Blackstone Essentials: The Flat Top Starter Kit
- Bus
- May 7
- 3 min read
There’s a moment when you realize a flat top grill changes the game. It’s usually sometime between your first smash burger and your first full breakfast cook where you’ve got eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and pancakes all going at once… and nothing is falling through grates, nothing is flaring up, and everything is cooking exactly how you want it.
A flat top isn’t just another grill. It’s a different style of cooking entirely. If your smoker is for slow, low-and-steady cooks, and your grill is for direct heat, the flat top is your high-control, high-volume, “cook everything at once” machine.
Let’s break down why they’re worth it and what you actually need to get started the right way.
Why Flat Tops Are So Good
Flat tops give you full surface control. No gaps, no grates, no lost food. Just a big hot cooking surface where everything cooks evenly.
You can:
Sear hard and fast
Cook multiple foods side by side
Control oil, butter, and sauces directly
Move food around easily depending on heat zones
They’re also incredibly forgiving. You don’t need to be a pitmaster to get great results. If you can manage heat and timing, you’re in business.
What Flat Tops Are Best For
This is where they really shine. Flat tops are built for foods that benefit from direct contact and high heat.
Top-tier flat top foods:
Smash burgers (this alone justifies buying one)
Breakfast spreads (eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, pancakes)
Burritos and quesadillas
Cheesesteaks
Fried rice and stir fry
Fajitas
Grilled veggies
It’s also the best tool for cooking for a group. You can knock out 6–10 servings at once without breaking a sweat.
The Flat Top Starter Kit
You don’t need much to get going, but the right setup makes everything easier from day one.
This is the sweet spot size. Big enough to cook for a group, small enough to manage without feeling like you’re running a restaurant.
Plenty of cooking space for full meals
Easy to create multiple heat zones
Great balance of size and practicality
You can go bigger or smaller, but the 28" is a really solid starting point.
This is one of those small upgrades that saves you a lot of hassle.
Lines your grease trap
Makes cleanup quick and painless
No more scraping out solidified grease
You’ll thank yourself after the first long cook.
Blackstone Spatulas (Get Two)
These are non-negotiable. And yes, you need two.
Long, sturdy, made for scraping and flipping
Perfect for burgers, hashbrowns, stir fry
Two lets you chop, mix, and move food efficiently
Trying to run a flat top with one spatula is like trying to cook with one hand tied behind your back.
This is your secret weapon for speed and control.
Traps heat to cook food faster
Melts cheese perfectly
Steams veggies or finishes thicker items
Pro Tip: This is the key for making the best caramelized onions of your life
Once you start using one, you won’t cook without it.
Simple, cheap, and one of the most-used tools on the griddle.
Oil for cooking
Water for steam and cleanup
Sauces for flavor
You’ll use this constantly without even thinking about it.
Spatulas do most of the work, but tongs still have their place.
Great for flipping larger items
Useful for moving food off the griddle
Helpful when you don’t want to scrape
Think of them as your backup tool.
Flat tops are easy to clean… if you actually have the right tools.
Scraper for removing debris
Scouring pads or stones for deeper cleans
Oil for re-seasoning
Clean while the surface is still warm and it becomes a 2-minute job instead of a 20-minute one.
If you’re making smash burgers, this is mandatory.
Creates that crispy, caramelized crust
Ensures even contact with the surface
Helps cook burgers faster and better
Honestly, if you’re not making smash burgers, you’re leaving points on the board.
If you’ve ever tried to cook eggs on a flat top without these, you already know why they matter.
Keep eggs contained
Perfect for breakfast sandwiches
Also great for pancakes
They turn chaos into clean, consistent results.
The Bottom Line
Flat tops open up a completely different style of cooking. Faster, more controlled, and honestly more fun when you’ve got people over.
You don’t need a ton of gear, but having the right setup makes a big difference. Once you’ve got the basics dialed in, you can cook just about anything on it.
And once you make your first batch of smash burgers, it’s pretty much over.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, Bus Stop BBQ may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely use and believe in.
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