Blackstone 22-Inch Electric Griddle Review: Best Large-Surface Electric Griddle

The Blackstone 22-Inch Electric Griddle earns its place at the top of our rankings through a combination most competitors can't match at any price: 358 sq in of cooking surface split into two independently controlled heating zones, a maximum sustained temperature above 400°F, and an included lid for melting cheese on smash burgers. At $150 to $200, it costs more than the Cuisinart Griddler Elite or Presto 07061, and the tradeoff is real, fixed non-stick plates mean 10 to 15 minutes of wiping after every session rather than a dishwasher cycle. But for a household of four or more cooking breakfast weekly, or anyone running regular smash burger nights for six to eight patties at once, the surface area and dual-zone flexibility pay for themselves quickly. This review breaks down how the dual zones perform in practice, how much surface area actually buys you, and where the cleanup tradeoff starts to matter.

The Dual-Zone Advantage in Practice

The defining feature of the Blackstone 22-inch is the dual independent heating zones. In practice, this enables cooking scenarios that single-zone griddles cannot handle:

Smash burger scenario: zone 1 at 400°F for patties, zone 2 at 200°F to 225°F for warming buns without toasting them further. On a single-zone griddle at 400°F, buns burn before the second round of patties is ready.

Family breakfast: zone 1 at 350°F for pancakes, zone 2 at 375°F for bacon. Sequential single-zone cooking requires temperature adjustments between foods; dual-zone maintains both simultaneously.

Meal prep: cook chicken breasts on one zone while vegetables cook at a different temperature on the other.

Surface Area: The Real Advantage

358 sq in is the meaningful specification here. For comparison:

• Presto 07061: 240 sq in
• Cuisinart Griddler open flat: 400 sq in (200 per plate)
• Blackstone 22-inch: 358 sq in

At 358 sq in: 12 standard pancakes simultaneously. 8 smash burger patties simultaneously. 10 eggs simultaneously. For a family of 6, everyone's portion cooks in a single round — no waiting for sequential batches.

Smash Burger Performance

The Blackstone 22-inch produces the best smash burger results of any electric griddle in this category. The combination of high surface temperature (375°F to 400°F+ actual), large flat surface, and included lid creates the full smash burger experience:

1. Preheat 12 to 15 minutes at maximum
2. Add beef balls, smash within 5 seconds
3. After crust forms (45 to 60 seconds): flip
4. Add cheese and use the lid to trap steam and melt cheese
5. Remove when cheese is melted

The process works on any griddle that reaches 375°F+, but the Blackstone's surface area allows 6 to 8 simultaneous patties — enough for a real smash burger session rather than 2 to 4 sequential rounds.

Cleanup Limitation

The fixed non-stick surface is the primary complaint against the Blackstone 22-inch. After a smash burger or bacon session: the surface requires thorough wiping while warm, and the drip tray needs emptying. This takes 10 to 15 minutes compared to 2 minutes for removable dishwasher-safe plates on the Cuisinart.

For weekly smash burger sessions, this cleanup time is manageable. For daily breakfast use: the Cuisinart Griddler's removable plates may be preferable despite the smaller surface.

See Also

• Cuisinart GR-300WS Review — the removable-plate alternative
• Blackstone vs Cuisinart Griddle — direct comparison
• Best Griddles for Smash Burgers — top-temp models ranked
• Best Griddles — full category