There is nothing quite like spending a fall Saturday outdoors: games tuned in on the patio screen, great weather, and the sound of delicious food sizzling on the Blackstone flat top.
Whether you’re feed-planning for game-day snacking or prepping meals for the week ahead, flat-top griddles give you the space and versatility to cook everything at once. Here’s a look at today’s spread, along with a few crucial prep, safety, and cleaning tips every griddle owner should keep in mind.
Rule #1: Preparation Before You Light the Burners
Before you even turn on the igniter, make sure your griddle station is fully staged. Once the griddle gets hot, things move fast!
Heat Protection: Keep a good heat-resistant grill glove on hand to protect yourself when moving hot trays or working over high heat.
Staging Trays & Utensils: Have your clean serving trays, spatulas, and tongs lined up and ready.
Cleaning Supplies Ready: Keep your squeeze bottle of water and oil ready to go right next to the griddle so post-cook maintenance is seamless.
Outdoor Pop-Up Mesh Food Covers: If you’re cooking outside, mesh food tents/nets are a absolute must-have! They keep flies, yellow jackets, and bees off your cooked food while it rests. As you can see, a yellow jacket was already trying to dive-bomb today’s spread—the net saved the day!
The Golden Propane Safety Rule
Always get into the habit of turning your propane tank valve completely off at the cylinder when you’re done cooking.
A few years ago, our young son (or his friend) was walking past the grill. Being young and curious, he bumped and turned the valve on the tank without realizing what it did and kept right on walking. Days later, when we went out to cook, we discovered the valve had been wide open the whole time, bleeding out an entire tank of propane!
Beyond the obvious safety concern of lingering gas, running down a full tank without cooking a single meal hurts the wallet. Always shut that tank off tight after every cook.
Today’s Game Day Spread
Today’s cook features three distinct items on the flat top:
Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Chicken Twisters: Fantastic finger-food to snack on throughout the game.
Mediterranean Herb Atlantic Salmon: Remember to always put salmon skin-side down first on the griddle! Searing skin-side down crisp-sears the base, holds the filet together, and acts as a heat buffer to keep the tender flesh from overcooking.
Boneless Pork Chops: Perfect for weekly meal prep.
Quick Cooking Science: Avocado Oil & Juicy Pork Chops
Why 100% Pure Avocado Oil?
I use Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil on the flat top for two major reasons:
High Smoke Point (~500°F): Unlike extra virgin olive oil or butter, high-purity avocado oil won’t break down, smoke aggressively, or burn at high griddle temps.
Healthier Choice: It’s loaded with monounsaturated fats (oleic acid) and antioxidants, making it a far healthier option for high-heat searing than processed vegetable or canola oils.
Don’t Overcook Your Pork Chops!
A lot of people grow up eating dry, tough pork chops because they think all pink meat is unsafe. However, pork isn’t like chicken—it doesn’t need to be cooked well-done. The USDA guidelines recommend cooking pork chops to an internal temperature of 145°F followed by a 3-minute rest.
At 145°F (a proper medium), the meat retains a light blush of pink in the middle. Keeping that slight pink center retains the juices and yields a remarkably tender chop every time!
Post-Cook Cleanup & The Best Blackstone Accessories
A good cook isn’t finished until the griddle top is properly cared for:
Scrape First, Water Second: While the griddle is still warm, scrape off food particles. Squirt water onto the hot surface to steam off stuck-on bits, scrape clean, and wipe off.
Oil to Protect: Finish with a thin layer of oil spread across the surface to re-season and protect the metal from rust.
Foil Drip Cup Liners: Disposable foil liners for the rear grease trap are a game-changer. Cleaning out built-up grease traps manually can get extremely messy—if a full grease trap gets bumped, hot grease spills everywhere. (And while dogs love to lick up spilled grease, it’s definitely not healthy for them!). Foil liners allow you to pull out the cooled grease insert and toss it straight into the trash with zero mess.
Final Thoughts: At the end of the day, outdoor griddling isn’t just about the food- it’s about enjoying the weather, catching a great game, and making the prep and cleanup as smooth as possible. Fire up the flat top, stay safe, and enjoy your weekend! Drop your favorite Blackstone recipes in the comments or see how to stop wasting money on propane below.