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Combo grills make total sense, you get two different styles of grilling in one platform. You get versatility and space saving in one package.
There are sacrifices to most designs though. Each grill half is usually a little smaller and the overall grill is usually pretty wide making them harder to store.
Blackstone released a new combo grill as an online exclusive with Walmart that could be the most optimally designed grill yet. It offers two large-sized grills while being really smart with the overall space of the grill.
It’s part of Blackstone’s Bronco line which features different combo designs, some large grills, and even a Santa Maria style grill. The Bronco also has some of the best styling too.
The new Bronco retails for $1,394 (check price) and has a 36″ griddle on top with a large vertical smoker on the bottom. The 36″ griddle is the size that everyone wants but usually the space underneath is kind of a waste. This Bronco takes care of that by putting the vertical smoker underneath the griddle.
Griddle
The griddle section of the Bronco is a 4-burner design with Blackstone’s latest burner design and griddle top. That gives it strict zoning like an affluent suburb to keep the temperatures segmented on the griddle top.
The griddle plate is their Omivore design that helps with edge to edge cooking and is reinforced to prevent warping. That’s helpful to maximize the cooking area and for durability.
They were slick with the ignitor design on this grill to create a nice smooth look on front of the griddle. The battery is out of sight under the lid for the pellet hopper.
There’s also a hinged lids that’s reinforced on top of the griddle. It’s a nice feature to help preserve some heat and to close up the griddle when you’re done.
Vertical Pellet Smoker
The vertical pellet smoker is also very large in size underneath the griddle. It lists a total cooking area of 1,856 square inches. That’s enough for a large gathering.
For that much cooking you need an equally large pellet hopper. This grill delivers on that with a whopping 60 lb capacity. That should last you for days.
I like that the doors on the grill are like a double-door oven. That makes accessing the cooking area easier.
I also like that they included a tray for a water pan to keep moisture levels up. Having a dedicated spot preserves your cooking area without having to waste some on the pan.
The pellet grill offers a connected grilling experience with the Blackstone app. They really packed so much cooking ability into both of these grills.