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Blackstone Griddle Propane Pressure
Like the majority of outdoor gas grills, a Blackstone griddle relies on a consistent stream of propane gas to produce flame and provide consistent heating to the cooktop. It does this via a high-pressure propane system to properly oxidize the liquid propane as it transitions into its gaseous state.
When properly functioning the stainless steel propane burners produce a rich blue flame roughly two to perhaps three inches high. This is a sign that the gas is flowing freely and consistently through the regulator that comes with the griddle.
The size of the propane tank your Blackstone griddle is set up to use will also influence the type of regulator it needs.
Even if your model is designed to run on a one-pound propane cylinder, a simple adaptor will make it easy to connect it to a larger propane tank.
Is a Blackstone Griddle High or Low Pressure?
Blackstone griddles have low-pressure propane burners that are fed a consistent stream of gas from the pressurized propane tank via a special regulator.
If you want to connect your Blackstone griddle to a low-pressure supply, as you might have on your RV or travel trailer, you will need to buy a special adaptor.
You can usually find it at most big box hardware stores or online for less than $20.
How High Are Flames on Blackstone Griddle?
The flames produced by a Blackstone griddle’s stainless steel burner elements should be roughly two inches high.
They should also be a rich shade of blue with only the slightest occasional flicker of yellow.
How Do I Get Propane to Work on Blackstone Griddle?
If your Blackstone griddle isn’t lighting due to a lack of gas flowing through the system, it might be that the safety feature in the regulator needs to be reset.
This can be done by closing the valve on the liquid propane tank and removing the regulator.
Then open all the valves on your griddle, set to high. Wait for 5 to 10 minutes for all the lingering gas to exit the griddle’s propane system.
At that point, you can close the valves on the Blackstone griddle, reconnect the regulator to the propane tank and open the main valve. This should restore the normal flow of propane, allowing you to light the burner elements like normal.
Does The Blackstone Griddle Have a Regulator?
All of Blackstone’s griddles come with a regulator based on the size of the griddle and the type of propane tank it runs on.
For a smaller tabletop model like the Blackstone 17, which runs on a 1-pound propane canister the regulator is built into the control knob and connection coupler of the griddle.
Larger models like the versions of the Blackstone 36 and Blackstone 28 are designed to run off a larger propane tank.
These griddles come with a hose that has a regulator built into it, near where it connects to the valve on the liquid propane tank.
How Long Does a Propane Tank Last on a Blackstone Griddle?
The duration that a propane tank lasts can vary depending on the size of the tank, as well as the total BTU rating of all the Blackstone Griddle’s burner elements.
A single pound of liquid propane has a heating potential of up to 21,500 BTUs.
Though in a one-pound propane canister, you rarely get all the liquid propane out, which gives it a ballpark potential of 20,000 BTUs.
If you have a Blackstone 17 table top gas griddle, with a 12,000 BTU per hour burner element, you could run it on high for 1.6 hours, which is around 96 minutes.
If you have a version of the Blackstone 36-inch with four 15,000 BTU per hour rated burners for a total of 60,000 BTUs, you will have to connect it to a 20-pound propane tank.
If you were to set all four burners of the Blackstone 36 on high, it would burn through all 430,000 BTUs of liquid propane in the tank in roughly 7 hours.
Can You Use a Full-Size Propane Tank on a Blackstone Griddle?
You can adapt a smaller Blackstone griddle like the Blackstone 17 to run on a full-size 20-pound liquid propane tank if you purchase an adapter hose with a built-in regulator.
This essentially lets you replace the small regulator that it came with to use full-size propane tanks instead of one-pound propane canisters.
Otherwise, larger models like the Blackstone 36 and Blackstone 28 come with adaptor hoses and regulators that will connect directly to a full-size liquid propane tank.
Final Thoughts
Blackstone griddles have low-pressure burner elements that connect to a high-pressure liquid propane tank, via a special regulator that ensures a consistent low-pressure flow of gas.
Even if you have a smaller model like the Blackstone 17, you can still connect it to a full-size tank with an adaptor and hose with a regulator. Blackstone and other propane grill manufacturers sell them for under $30.
If your Blackstone griddle stopped working, and you can’t get gas to come out of the propane tank, you might need to reset the regulator.
This is a relatively simple process that takes less than 10 minutes.
Once the gas lines are clear and the regulator’s safety mechanism is reset, the griddle’s propane system should ignite and produce a roughly 2-inch high rich blue flame.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.