Many Blackstone griddle owners find themselves wondering, “Can you use a Blackstone griddle indoors?” After all, several Blackstone propane griddles like the Adventure Ready 17 & Adventure Ready 22 are designed for tabletop use, and the larger models can be easily wheeled into your house or garage.
Still, you might not want to fire up a propane griddle indoors. Propane gas can be very hazardous when used indoors. That said, you may be able to safely operate a Blackstone griddle inside if you follow some essential safety precautions.
Is It Safe to Use a Blackstone Griddle Indoors?
Generally, it’s not safe to use a Blackstone griddle indoors. That’s because most Blackstone grills are explicitly designed for outdoor use. Blackstone griddles typically rely on propane gas tanks (or natural gas) to generate heat and cook food, and that comes with a variety of issues that need to be addressed to cook safely on your griddle indoors.
So whether you’re hoping to use your Blackstone griddle inside for convenience or to avoid the cold & wind during the winter months, here’s what you need to be aware of before bringing your Blackstone into the house or garage.
Why is Griddle Cooking Indoors Dangerous?
Carbon monoxide & propane leakage are the primary reasons why you should be hesitant to use a gas griddle indoors. Breathing in even small amounts of carbon monoxide or propane gas can cause you to feel ill or even be fatal, making it a danger to you, your household, and your pet’s health.
In addition to the carbon monoxide and propane inhalation risks, gas griddles generate a lot of heat. If you’re using a gas griddle on a kitchen countertop that’s made of laminated plastic, wood, or stainless steel, this heat can be disastrous.
For example, a hot griddle can melt laminate countertops, potentially causing small fires or producing toxic fumes that circulate into your home’s interior air. They can also burn wood countertops, resulting in expensive repairs and replacements.
Excess heat from a Blackstone tabletop griddle can also spread via metal surfaces. So, if your countertops are made of metal (like stainless steel), the entire countertop can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, melting plastic tools or shattering glass cookware. You could also accidentally burn yourself!
But if you’re still determined to cook up some grub on a Blackstone griddle while indoors, there are a few factors you’ll need to be aware of beforehand.
Factors to Consider Before Using a Blackstone Griddle Indoors
Before you ignite your Blackstone gas griddle indoors, it’s vital to consider a handful of impactful factors, including:
- Fuel Type
- Safety Precautions
Taking these factors into account can help you prevent injuries, property damage, and potentially fatal consequences. Remember, your life and health are far more important than the ability to grill indoors with propane gas. So, be sure to consider the following information carefully.
Fuel Type
The first thing to consider is fuel type. Though most Blackstone griddles are propane-fueled, some are not. If you’d like to enjoy delicious meals cooked on a Blackstone griddle, you’ll want to consider investing in an electric-powered option, like the E-Series 22-inch Tabletop Electric Griddle.
Using an electric griddle indoors is far safer, simpler, and convenient. When you opt for one of these propane-free models, you can easily cook a variety of different foods from the comfort of your kitchen without the long list of safety issues that come along with using a gas-powered model.
Even better, those that choose to use an electric griddle while inside won’t need to worry about exploding propane tanks, carbon monoxide, propane gas poisoning, or fires. But, of course, if you’d prefer to use your pre-existing gas griddle indoors, you’ll need to follow some essential safety precautions.
Indoor Griddle Cooking Safety Precautions
So, can you use a propane griddle inside? While it’s not recommended, you may be able to do so if you follow specific safety precautions.
For example, you’ll want to:
- Have proper ventilation
- Place the griddle on a safe surface
- Keep pets and children far away
- Avoid using the grill near a fire, heat, or electrical outlets
Ventilation
Ventilation may be the biggest roadblock to cooking with your griddle indoors. Without proper ventilation, you could be subject to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by burning propane. Improperly ventilated appliances like grills & griddles may allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels and is potentially fatal.
If you’ve seen griddles or grills in commercial kitchens, you’ll notice they have massive ventilation hoods above the cooking area. This is an essential safety precaution. In addition to carbon monoxide, leaking propane can also be a severe issue.
