weight. This is why, when you think about outdoor cooking, you immediately picture strong, durable, heavy equipment that can stand the test of time. However, when it comes to Blackstone grills, poor build quality has been a recurring complaint. "I bought a [36-inch] a couple of weeks ago and am not impressed with the build quality," a customer wrote on Reddit. "One leg was tack welded incorrectly (bolt holes misaligned) and the cooktop has bevels from a poor weld job." Another said they had to brace the shelves when they scraped food off the surface. "It [cooks] great ... just wish what it sits on was sturdier and better made," they wrote.

Another customer paid a higher price than others, with both the grill and their house suffering damage during installation. "Put mine together today and had its legs collapse destroying the side [shelves] and damaging my deck," they said. "I hope I can take it back. Very disappointed."

The counterargument to this, one Redditor pointed out, is that there was a limit to what customers could expect at those price points. "Well first off you're not buying a Weber which will cost you twice as much. I consider the [Blackstone] a cheaper type of grill so [of] course they 'feel cheap,'" they wrote. "I love mine and will probably just re-paint it when it needs it."

Speaking of repainting, if some Blackstone owners are to be believed, you might end up spending a lot of time around your grill with a paintbrush in hand. According to many of them, the paint job on the products is of poor quality and peels off far too easily. "All the paint on mine is flaking, and it's always been covered," one customer said. "[I] love cooking on it but would not buy from [Blackstone] again." Another customer said the paint on their Blackstone started peeling off way too soon. "I know Blackstones has paper thin metal, but flaking paint after 3 months of use? I was counting on at least 6," they wrote.

Several customers reported the paint peeling off right out of the box too, while the paint on the knobs seems to be problematic. "I was slightly disappointed. After my first use, the paint around the knobs started rubbing off," one customer wrote, while another said the company should use better paint.

Just as you should avoid flat paint in your kitchen at all times, the kind of paint used on a grill matters because of how hot its surface can get. "The newer [Blackstone griddles] don't have high heat paint so the paint flakes off pretty quickly and the bare [metal] starts to rust," one Redditor wrote. In fact, more experienced grillers on Reddit seemed to provide a solution as well. "A little sandpaper and some Krylon high heat stove paint will fix that right up," someone posted.

When metal equipment is left outdoors, exposed to the elements, one can expect a certain amount of wear and tear, including rust. The problem with Blackstone's grills, according to unhappy customers, is that they rust even if all precautions are taken. "Had mine for less than a year; have cooked on it 15-20 times. I clean it and oil it after every use; all by the book and instruction videos they have," one meticulous — yet unhappy — customer wrote on Reddit. "Every time I take the cover off to use it there's rust, even the underside of the griddle is rusting and that never sees anything but heat from the burners."

Other customers echoed this complaint. "I literally threw mine in the trash after a little over a year. Kept under a cover [and] a covered patio, and most of the paint peeled off and the parts and internals rusted out," a customer said online. Another, responding to a Facebook post asking for feedback on Blackstone grills, said, "Hated mine, rusted no matter what," and suggested the original poster spend their money on a stainless-steel griddle instead.

Metal starts rusting when it comes into contact with oxygen and water for extended periods. However, covering equipment is not a guarantee that it won't rust. In fact, very often the covers can end up trapping heat, causing condensation, and, eventually, corrosion. In fact, preventing moisture buildup while storing your grill is one of the tips for using a Blackstone from a trained chef.

While this is somewhat connected to the build quality, this particular issue is specific to the 36-inch Culinary Griddle Deluxe model. The cabinet that houses the propane tank has a sliding door, which reviewers say is not easy to operate. "The sliding drawer closing the propane tank is kind of hard to close and clunky," a YouTuber reviewing the model said. "It does move along the track, but it's just very clunky."

Commenters on the video supported this observation. "I had the same issue with the sliding door ... [it] drove me nuts," one Blackstone customer wrote. "The drawers don't slide well, and the sliding door also comes off the rails quite easily," another said. "Blackstone did such a great job with the griddle/burners but failed on the cabinet." Even people who are happy with the griddle overall point out that this is an issue. For example, one customer included both "I love the griddle and [I'm] very happy that I got it" and "my door to the gas tank is hard to open and close" in their comment. 

One poster on Reddit had a similar point of view. "The Blackstone is the best of the griddles, but it still has its shortcomings. Just keep cooking and try not to let those little things get to you," they said. While those are wise words, it might be worth noting that "little things" do add up, which could explain why Blackstone finished behind LoCo in Consumer Reports' highest rated flat-top grills.

Whether you're eating out at a newly opened restaurant or trying a new pack of frozen dumplings from the supermarket, it's no secret that first impressions matter. And if your first impression of your Blackstone is that it's difficult to assemble, well, that doesn't bode well. 

"Just 'finished' assembling a [28-inch] Pro Series, and I'm very disappointed," a Reddit user wrote. "Nothing lined up properly and the whole unit seems to be cockeyed ... [the] one door won't stay shut and cannot be adjusted. The griddle is all jacked up and [I] don't even think the holes were cut right." A fellow Redditor responded, "Been there! My [36-inch] leans to the left like a gangster."

While Blackstone doesn't seem to offer an assembly service on its website, it does have a long list of technical support videos on its YouTube channel. But even these aren't helpful in some cases. "I've spent the better part of a day trying to figure out how to put the support shelf together, and so far I've been unsuccessful. I've tried watching YouTube videos and cannot figure out which way this shelf is supposed to be put in place," a Redditor wrote. If this has convinced you not to assemble your grill yourself, we should note that you do have the option of buying a Blackstone grill from stores such as Walmart, which provides a professional home assembly service at an additional fee, or Amazon, which offers free delivery and assembly.