Can You Use A Blackstone Indoors? (You Shouldn’t! Here’s Why)
Let’s find out whether can you use a Blackstone indoors!
If you’re like many grill enthusiasts, you know the joys of cooking outdoors on a beautiful summer day.
However, what if the weather doesn’t work in your favor, or you simply want to enjoy the taste of grilled food in the comfort of your own home?
This is where the versatility of a Blackstone griddle comes into play. With its ability to cook a wide range of foods quickly and easily, you may wonder if you can safely use it indoors.
In this blog post, I’ll explore the possibilities and risks of using a Blackstone griddle inside and alternatives for indoor grilling.
Let’s go!
Can You Use A Blackstone Indoors?
Using a Blackstone griddle or a gas grill indoors is not recommended because it can release carbon monoxide gas and pose a fire hazard. While using a Blackstone griddle indoors with proper ventilation and keeping flammable materials away is possible, using electric griddles or stovetop grills is safer. It’s important always to put safety first when cooking indoors to avoid any potential health problems or dangerous situations.
What Risks Come with Indoor Gas Griddle Use?
Using a gas griddle indoors comes with several risks, including the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause serious health problems such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and even death. Moreover, gas griddles can be a fire hazard due to the open flame and grease-laden vapors. Additionally, indoor use of a gas griddle can result in a messy environment and food odors that can be harmful if not adequately ventilated.
1. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The first risk of using a propane griddle indoors is the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be produced when natural gas, propane gas, or other fuels are burned.
When using a gas griddle indoors, carbon monoxide gas can build up and cause serious health problems such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and even death.
That’s why it’s crucial to have proper ventilation and carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home if you decide to use a gas griddle indoors.
However, it’s still recommended to use safer alternatives for indoor grilling.
2. Potential For Fires
Grease Fire
While gas griddles provide high heat and consistent cooking, they also come with the risk of grease fires, which can be a serious hazard.
It’s important to keep in mind that when cooking on a gas griddle, the high heat can cause oil or grease to splatter and ignite, so it’s essential to clean the griddle as you cook and keep any flammable materials away from it.
Open flame
When using a gas griddle, there is always a risk of an open flame. This can pose a hazard in several ways.
Firstly, an open flame can quickly ignite flammable materials such as paper, towels, or other nearby items, leading to a fire.
Secondly, an open flame can also burn the food being cooked if not monitored closely, leading to an unappetizing or inedible meal.
Furthermore, the open flame can be a danger to anyone nearby, particularly if they are unfamiliar with using the griddle safely.
Grease-laden vapors
When using a gas griddle, grease-laden vapors can be a significant risk.
As the griddle heats up, grease and oil from the food being cooked can become airborne in the form of vapor.
These vapors can accumulate in the air and pose a serious fire hazard, especially if they come into contact with an open flame or hot surface.
3. The Mess Around Griddles
Cooking on a griddle can be messy, especially when you’re whipping up some delicious bacon or pancakes.
The grease and food particles tend to splatter and spread all over the griddle, creating a mess on your countertop or stovetop.
But it’s not just the cleaning that can be a hassle, as the mess can also create a safety risk.
Grease and food particles can make the surface slippery, which can be particularly hazardous if you’re working in a cramped kitchen with limited space to move around.
4. Your Home Will Smell Like Food
When you use a gas griddle indoors, your home will likely smell like food for a while after cooking.
While some people enjoy the aroma of cooking, it can also be unpleasant or overwhelming, especially if it lingers for too long.
The strong smells of food can be difficult to remove from your home, especially if the griddle is used frequently or for extended periods.
Additionally, the smells from the gas griddle can create harmful gases that can be dangerous if inhaled in high concentrations.
This is especially true if the griddle is not properly ventilated or you have a respiratory condition that makes it difficult to breathe in strong odors.
5. Smoke
When cooking on an indoor grill or gas griddle, smoke is something to be mindful of. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as the temperature of the griddle and the type of food you’re cooking.
If there’s too much smoke, it can be unpleasant to deal with and even hazardous to your health.
Inhaling smoke can irritate your respiratory system, worsen preexisting conditions like allergies or asthma, and potentially cause long-term health problems.
Moreover, excessive smoke can also be an indication of a fire hazard. When a cloud of smoke comes into contact with atmospheric oxygen, it can ignite, either from another open flame in the area or from its own temperature.
Alternatives to Using a Blackstone Grill Indoors
If you’re looking for a way to enjoy indoor grilling without the risks associated with using a gas griddle like the gas Blackstone griddle, there are several alternatives available.
Here are a few options to consider:
Electric griddle
Using an electric griddle is a fantastic option, as they’re specifically designed for indoor use.
Unlike gas griddles, electric griddles don’t require any fuel, and they come with a non-stick surface that makes it easy to cook food without oil or butter.
Best of all, electric griddles are easy to clean, and the heating element is usually safely contained within the griddle itself, which helps to minimize the risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning associated with indoor gas griddle use.
Stovetop Griddle
Stovetop griddles are another great alternative to using a Blackstone grill indoors. These can be used on a gas or electric stovetop and are designed to make indoor grilling easy and convenient.
Stovetop griddles are typically cast iron, providing excellent heat distribution and retention, allowing you to cook your food evenly.
Plus, they are easy to clean and can be stored easily in your kitchen.
They are also relatively easy to clean and maintain, and their flat surface makes them perfect for cooking foods like pancakes, eggs, and burgers.
FAQs
Can you use a Blackstone griddle under a covered porch?
Using a Blackstone griddle under a covered porch or any enclosed space is not recommended due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazard. Always use your griddle outdoors where it is well-ventilated.
Is an indoor griddle worth it?
Do Blackstone griddles use a lot of propane?
Blackstone griddles can use a significant amount of propane, especially if you use them frequently or at high temperatures. However, the exact amount of propane used will depend on the size of your griddle, how often you use it, and how high you set the temperature.
Can you use a Blackstone griddle in a garage?
Can you use a Blackstone griddle in an RV?
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, using a Blackstone griddle indoors is possible, but it comes with its own set of risks and challenges.
Instead, you can consider using an alternative indoor cooking method like electric griddles and stovetop griddles to avoid the potential hazards of using a gas griddle inside.
If you still choose to use a Blackstone griddle indoors, it’s crucial to take appropriate safety measures to reduce the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, fire, and other hazards.
This includes ensuring proper ventilation, keeping the griddle clean, and using it in a well-ventilated area with a functioning carbon monoxide detector.
However, for the safest and most enjoyable cooking experience, it’s recommended to use your Blackstone griddle in an outdoor, well-ventilated area only.
