If you're considering purchasing the Blackstone Culinary Pro 36-inch Cabinet Griddle, you're probably already familiar with Blackstone's solid reputation in the consumer flat top grill market. You probably also know the benefits of having over 760 square inches of cooking surface you can control with 4 different burners. You just want to know if the added creature comforts built into the Culinary Pro 36-inch Cabinet Griddle make life easier when, say, you're searing steaks while simultaneously cooking other meal components or whipping up a full American breakfast in no time at all.
Blackstone Culinary Pro 36-inch Cabinet Griddle: What We Think
This propane-fueled 60,000 BTU flat top uses the same cooktop and functionality as the Blackstone Original, but its extras are what set it apart: a built-in hood, a series of drawers and cabinets (including propane tank storage), a magnetic strip for tools and a heat baffle system that protects your burners from the wind. At nearly three times the cost of the original model, you'll need to decide if those extras are important to you — the hood and heat baffle system are the biggest draws, but the flimsy cabinetry isn't necessarily the most useful. But if you're looking for a great flat-top grilling experience combined with all-in-one outdoor kitchen convenience, this is your model.
It offers 769 square inches of cooking space
The heart of the Blackstone is its seasoned-to-perfection black cooktop. Before using, you need to take an hour or more to season it properly, but after that, the surface is as easy to maintain as a cast-iron skillet. The hefty cooktop is crafted from 7-gauge rolled carbon steel that's designed to heat up quickly and cook evenly. I found the four-burner setup easy to control — high heat searing could happen simultaneously with medium-heat sauteing. That means you can cook multiple components of a meal at once and on one surface.
The real joy of the Blackstone is its ability to sear at high temperatures — the type of heat that would require a seriously powerful vent hood indoors if you didn't want to set off every smoke detector in your house. So, its ability to sear while also sauteing is a bonus.
While clean-up is relatively easy — nothing crazier than what you'd do with a skillet — and the cooktop's seasoning protects it from the air, the underside and outsides of the cooktop are vulnerable to the elements. So those living near salty bodies of water will notice light corrosion on the underside and non-seasoned surfaces after a while.
The built-in hood and heat baffle system are very helpful
When not in use, the Culinary Pro has a hinged hood to cover the cooktop and protect it from wind, rain and other hazards. While you can purchase a lid for the Blackstone Original, it's seriously convenient to have a hinged hood you can simply lift up without having to find a place to store it while cooking. Though the built-in hood does protect the surface, a weatherproof cover comes with the unit to give another layer of defense from the elements.
When outdoors with propane, wind is always the enemy. I've met people catering events who have created their own wind baffles with aluminum foil to protect the burners on the Blackstone Original, so I fully appreciate the built-in heat baffle system of the Culinary Pro. It's not something you'd notice until it wasn't there — but if it were removed, cooking would be less predictable on windy days.
The cabinets leave me wanting more
While I like the idea of under-griddle storage, the cabinets on the Culinary Pro left me wanting more. The doors and structural materials feel flimsy compared to the hood and cooktop. Also, the rolling drawer that holds the propane tank doesn't lock so if there's even the slightest incline, the drawer holding the propane will slide out — a minor annoyance.
And, while I love the prep shelves on both sides of the cooktop, the shelf on the right has a built-in cutting board that, when removed, leaves a non-functional shelf with a large rectangular hole in it. For ease of use, I'd prefer it to just be a solid surface like the left shelf.
Blackstone Culinary Pro 36-inch Cabinet Griddle: Alternatives
If you're not dead-set on a flat top with under-griddle storage, Blackstone's iconic Original 36-inch Griddle remains the best option for most people. The four burners each offer precise individual zoned control over the same 769 square-inch cooking surface used in the Culinary Pro and a pair of folding tables offer prep space when you need it and hide away when you don't. The patented rear grease management system — the same system used in the Culinary Pro — is arguably the least messy in the business. If you're ok with a visible propane tank and don't need a cabinet-style setup, then save your money and get the Original for $400.
If you're looking for an upgrade, consider going commercial-grade with an option from Big Johns Grills & Rotisseries. Available in both 36- and 72-inch widths (priced at $1,525 and $3,200), these flat tops feature a quarter-inch-thick stainless steel cooktop and burners that crank out 30,000 BTU per burner for a combined output of 90,000 BTUs or 180,000 BTUs, respectively.
