When it comes to outdoor cooking versatility, absolutely nothing competes with a flat-top griddle. This classic diner-style cooking system can cook up anything you throw on it, whether it’s searing a steak or a piece of fish, making smash burgers or whipping up a full breakfast of bacon, fried eggs, hash browns and pancakes. In fact the list of possibilities is endless. And perhaps best of all, you can do all this without smoking out the kitchen.

Given that Blackstone is one of the world’s most popular manufacturers of outdoor griddles, we thought we’d call in one of its latest 28-inch beasts – the Blackstone 28" Griddle AirFryer Combo – and give it the full lowdown to see if it deserves a spot in T3’s guides to the best barbecues and the best gas barbecues.

So, taking a leaf from both the American and Spanish books of outdoor cooking, let’s see how well the Blackstone performs and find out whether it’s the best type of outdoor cooking system for you.

The modern flat top griddle, like the gas-powered Blackstone, began taking shape in the 19th century, particularly with the rise of diners and commercial kitchens in the USA. While spacious and outrageously versatile, the humble griddle comes with both benefits and drawbacks.