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If you have been eyeing a budget electric griddle and wondering whether the Blackstone E-Series 17 is worth the extra money for a family of seven, here is our answer. It is a well-built, easy-to-clean griddle that makes real sense for small households, camping trips and breakfast duty. It is not the machine for feeding a big table in one pass.
We cook three meals a day for a big household, so we judge every appliance on a real family week: capacity, noise, cleanup, and whether a kid can use it safely. This review sits alongside the rest of our electric griddle and skillet reviews, and it tells you where this one fits and where it does not.
The 17-inch E-Series is a single-zone countertop griddle with a ceramic non-stick plate, a glass hood and a 1600 watt element. It plugs into a standard outlet and needs no propane.
| Power | 1600 watts |
|---|---|
| Cooking surface | roughly 230 square inches (sellers list 223 to 238) |
| Coating | ceramic (ceramic titanium) non-stick |
| Controls | single EZ-Touch dial with LCD display and a ready light |
| Hood | glass hood, rotates and removes |
| Weight | about 19 pounds |
| Grease management | rear channel with a dishwasher-safe grease cup |
| Warranty | one-year manufacturer's warranty |
The choice comes down to how many people you feed at once. The 22-inch has two independent cooking zones and a surface of roughly 310 to 360 square inches depending on the listing, so it can hold a dozen pancakes or 16 bacon strips. The 17-inch holds less and has one dial.
| Feature | E-Series 17" | E-Series 22" |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | About 230 sq in | About 310 to 360 sq in |
| Zones | One dial, one zone | Two independent zones |
| Coating | Ceramic non-stick | Ceramic titanium non-stick |
| Hood | Glass, rotates and removes | Glass, rotates and removes |
| Weight | About 19 pounds | Slightly heavier |
| Best for | Couples, small families, camping | Larger families, batch cooking |
For a table of five or more, we would look at our Blackstone E-Series 22 inch electric griddle review first. For two to four people, the 17-inch saves counter space and money.
Out of the box, very little needs putting together: the grease cup slides into the rear. At about 19 pounds it carries easily, and it fits under a cabinet shelf for storage.
Once it is assembled, the hood does the most work. The glass hood holds heat for melting cheese, cooks thicker meats more evenly and keeps bacon and burger splatter off the counter. It lifts with one hand, though seating the hinges in the rear brackets takes a try. The hood slides into open-ended brackets rather than locking down, and the handle gets very hot, so keep small hands away and use a mitt.
Under the hood, the plate matters just as much. The ceramic surface needs no seasoning, and nothing sticks. The plate is also crowned slightly in the middle, so oil and runny foods slide toward the sides and corners. That is a poor setup for shallow-frying potatoes or cooking loose scrambled eggs.
Warning. Use only wood, plastic, rubber or silicone utensils on the ceramic plate, and no abrasive pads or metal tools. Keep the cord, plug and electrical base completely dry.
Next comes the question of heat. Blackstone lists 1600 watts, which is plenty for pancakes, eggs, sausage and burgers, but it is not a gas flame. Gas griddles recover from cold food almost instantly. An electric plate does not. The company does not publish a maximum temperature for the 17-inch, and the 22-inch tops out near 500F, so do not expect hard-sear steakhouse heat.
On the plate itself, heat evenness varies. A 22-inch plate has read 415F at the center and 260F at the edges on a 325F setting, so expect a cook or two to learn where the hot areas are, and shuffle food around rather than trusting the dial.
Allow time for preheating, but note that we did not measure this unit’s preheat or recovery time and cannot give an exact figure.
Cold food dropped on the plate pulls the temperature down, and it takes a while to climb back. Cooking in smaller batches and preheating well with the hood closed helps. A bigger element would speed warmup.
Tip. Preheat with the hood closed, and keep a wooden or silicone spatula and a small stack of paper towels beside the griddle.
With that heat profile in mind, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and thin burgers are all comfortable here. The unit is quiet and smokeless enough to use on a kitchen counter for breakfast, burgers and hot dogs.
It is weaker at smash burgers, because the temperature drops when the patty lands. It is also poor at shallow frying, because of the crowned plate. Glazed bacon leaves a sticky residue, so wipe between batches and use plastic utensils to keep it from building up.
This plug-in appliance works on a kitchen counter or outdoors where power is available. It uses a standard outlet, so keep the plug away from the sink.
After cooking, cleanup is the reason a family kitchen buys a griddle like this. A soapy cloth and a little hot water loosen stuck bits, then you rinse and dry. The grease cup comes out and goes in the dishwasher. Lining the grease bin with foil, pushing grease in, wiping the warm plate with paper towels and washing the hood with mild soap keeps cleanup to minutes.
The electrical base can never get wet, and water should not sit on the plate for more than a couple of hours.
It is also worth comparing the E-Series with propane Blackstones and cheaper electric griddles. Against a propane Blackstone, the E-Series gives up raw heat and size, but it gains indoor use, no gas and almost no setup. For a broader look at the brand, see our best Blackstone electric griddle roundup.
Against a cheap electric griddle, you are paying for the glass hood, the ceramic coating and a sturdier build. Failure points that show up are a knob that smoked and a warped top plate, and replacement parts such as drip trays and bases can take months to arrive. For a different approach, our Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler electric griddle review covers a pricier option.
If you are ready to buy, street prices for the 17-inch vary depending on the seller and any sale. The warranty is one-year from the manufacturer.
On a rushed morning, this is the griddle that earns its counter space.
There are a few clear reasons to skip this griddle. Pass on it if you need gas-level heat, if you want a strongly seared steak, or if you plan to cook for a crowd in one pass. When capacity is the limit, the step up is the two-zone 22-inch, which holds roughly 12 pancakes or 16 bacon strips at a time.
Key takeaway. The E-Series 17" is worth the extra money over a cheap electric griddle if you value the hood, the ceramic surface and easy cleanup. For a family of seven, step up to the 22-inch. Our rating: 4.0 out of 5.
Beyond the points above, a few practical questions come up before checkout.
Yes. The 17-inch ships with a glass hood that rotates and removes.
Yes, an extension cord is usable. The built-in cord runs a little over four feet, though that figure varies by production run.
Measure with the hood on. A UK listing gives about 18.7 by 17.9 by 7 inches without the hood, and the hood adds height.
Yes, as long as you have a power outlet. At about 19 pounds it is easy to carry.
The 22-inch accessory bundle includes heat-resistant nylon utensils that are dishwasher safe. We could not confirm that the plain 17-inch includes any.
Browse our buying guides to find the right appliance for your family.