Blackstone, bbq’s or campfire cooking?

[Canoe2fish]

Hey camp chefs, What is your go to when you’re at the campsite and why?

For years we’ve used a small propane barbecue/grill accompanied by the trailers two burner cook stove. We have a nonstick aluminum tray that we do bacon on with the grill, but I’m starting to like the idea of having a 2 burner blackstone instead of our small barbecue/grill thinking that if I really want a steak and baked potatoes I’ll just do it over the fire.

What are you guys think of blackstones? I’ve never had one.
I really like the idea of being able to cook up a pile of grilled veggies & onions, mushrooms, hashbrowns, bacon and eggs right on the griddle.

Oh great now I’m really hungry….

 

[Camping Party of 2]

We have a blackstone that we switched over to. And have a small 2 burner stove for coffee etc. Don't miss the grill at all.
I did modify the Blackstone by adding adjustable feet

 

[kitphantom]

Old thread, good subject.
Personal preference. Many seem to like the Blackstone, but it just doesn't fit the way we cook and eat while camping well enough to add to the mix.
In 33 seasons of camping, we have never had a wood campfire, let alone cooked on one. I bet we both could still make good fires, we just choose not to do so. Good thing, since there are so often fire bans where we camp, so cooking over a campfire or with charcoal is not a sure thing. We took a charcoal grill a few times, again, didn't earn its cargo space and fuss.
We do more cooking inside than we expected to do with the popups and now the small TT. Being able to cook inside out of the wind is very handy here in the SW. For outside cooking, we mostly use our white gas Coleman camp stove, either the 425 or the larger 413, which is still 2-burners but more space.
I also added a single burner propane camp stove to the mix last year, along with a 1-gallon LP tank.
We have a 2-burner griddle that works inside or out. I have 2 top of stove ovens (the Omnia and Wonder Ovens), which I can use either in or out too + the Coleman Camp oven (don't take that very often).
We do simple cooking in camp, and now often take meals we've cooked and frozen at home, one huge advantage now that we have a freezer that works well.

 

[neighbormike]

It all depends on the trip, what’s on the menu and how many people will be with… I always have my old 2-burner Coleman and a tripod along. I have no problem using my camper stove and oven if I want to cook inside. For bigger groups I will bring my CampChef Pro90 & two burner griddle. I have also occasionally brought crockpots and an electric griddle…

 

[GalsofEscape]

we use our Blackstone all the time. we do prefer to cook outside and the Blackstone is well suited for a lot of our dishes. And clean up is easy - no pots or skillets to clean. but i also have the grill - there is just something about steaks or hamburgers on the grill and we don't often have a fire so we don't plan to cook over fires at all. And depending on the menu - i may haul along the cast iron dutch ovens....

 

[jmkay1]

I bought a BBQ grill for camping trips but found I never bothered to bring it for most of my trips. I bought a grate to go over the campfire and found between the stove and the grate I got everything I need. As far as a Blackstone, as cool as it is, I just don't see myself wanting to bother with the extra weight, space, and setup when a cast iron griddle over a propane stove works well enough and takes way way less space. Then again I'm not cooking for a lot of people. I also wouldn't want to lug the Blackstone to and from the bear box when camping in bear country. My trips are mostly 3- 4 nights max. In short when camping I try and follow the keep it simple method.

 

[Sjm9911]

I carry a grill and the blackstone. One makes steaks better and the other pankakes and such. I tried the pankakes on the grill, they went through the grates.

 

[J Starsky]

Yes. All that cooking. All types are my jam. Don't be afraid of your freedom!

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[p]

Blackstones are meal versatile (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). It also connects to your low-pressure system of your trailer. Make sure you get one with a lid. The single burner is big enough for a family of four and can be purchased with a lid for under $200. Season it properly and they are super easy to clean and maintain.

 

[Jimbow]

Blackstone has gotten the most use the past couple years but my twenty plus year old Coleman pulls it's weight. I also have a propane grill with us plus some cast iron dutch ovens and such. Occasionally a Weber charcoal grill or smoker makes the trip. We'll even use the microwave, stove, or oven on the inside. I'm fairly agnostic when it comes to cooking tools.

