Blackstone Iron Forged vs Original (2026)

Short answer: they are closer than the names suggest. Blackstone lists the same Omnivore griddle plate on both lines, publishes no steel gauge for either, and prices the Iron Forged 36 inch below the Original 36 inch. If you have been told Iron Forged is the thicker-steel upgrade you pay extra for, the spec sheets do not support either half of that.

How I review: I own and cook on the Original 36 inch. I have not cooked on an Iron Forged, so everything below comes from Blackstone’s own product pages and spec sheets rather than hands-on use with both. See how I review griddles for the full approach.

The 36 Inch, Side by Side

Both figures below are pulled from Blackstone’s product pages.

	Iron Forged 36” with Hood	Original 36” with Hood
SKU	2310	2322
Griddle plate	Omnivore	Omnivore
Grease management	Rear	Rear
Hood	Reinforced ‘X’ brace	Reinforced ‘X’ brace
BAR System rail	Yes	Yes
Extendable side shelf	Yes	Yes
Bottle opener	No	Yes
Weight	130.5 lbs	135 lbs
Dimensions (W x H x D)	64.5” x 41” x 28”	64.5” x 36.5” x 30”
Listed price	$479	$499

Blackstone also publishes a capacity figure for each, and the two are identical: 69 bacon slices, 47 fried eggs, 21 pancakes, 126 hot dogs, 30 burgers, 27 New York strips. That is the clearest signal that the cooking surface is the same surface.

Check the Iron Forged 36” at Blackstone Check the Original 36” at Blackstone

The Cooking Surface Is the Same

This is the part most comparisons get wrong. Blackstone’s spec list for the Iron Forged 36 inch names the Omnivore griddle plate. So does the spec list for the Original 36 inch. Blackstone’s own Iron Forged landing page leads with the rugged design and the reinforced hood, and describes the Omnivore plate in the same language it uses across the rest of the lineup.

Blackstone does not publish a steel gauge for either line. Not for Iron Forged, not for the Original. So when you read that Iron Forged uses heavier-gauge steel that holds heat better and seasons more durably, ask where the number came from. I could not find one, and Blackstone does not appear to have published one.

That does not prove the plates are identical in every respect. It does mean nobody writing about them can currently show you that they are different.

What Actually Differs

Once you set the cooktop aside, the real differences are structural and cosmetic.

The frame. The Iron Forged 36 inch is taller and shallower: 41 inches high and 28 deep, against 36.5 and 30 on the Original. If you roll a griddle under a counter overhang or into a specific gap on a patio, measure before you choose.

The weight. Iron Forged is listed at 130.5 lbs and the Original at 135. Neither is portable. This matters only if you are carrying one up a step.

The small stuff. The Original 36 inch lists a bottle opener. The Iron Forged does not. That is genuinely the level of difference we are working at here.

The Price Runs the Other Way

Blackstone lists the Iron Forged 36 inch with hood at $479 and the Original 36 inch with hood at $499. At the 28 inch size, both lines list $399.

So there is no Iron Forged premium. Guides claiming you should expect to pay $100 to $150 more are describing pricing that does not match what Blackstone currently charges. Prices move, and retailers discount independently, so check both before you buy. But the direction of the gap is worth knowing, because it flips the usual advice: there is no upgrade cost to talk yourself into, and no premium to avoid either.

Which One I Would Buy

If the prices are what Blackstone lists today, I would take the Iron Forged 36 inch, and not because of the steel. It is the cheaper of the two and it comes with the hood and the rail system. The Original’s advantage is a bottle opener.

If you find the Original discounted below the Iron Forged, buy the Original without a second thought. You are getting the same griddle plate.

At 28 inches the prices match, so it comes down to the hood style and whether you want the BAR accessory bin that Blackstone lists with the Iron Forged version.

What I Cannot Tell You

I have not cooked on an Iron Forged. So I am not going to tell you how it preheats, how it recovers when you drop cold food on it, or how the seasoning builds compared to mine. You will find pages that do make those claims with specific minute counts attached. Ask yourself whether the person writing had two griddles side by side.

What I can tell you is what Blackstone publishes, which is what this page is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Blackstone Iron Forged worth the extra money?

There is no extra money at the moment. Blackstone lists the Iron Forged 36 inch with hood at $479 and the Original 36 inch with hood at $499, and both 28 inch models at $399. Compare the current price at your retailer rather than assuming Iron Forged costs more.

Does the Iron Forged use thicker steel than the Original?

Blackstone does not publish a steel gauge for either line, and lists the same Omnivore griddle plate on both. The thicker-steel claim is widely repeated but I could not find a manufacturer source for it.

What sizes does the Iron Forged come in?

Blackstone’s Iron Forged collection currently lists a 28 inch with hood, a 36 inch with hood, and a 36 inch air fryer combo, plus bundles and an angled scraper. There is no 22 inch Iron Forged.

Do the Iron Forged and Original have the same cooking area?

Blackstone publishes the same capacity for both 36 inch models: 69 bacon slices, 47 fried eggs, and 30 burgers. Blackstone no longer publishes a square-inch figure for either, so retailer listings are where those numbers come from.

Which should a first-time buyer get?

Whichever is cheaper on the day. They share a griddle plate, so buy on price, hood style, and storage rather than on the series name.