A griddle is outdoor cookware, but can I leave my Blackstone griddle outside? It’s a dilemma that faces many outdoor cooking enthusiasts. I, too, was in the same dilemma until I decided to do my research on the matter.
You have seasoned your grill and even cooked your food on it. It’s now time to store it until the next cooking. Will weather factors affect my grill, and how should I protect it. Here is what I discovered from my research.
Can I leave My Blackstone Griddle Outside?
It is possible to leave your Blackstone grill outdoors. A Blackstone is an outdoor grill that you can leave outdoors. However, it would be best to take precautions to ensure it doesn’t rust. You will need to cover it with a griddle cover to protect it.
What Is A Griddle Made Of?
Blackstone has a variety of styles that you can choose from. However, the common feature among all of these is that they have a flat top made of cold-rolled steel.
Why cold-rolled steel?
Cold rolled steel has numerous advantages. They include:
Even Heat Distribution
Even distribution of heat is an essential feature of a grill. It ensures that your food cooks evenly since it does not have some hot and cold spots.
Greater Strength
Cold iron steel is 20% stronger than hot rolled steel. Consequently, your Blackstone griddle can last long, even under unfavorable weather conditions.
Improved Surface Finish
Cold rolled steel has a smoother surface that has hardly any imperfections. The surface is also shiny, oily, and free from rust and scale.
Higher Tolerance
Although slightly thin than hot rolled steel, cold-rolled steel does not sacrifice strength. It means that your Blackstone griddle can withstand much stress.
All the above factors are essential to understand when discussing whether to leave your grill out or not.
It doesn’t mean that because your grill is of solid materials, you can simply leave it out without care.
No,
You will need to protect your Blackstone griddle to enhance its durability.
How to Protect Your Griddle from Outdoor Elements
The weather outside may vary from rain to snow at times, depending on where you live. The precipitation can ruin your griddle if you fail to take cautionary measures.
So, how do you protect your grill?
There are several ways;
Oil it Before You Store it
It’s essential to keep your grill oiled. Oiling protects the cooking surface from rusting.
You can use canola or vegetable oil to keep the surface lubricated.
Do you live in an area with snow or ice?
It’s essential to ensure that you don’t allow any of this to touch your griddle. Snow and ice can cause rapid rusting and damage to your grill.
Store it in a Garage or a Covered Area
Avoid leaving your grill in an open place outside. As much as possible, it’s advisable that you leave your grill in a covered place.
A garage or a shade is a convenient and safe place to keep your grill. It will keep it safe from hailstorms, extreme mud, or floods.
Don’t allow hailstorms to come into contact with your grill at all costs. It has the most significant potential to harm your grill.
In fact, it’s advisable that if you have no other place to store it, put your griddle in your sitting room.
Keep it Away from Adverse Weather “Hot Spots.”
Even as you keep leaving your grill outside, be careful where you keep it.
I have found out that the seasoned cold-rolled steel and rainwater don’t get along. Rainwater wears out the protective layer of seasoning.
Even worse, rainwater will cause your griddle to rust. Removing rust is quite time-consuming because it will also involve seasoning the griddle again.
Avoid this by first identifying the areas that are weather hotspots. In these areas, the weather is likely to cause much harm to your griddle.
Keep your grill away from such spots.
Buy a Good Griddle Cover
You can invest in a good griddle cover from Blackstone. The Blackstone griddle cover fully envelops your whole griddle and zips it inside.
Why invest in a good cover?
It keeps your griddle from weather elements.
A good cover protects your grill from intense humidity, heavy rains, extreme heat, and other drastic weather changes.
It keeps pests at bay.
Some insects such as bees, wasps, bugs, and others may want to make a home inside your grill since you’ve kept it outside. A grill cover will protect it from such pests.
It helps to prevent rust.
As the cover protects your grill from the weather elements, it’s, in essence, keeping rust away. Remember, the elements are the significant causes of rust on a grill.
It makes it easier to clean the grill.
A covered grill stays free from grime, leaves, animal droppings, and rust. This makes it easier to clean and use immediately.
Place it on a Deck or Concrete.
Avoid placing your grill on your lawn because this means exposure to wet grass. Other than wet grass, an open lawn may have other forms of dirt.
The best place to place your grill is on a deck or concrete. These dry places are suitable for the long life of your griddle.
A dry ground protects your grill from wet underneath conditions. It also keeps it from contact with plants and grass, which may lead to rust.
Again,
Although you can place your griddle outside, be careful with the position you put it in.
Keep Seasoning Your Grill
Seasoning is one sure way of keeping your grill protected from harsh external weather.
Seasoning creates a protective barrier against harsh weather factors such as humidity and water on your griddle. This also keeps the metal surface from damage.
Ensure you season your griddle before use and after every use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I cover my Blackstone griddle?
Yes, it’s essential to cover your grill regardless of where you store it. If you are storing it indoors, covering it protects it from dust and any other form of dirt. If you are keeping it outdoors, covering offers protection against rust-causing factors such as moisture.
What is the best cover for a Blackstone griddle?
For a Blackstone griddle, you can invest in the cover from the Blackstone Company. The covers are available on the company’s website as well in other outlets. Ensure that the cover you buy is the right size for your grill.
How do I prevent my griddle from rusting?
Immediately after every cooking, coat it with an extra layer of cooking oil, then store it in a cool and dry place. You can also cover it with a Blackstone cover.
Are Blackstone grills waterproof?
Unfortunately, Blackstone grills are not waterproof. Leaving them exposed to humid weather conditions or water puts them at the risk of rusting and eventually getting damaged. As such, take steps to ensure you protect your grill from moisture and harsh conditions.
Wrapping it up
Yes, you can leave your griddle outside. Keeping it out is the only option most people have because of limited space in the house.
However, remember that you must put in place precautionary measures to protect it.
Protecting your grill from harsh weather conditions outside is a sure way of enhancing its lifespan.
You have spent a lot of money to buy your grill, right?
Keep in mind that you risk losing it soon if you expose it to weather factors such as water and humidity.
Consequently, if you can’t keep it indoors, store it in a cool, dry place and cover it appropriately.