The propane tanks used to power Blackstone gas griddles are full of liquid propane. This liquid becomes gas when it hits the air. Notably, propane gas is colorless and odorless. As such, you might not be able to tell that there’s a gas leak right away.
Unfortunately, a leaky gas griddle can quickly fill an enclosed room with highly flammable propane gas. At this point, a single spark can cause a fiery explosion to rock through the room, incinerating everything it touches.
And if a spark doesn’t ignite this gas, you can still suffer some pretty severe consequences. Inhaling propane gas can poison your body, causing a wide range of symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of propane gas poisoning include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Fainting
Avoiding propane poisoning means finding a way to get any leaked gas out of your home and away from your lungs. The best way to do this is by ventilating your space.
Before using a gas griddle indoors, open all the windows in the surrounding areas or your garage door if cooking in the garage. If possible, open your doors and leave them open during the cooking process. Turning on a ceiling fan or exhaust fan can also help whisk away any leaked propane gas, potentially saving your life.
Place the Griddle on a Safe Surface
The first thing you’ll need to do is place the gas griddle on a safe surface. Heavy, unpolished stone is the best option, as it won’t melt or conduct heat. So, if you have a few stone pavers or bricks lying around, you might want to place your griddle onto these before firing it up.
Keep Pets and Children Far Away
Excited children or pets can quickly make a grilling situation more dangerous, especially when using a gas grill indoors. Before operating your gas griddle, be sure to enclose pets in a safe and separate area and invite your children to play in another part of the house.
Avoid Using the Grill Near Fire, Heat, or Electrical Outlets
Even the tiniest amounts of propane can ignite, which is why it’s crucial to never operate a propane-fueled griddle near heat sources. This means avoiding areas where there might be open flames, such as near a fireplace.
If you’re using a Blackstone griddle that uses propane, then you’re working with pressurized propane. The canister you’re using to fuel your griddle can explode if placed near heat, including ovens, ranges, and sunny spaces.
Electrical outlets can also generate heat when experiencing electrical flow problems. As such, you’ll want to avoid setting up and using your griddle near outlets, sunny windows, or kitchen appliances. You’ll also want to ensure that your griddle has access to plenty of ventilation.
Which Blackstone Griddles are Safe for Indoor Use?
The only Blackstone griddles that are genuinely safe for indoor use are the Blackstone E-Series griddles. These are powered by electricity, not propane gas.
Consequently, you can use your Blackstone griddle indoors without needing to worry about propane gas inhalation or carbon monoxide poisoning. That said, it’s crucial to never leave your Blackstone griddle unattended, even when using an electric model.
These are the two Blackstone electric models available that you should consider:
Both electric models are slightly different from the propane-fueled models in addition to their heat source. The electric griddles have a non-stick ceramic titanium coated cooktop which is different than the rolled steel cooktop found on the gas-powered Blackstone griddle.
Final Thoughts on Indoor Griddle Cooking
Can you use a Blackstone indoors? If you’re using one of Blackstone’s E-Series models, then absolutely. Otherwise, the answer is no unless you adhere to particular safety precautions. The majority of Blackstone griddles use propane as their primary fuel source. As such, they’re not recommended for indoor use because of many safety concerns and, in particular, carbon monoxide poisoning.
That said, you may be able to use a Blackstone propane-powered griddle indoors if you ensure that you’re working with proper ventilation, as you would find in a commercial kitchen. It’s also crucial to take appropriate safety precautions when using a gas-powered Blackstone griddle indoors.
Still, the best option for those looking to use a Blackstone griddle in a home or building is to invest in an electric model. The Blackstone E-Series offers a great alternative to the gas-powered models. Because of the serious safety risks, it’s best to use your gas griddle outdoors rather than inside and use an electric model when cooking in the house.
And one final reason you’re better off leaving your gas-powered flat top grill outside is that griddle cooking is messy. You’ll likely have grease splatters on your floors, and without excellent ventilation, you’ll have grease residue collecting on surfaces inside.
Read more educational griddle articles on Griddle Sizzle now!
