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Does a griddle need a hood?
You have just bought your propane griddle and you cannot wait to start cooking some amazing meals. You made sure to get all the proper tools and accessories, but one particular add-on has you unsure. Does your griddle need a hood?
Do you need a lid for a griddle?
Your outdoor griddle is an investment. You want to cook great food for yourself and those around you. So you want to take time and consider whether that hood or lid is a need for your griddle. The short answer is no, you do not need one.
The longer answer may still be that you do not need one, but you still might want to get one. If you are someone who keeps their grills outside, you will need to find a way to protect the cooking surface on your outdoor griddle. If you leave your griddle exposed to rain or snow, that beautiful nonstick surface you have worked hard on creating can turn quickly to ugly rust. Purchasing a hood is one way to protect your griddle from the elements.
However, there are some drawbacks to hoods. It is an extra cost after you have purchased your griddle and the accessories that are further up the necessary scale. They also add weight to your griddle.
If you intend to move your griddle around with any degree of frequency, the additional weight of the lid can cause your griddle to be top-heavy or simply tougher to move. If you are looking at a hood to help protect your griddle, the last thing you want is that very piece of protective metal to cause your griddle to tip over and suffer damage.
Is it safe to use a Blackstone in the garage?
If you bring your Blackstone into your garage to cook, you are putting yourself and others around you at risk. Your Blackstone burns propane to create heat. That process creates carbon monoxide, which can lead to sickness and even death.
Firing up your Blackstone outside is not a problem because the carbon monoxide cannot gather in an enclosed space. Even if you open your garage door all the way, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is still present.
You are also risking a fire. Garages historically have been a place of storage. You might have half-empty cans of paint or bottles of oil for your car or a gas can for your lawnmower. These pose a flammable risk to your outdoor griddle. Any time you use an outdoor griddle or grill, there will be a risk of fire.
However, using it indoors heightens the risk due to tight quarters and possible sources of combustion. Outdoor griddles, like grills, should be used a safe distance away from buildings and flammable materials. Moving it into the garage makes that nearly impossible, which adds a higher chance of property damage and loss of life.
If you are desperate for cooking on a griddle inside, either get a stovetop griddle or look at Blackstone’s E-Series 22-inch electric griddle.
Can you cook on a Blackstone with the hood down?
Yes, you can cook with the hood down. On Blackstone’s Amazon store, they talk about how the hood is perfect for keeping the heat in during the cooking process. While that is advantageous for cooking thicker food, one of the best parts of an outdoor griddle is being able to cook all the parts of a meal at once.
There might be food cooking that you only want to sear. You might want to spend some time looking into small lids or bowls to help assist with melting cheese or cooking thicker food.
Final Thoughts
As with every decision when it comes to cooking outdoors, there are pros and cons to consider when it comes to purchasing a hood for your outdoor griddle. You want to protect the griddle that you have invested time and money on so you can cook good food.
A cover is a great way to help protect it from the elements and it looks good doing it. A more traditional grill-style cover can protect your griddle at a likely cheaper cost, but it probably does not look as good. If you want mobility, a grill cover might be more up your alley. If you have the space, you can always put your griddle in the garage during bad weather. Only you can decide whether a hood is the best choice for you and your griddle.
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.