One of my core beliefs in life is that (almost) everything tastes better cooked on a griddle. Eggs, chicken, bacon, rice, shrimp—you name it, it belongs on that trusty flat-top. Give me the choice of a grill, smoker, or griddle, and I'll pick the latter every single time. So when I had the chance to test out the Traeger Flatrock, I was very excited to see if the popular pellet grill brand lived up to the hype. More importantly, I was excited to see how it performed compared to the Blackstone griddle we had been using for years.
A few hours of testing—and a few delicious meals—later, I have my conclusion. Is the Flatrock expensive? Yes. But is it worth it? Also, yes. Here's why I've come to love Traeger's flat-top grill.
Quick Overview
Specs
Weight: 189 lbs
Cooktop Dimensions: 33 x 18 in.
Cooking Space: 594 sq. in.
Max Temperature: 600 degrees Fahrenheit
Pros
Even cooking
Heats up fast
Infuses a lot of flavor
Easy to use
Durable and sturdy
Cons
Expensive
Testing Results and Analysis
Performance
Having been a long-time Traeger fan, I wasn't surprised when the Flatrock outperformed my expectations. Sure, I thought it would be good, but I didn't realize just how good it would be. We made scrambled eggs, shrimp, and hibachi chicken on ours during testing. No matter what we were preparing, the food cooked evenly all the way through, likely thanks to the three-burner design that distributes heat across the cooking surface.
Speaking of cooking surface, this thing is spacious. It's smaller than the Blackstone 36-inch griddle (594 square inches compared to 768), but I hardly noticed the size reduction. That's because there was more than enough room to cook breakfast or dinner for our family of three. We could've doubled what we were making and still had room to spare. According to Traeger's website, the Flatrock can hold up to 24 burgers.
Another thing I really like is that you can independently control the temperature of each burner. While we haven't yet used this feature (we're just getting started on our Flatrock experimenting!), I imagine it would be awesome if you were making a protein and sides. You could cook everything at once, instead of having to do it piecemeal.
Ease of Use
The Flatrock has a lot of cool features but it's not over-designed. A.k.a., it's intuitive and easy to operate despite all its technology and sophistication. It heats up fast—with a maximum temperature of 600 degrees—and doesn't require much culinary skill. Just as importantly, it's a breeze to clean. Just a few simple wipes and it's good to go. The extra grease goes right into a removable cup at the base that you can just pop out and dump when you're done.
The convenient fuel gauge on the front is a huge highlight. It shows you exactly how much gas you have left, so you know when to replace it. This is key—there have been so many times we've gone to use our gas grill and found it out of propane. That won't happen with the Flatrock. Praise be.
One note: You have to season the griddle before using it, which adds a step. That's pretty standard, though.
Construction and Durability
Just like all the other grills in the Traeger line-up—like the Ironwood or, my personal favorite, the Timberline XL—the Flatrock is built to last with incredibly high quality materials and construction. It's very sturdy, too. I never once felt it wobble or shake while we were cooking. Thanks to the heavy-duty wheels, it's easy to roll from spot to spot (or, in our case, from the garage to the patio). Plus, in the event something should happen, it comes with a five-year warranty for peace of mind.
Verdict
There are some things just worth spending a little extra on, and the Traeger Flatrock is one of them. It's easy to use, it makes delicious food with very little effort, and it cooks like a dream. Plus, it just looks good. There are other good griddles out there, but I can easily say that Traeger's is the best I've used to date. Pro tip: Pair it with the Meater Plus wireless meat thermometer and you'll have a grilling setup any pitmaster would envy.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
