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Blackstone is the company that created the griddle market for the backyard. They are dominant in that category, which is why their latest new release is so shocking.
They have branched away previously from just selling griddles by releasing some nice pizza ovens and pellet grills, but who could have seen them releasing a Santa Maria style grill?!?! That’s just what they did!
As a Walmart exclusive, they’ve released the Blackstone Bronco Open Flame Grill. It’s a nice looking grill that lets you cook in the purest way possible, over hot coals that you burned down.
Blackstone has always been a inventor-led company, and this latest grill is a great example of the products they’re willing to innovate on. Not only did they innovate on product, they’ve also done it price. At $499 (check price) there aren’t any competitors with the same level of quality.
How it Works
For those not familiar with this type of grill, there’s something called a brasero on the side of the grill. It’s for holding firewood that you burn to create hot coals.
A brasero is like a metal basket, so as the wood burns, the coals fall below it into the bottom of the grill. You can then use a rake (included in the box) and move the hot coals beneath your food to cook it. It’s just like cooking with charcoal except you’re creating the coals.
There’s a pulley system on the side of the grill that lets you raise and lower the height of the cooking grate. This lets you control how close to the coals and how hot the temperature is that you’re cooking with. That’s in addition to positioning the coals to control heat too.
Blackstone Charcoal
Don’t feel like going through the effort of burning your own charcoal? No problem, you can also use this as a regular charcoal grill.
It works the same way as any other charcoal grill. Light your charcoal, spread it underneath the grates and off you go. The grill has about 390 square inches of cooking space to work with.
Beyond releasing the grill, Blackstone is also releasing their own branded charcoal. It’s stamped as made in the USA from Oak, Hickory and Southern Hardwoods.
Other Features
Beyond the features that are core to a grill of this style, the fire box has a stainless steel lining. This helps with durability and heat retention.
There’s an ash tray on the grill for easy cleaning, and it comes with a soft cover to protect it from the elements. It’s ready to go out of the box, all you need is some wood and some steaks.