Head to Head
Blackstone 28-Inch Griddle vs Traeger Pro 575: Which Outdoor Cooker Is Right for You?
Both are sold out constantly. Both get talked about by every food guy on the internet. Both are genuinely worth having. But they don't do the same thing — at all. The Traeger is a wood pellet smoker built for low-and-slow BBQ. The Blackstone is a flat top griddle built for fast, high-heat cooking. Choosing between them is really about choosing what kind of outdoor cooking you want to do.
Option A
Blackstone 28-Inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Griddle with Hood
$415.75
The 28-inch Blackstone. Hood included. Smash burgers, hibachi, breakfast outside.
Option B
Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
$799.99
Set it, forget it, and take all the credit. The backyard smoker that changed the game.
Side by Side
| Blackstone 28-Inch Outdoor | Traeger Pro 575 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $415.75 | $799.99 |
| Cooking method | High-heat flat top griddle | Wood pellet indirect heat |
| Smoke flavor | None | Yes — real wood smoke |
| Ideal cook time | Minutes | Hours |
| Best foods | Smash burgers, breakfast, hibachi, stir fry | Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, whole chicken |
| Cooking surface | 448 sq in steel flat top | 572 sq in grill grate |
| App/Wi-Fi | No | Yes — WiFIRE app |
Best for
Blackstone 28-Inch Outdoor Flat
- ✓Families who want fast, versatile outdoor cooking
- ✓Smash burgers, weekend breakfast, and hibachi nights
- ✓Tailgating and camping where setup needs to be quick
- ✓First-time outdoor cooking upgrade on a tighter budget
Best for
Traeger Pro 575 Wood
- ✓Brisket, ribs, pulled pork — anything low and slow
- ✓Anyone who wants real wood smoke flavor in their meat
- ✓Set-it-and-forget-it cooks via app temperature control
- ✓The guy who watches BBQ YouTube and wants to do it properly
The Verdict
These aren't competitors — they're different tools for different food. Blackstone for smash burgers and hibachi: no contest. Traeger for brisket and ribs: no contest. The Blackstone is more versatile, less expensive, and easier to learn. The Traeger delivers real wood smoke you can't fake on a flat top. If you're feeding a family and want maximum utility: Blackstone. If BBQ is the priority and you want to do it with real smoke: Traeger. The ideal backyard setup eventually has both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Blackstone replace a regular grill?
For burgers, chicken, sausage, and quick cooks — yes. For steaks where you want char and grill marks, it's a different result. The Blackstone gives you a hard sear across the whole surface, not grill marks. Both are good, just different.
Is the Traeger Pro 575 worth $800?
For serious BBQ, yes. It maintains temperature automatically, the smoke flavor is genuine, and the WiFIRE app lets you monitor and adjust from your phone. There's a learning curve with pellet selection and temp management, but most people figure it out fast.
Can you get smoke flavor on a Blackstone griddle?
Not really. The flat top surface doesn't create conditions for smoke penetration the way indirect heat does. You can add a dome cover to trap some smoke, but it's not the same as a real pellet smoker.
Which outdoor cooker is better for a beginner?
Blackstone. Heat it up, season it once, cook. The learning curve is minimal. The Traeger requires more planning — buying pellets, understanding temperature management on long cooks — but the app and WiFIRE connectivity help a lot.
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