 

[djmello99]

Dutch ovens when there’s no fire restrictions. Camp Chef Teton propane stove when there is.

 

[Johneliot]

My Weber propane go anywhere grill has been on every trip for the last 30+ years. I also have an orange coleman propane stove I use. I love my coleman lanterns but I do not like to cook on a white gas stove. Go figure. I have not cooked in either of the two tents trailers I have owned/own. I do cook inside of my Lance.

 

[Papa Glenn]

Have always used a gas grill for camping for over three decades. Our A-frame came with a grill that hangs on the side. Didn’t think I’d like it being attached but it has been awesome. Use it daily when we camp.

 

[G.P.]

Two 2 burner camp stoves + a Coleman oven to keep the food warm + my table top bbq grill ..

 

[Dingit]

I have a camper because I don't like setting up a kitchen. I like having everything in its proper place with water and fridge handy.


My popup trailer has 3 decent burners and oven inside and 2 high output (I guess) burners that fold out the side. It's plenty.



The most I'm willing to set up is the 2-burner Coleman stove, but it really only gets used with the truck camper which has 2 crummy burners (and an Omni oven).

 

[JiffyPopJunkie]

Im all about cooking on the fire. My back up is the coleman stove and if its the full crew I bring the coleman road trip

 

[lot_lizard]

As others mention, it’s really a preference bit related to what, how much, and the style you like to cook. I own a proper MASSIVE griddle at home (swims laps around Blackstone products) and a 2-burner table top Blackstone for the camper. Griddles are great at:

• allowing you to cook many unique foods at once with a large single surface
• use multiple temperatures simultaneously by taking advantage of hot spots
• contain messes while cooking (basically a gigantic skillet)
• gas supply mods to run off the camper’s LP lines
• better flavors and non-stick behavior over time as seasoning builds (again, basically a cast iron skillet)
• maintains temperature once up to temp (beauty of cast iron)
• shielded flames are much less sensitive to wind
• relatively easy cleanup (one large item vs multiple, though more awkward)
• easier experience for kids and cooking novices
• can cook much more advanced dishes if you become talented (think complete meals by taking advantage of food separation)
• can use cooking domes (think upside down bowl) to trap moisture
• A tank that holds up to insane abuse

Downsides:

• heavier than a classic 2-burner stove if you are weight-sensitive
• slower to come up to desired temps
• not ideal for heating liquids (basically anything needing a pot). “Works” but the experience is “meh”
• cooking multiple items at once where temperature needs to be drastically different (has hot spots, but those are only so flexible)
• slow to cool down for cleanup and storing
• no flavors directly from the heat source (cooking over a open-wood flame is a special thing in many cases)
• More expensive
• Blackstone frankly has a crude cooking surface when compared to a real griddle. It’s obnoxiously rough and takes MANY meals to ever turn into an amazing cooking surface as the seasoning continually builds. Other Blackstone owners won’t like this comment . I still like it, but those that have used proper griddles made from sheet metal will be frustrated by it.

Myself… I like some sort of grate over an open fire for anything where wood flavoring is ideal, there is a need for a pot to heat a liquid, or just bored of gas cooking and want to go back to our roots. The griddle for everything else. A griddle really is an amazing device with extreme flexibility.

If you are going to cook the same style as you always have with your 2-burner gas stove, then stick with it. If you are wanting to cook more advanced dishes or more complete meals from a single appliance.. griddle hands down.

 

[Fordiesel250]

We have a small charcoal grill and a weber grill that uses propane. We also have a rotessiere that sits over a campfire and runs on 2 D batteries.

 

[Blue411]

We bought a blackstone and stopped using our Coleman grill. The blackstone is so versatile and can cook for 4, 8+ people and we do have people to feed. Easy to clean. We make a lot of fish tacos, fried rice, burgers, hot dogs, stir fry, sausages and peppers, chicken…

I really want to buy a cast iron pot to cook over fire.

 

[Tonya Harding]

Jet Boil & a butane fired single burner mini Coleman stove for us; have a propane 2 burner Coleman we may use once a year, used to do cast iron skillets over a fire grate, but rarely anymore. Wife will bake eggs pre trip usually, we generally don't do big food fests...