smokers grills
Weber Spirit E-325 vs Blackstone 36 Griddle
Mike Ross · How we research · Updated 2026-08-31 · 2 min read
The picks
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Best for classic open-flame grilling, steaks, and lid roasting
Weber Spirit E-325
Three burners with a two-burner Sear Zone, porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates, and Snap-Jet ignition. The baseline backyard gas grill.
- Burner output
- 31,000 BTU-per-hour input across 3 stainless steel burners
- Sear Zone
- 2 Boost Burners, which Weber says unleash 40% more power in the Sear Zone
- Cooking area
- 450 sq in total (360 sq in primary, 90 sq in warming rack)
Liquid propane
Check current price on Amazon
Best for high-volume smashburgers, flat-top searing, and breakfast
Blackstone Original 36” Griddle with Hood
Four independent heat zones on an Omnivore flat-top steel griddle plate with a protective hood.
- Cooking surface
- 36-inch Omnivore Griddle Plate
- Cooking area
- 768 sq in of cooking space
- Burners
- Four independently controlled heat zones
Liquid propane
Check current price on AmazonCompared
| Spec | WeberSpirit E-325 | BlackstoneOriginal 36” Griddle with Hood |
|---|---|---|
| Burner output | 31,000 BTU-per-hour input across 3 stainless steel burners | — |
| Sear Zone | 2 Boost Burners, which Weber says unleash 40% more power in the Sear Zone | — |
| Cooking area | 450 sq in total (360 sq in primary, 90 sq in warming rack) | 768 sq in of cooking space |
| Dimensions | 46.20" H x 48.30" W x 26.60" D (lid closed) | — |
| Cooking grates | Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates | — |
| Warranty | 10 years cookbox, lid assembly and stainless steel burner tubes, no rust through or burn through; 5 years grates and Flavorizer bars | — |
| Cooking surface | — | 36-inch Omnivore Griddle Plate |
| Burners | — | Four independently controlled heat zones |
| Hood | — | Included painted steel hood |
| Features | — | Dual folding side shelves, BAR accessory system, and paper towel holder |
| Where to buy | Check current price on Amazon | Check current price on Amazon |
Open-flame grates against flat-top solid steel
The choice between the Weber Spirit E-325 and the Blackstone 36 Omnivore Griddle comes down to heat transfer physics: convective/radiant flame versus conductive contact searing.
- Weber Spirit E-325 (Gas Grill): Features three stainless steel burners delivering 31,000 BTU under heavy porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates. Grease drippings vaporize on Flavorizer bars to produce classic barbecue aroma and flame char, while the deep lid enables indirect convective roasting.
- Blackstone 36 Omnivore (Flat-Top Griddle): Features four independent burner zones beneath a continuous 36-inch solid carbon steel plate. Because there are no grate openings, foods cook in their rendered juices, enabling breakfast diner cooking, smashburgers with edge-to-edge Maillard crust, fajitas, and fried rice.
Surface capacity and temperature zones
| Feature | Weber Spirit E-325 | Blackstone 36 Omnivore |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Surface | 450 sq in (360 primary + 90 rack) | 768 sq in continuous flat-top |
| Burner Zones | 3 stainless steel burners | 4 independent heat zones |
| Heat Transfer | Open flame & radiant grates | Direct conductive steel contact |
| Lid Design | Deep convective roasting cookbox | Protective painted steel hood |
| Cleaning Method | Hot brush & grease tray | Steel scrape, steam, and oil season |
| Fuel | Liquid propane | Liquid propane |
Cooking capabilities compared
Where the Weber Spirit E-325 wins
- Steak and chop sear marks: Cast-iron grates store heavy thermal mass, creating diamond sear patterns and flame-licked smoky crusts.
- Convective roasting: Lowering the lid turns the Spirit into an outdoor oven. You can roast whole chickens, bake potatoes, or set up two-zone indirect heat for thick pork loins.
- Low maintenance: Porcelain-enameled grates resist moisture and rust with minimal seasoning upkeep.
Where the Blackstone 36 Omnivore wins
- Edge-to-edge Maillard browning: Smashburgers pressed against flat steel develop a continuous crispy crust that is impossible to achieve over open grates.
- Small and delicate foods: Sautéing diced onions, mushrooms, bacon strips, shrimp, scrambled eggs, and pancakes without anything dropping through grates.
- Four distinct heat zones: Keep buns warming on the far left at low heat while searing beef patties on the right at high heat.
Who each one is for
Choose the Weber Spirit E-325 if you want an everyday backyard cooker for traditional burgers, ribeyes, bone-in chicken, and indirect barbecue with minimal maintenance.
Choose the Blackstone 36 Omnivore Griddle if you love hosting large family gatherings, cooking diner breakfasts (pancakes, eggs, bacon), crafting ultra-crispy smashburgers, or whipping up high-heat teppanyaki and fajitas.
Common questions
- Can you bake or roast chicken on a Blackstone griddle?
- You can use melting domes to trap heat over individual items, but the Blackstone is primarily a direct conductive cooking surface. The Weber Spirit E-325 has a deep insulated cookbox designed for convective roasting with the lid down.
- How does cleaning differ between open grates and flat-top steel?
- The Weber uses porcelain-enameled cast iron grates cleaned with a grill brush while hot. The Blackstone uses a solid cold-rolled steel plate that requires scraping, water steaming, and oil seasoning maintenance similar to a cast-iron skillet.
- Which cooker accommodates more food for large parties?
- The Blackstone 36 offers 768 square inches of continuous solid flat-top space, easily cooking 28 smashburgers, dozens of eggs, or mounds of fried rice simultaneously without food falling through grates.
- Do both run on standard 20 lb liquid propane tanks?
- Yes. Both connect directly to standard 20 lb refillable liquid propane tanks using included regulator hoses.
Sources
Every figure on this page came from one of these. We have not tested these products ourselves — how we research.