Day 12: MUSING-WARNING, THIS CONTENT MIGHT SHOCK YOU!

(especially if you are a griddle purist)

After a couple of years of cooking meals together, I have decided it is time to part ways, primarily because of the significant number of long-range travels planned. I have decided to part ways with my beloved 17” Blackstone propane griddle. 

As many of you know, I am an outdoor cooking guy. When LisaMarie and I are home, I enjoy cooking on a big Oklahoma Joe combo wood smoker/propane grill or the 22” Blackstone propane griddle; these units are all kept busy. When we travel aboard our motor home, griddle cooking is our go-to meal prep style for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I have prepared countless meals on both of my Blackstone’s; they have been essential tools at home and on the road, so yes, it was hard to say goodbye.

You might ask, what caused such a dramatic change of heart? I wanted to lose weight for our nearly three-month-long RV road trip. My goal was to reduce the number on the scale by at least 100 pounds.

WHAT???

My physical weight hasn’t changed much since my 30s. However, in under two years, our motor home, Club Level, added on the extra pounds, even though we consistently reevaluate/retain/remove unnecessary stuff from her various storage areas. We aren’t the type to fill a space just because it is empty; the rule is stuff must have a necessary, ‘on-going’ purpose, not “I might need it someday.”

Because of this principle, we are conservative regarding carrying stuff. For example, after nearly 135 nights on board, we still have one exterior and two empty interior bins. So, how would we achieve the hundred-pound reduction goal, and do we even have a chance at getting close?

Before our trip departure, I spent an entire day going through each exterior locker and interior storage cupboard, removing everything, one by one, only putting back the essentials for comfort, life safety, and on-the-road support. After hours of removing things, I had only cut the weight by 48 pounds. Good, but not good enough since I wasn’t even halfway to the goal. The next decision was obvious. The total weight of the iron Blackstone, its lid, and all its accessories was nearly 35 lbs. It consumed a lot of cubic space. I needed an alternative; we needed to make a change. Something that produces the same results, with less weight, less setup, clean-up, and break-down time.

After much online research of comparative griddles, I selected an electric, not propane, model. I felt like a tree hugger that joined a woodworker’s club. No longer a griddle propane purist, I was becoming an electric griddle turncoat. You might ask why. The following pictures say it all.

Blackstone Griddle-17” (minus lid and accessories weighs 29 lbs.); Presto 19” Fold and Tilt Griddle (no cover or accessories 6.5 lbs.)

I didn’t measure the cubic inches of storage space, but my eyes estimate the Blackstone uses 5-6x the storage space of the Presto.

The Presto 19” Fold and Tilt has a simple, functional design, effortless setup/clean-up, and can be used inside or out.

Storage space? It easily slides under the small cabinet under our galley sink. It also fits nicely over the propane stove if I want to griddle inside during inclement weather.

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, this Presto griddle is perfect for RV cooking, especially in a small RV space like ours. It is light, slim, stores compactly, dials the ideal temperature (not easy on the Blackstone), and the Presto Teflon finish is a dream to clean. In most situations, the Presto cleans up in under two minutes versus 10-15 minutes if you want to do a proper job on the Brookstone.

After cooking on it most days during the first leg of our 84-day trip, I’m convinced I made the right decision. I’ve become an electric griddle cooking convert. One last thing I should mention is that I purchased the Presto on sale at Amazon for only $49, more than half the Blackstone’s price (not including the lid and accessories).

When our trip is over, the Blackstone 17” Griddle will be listed (and sold) on Marketplace, and I’m sure it will find a happy new owner. Time for the next meal, got to plug in the Presto and get cooking!

Love to hear about your favorite outdoor or indoor cooking apparatus, comment below.