Applications for the Blackstone Griddle Crew are open, but is the program right for you? Here is an honest look at what the Crew offers, what members are expected to contribute, and what you should consider before applying.

If you enjoy cooking on a Blackstone and sharing what you make with others, you may have wondered what it would be like to join the Blackstone Griddle Crew. With applications opening again, this is a great time to learn more about the program and decide whether you should throw your spatula into the ring.

I have been part of the Griddle Crew for several years, and it has given me opportunities to try new things, meet other outdoor-cooking enthusiasts, improve my content, and become more connected to the Blackstone community. There are certainly some fun perks, but the experience is about much more than receiving products or adding a title to your social-media profile.

Here is what I think prospective members should know before applying.

What Is the Blackstone Griddle Crew?

Griddle Crew is Blackstone’s ambassador program for people who enjoy outdoor cooking and sharing that passion with others. Members include recipe creators, social-media personalities, backyard cooks, bloggers, video creators, and people who simply love introducing others to what can be made on a Blackstone.

The program provides members with opportunities to learn about campaigns, promotions, and product launches. Members can also participate in challenges, connect through the Crew’s online community, provide feedback, and potentially have their content shared through Blackstone’s social channels.

The important word here is community. Griddle Crew is not supposed to be a competition to see who has the largest following, owns the most Blackstone products, or creates the fanciest meal. It works best when members encourage one another, exchange ideas, collaborate, and celebrate each other’s successes. That community-minded approach is one of the qualities Blackstone identifies in potential Crew members.

You Do Not Have to Be a Professional Content Creator

One of the biggest misconceptions may be that you need an enormous following, professional cameras, or television-quality cooking videos to belong.

You should be comfortable sharing your cooking, but your content does not have to look like it came from a production studio. Blackstone describes strong Crew content as genuine and fun rather than necessarily polished or professional. That content might include photos, short videos, recipes, blog entries, or other ways of inspiring people to try something new.

What matters most is that you enjoy creating and are willing to share.

A beautifully edited video can be great, but so can a clear picture of a weeknight dinner with an honest explanation of how you made it. Your personality, creativity, and enthusiasm are often more memorable than expensive equipment.

What Are the Benefits?

There are some exciting benefits associated with being in Griddle Crew. Depending on the campaign or opportunity, those can include:

• Information about upcoming campaigns, promotions, and product releases
• Crew challenges that encourage you to try new recipes or content styles
• Exclusive Griddle Crew merchandise and product opportunities
• Giveaways that members can share with their audiences
• Opportunities for Blackstone to highlight or share member content
• A private community where members exchange ideas and support one another
• The chance to provide feedback about products or campaigns
• Special events, including the annual Blackstone Social Summit

Blackstone describes the Social Summit as an in-person gathering where Crew members can cook, collaborate, connect, participate in hands-on experiences, and learn more about the brand.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Summit, and the relationships were every bit as meaningful as the cooking. Meeting people you have followed online, working together on challenges, exchanging ideas, and simply spending time with people who understand your enthusiasm for outdoor cooking makes the Crew feel like more than an ambassador program.

Not every member will have the same experience or receive every opportunity, though. You should apply because you genuinely enjoy cooking, creating, and connecting—not solely because you hope to receive free products.

Will You Be Required to Post Constantly?

According to the Griddle Crew FAQ, members are not given a fixed number of required social-media posts. There may be specific occasions when Blackstone asks members to use a tag or campaign hashtag, but members continue to control their own feeds and content styles.

That does not mean membership requires no effort.

Griddle Crew offers monthly challenges and other opportunities designed to help members experiment with recipes, develop new skills, and sometimes move beyond their usual content. You are not likely to get much from the program by joining and then disappearing.

You do not have to participate in everything, but you should be willing to:

• Create and share Blackstone-related content
• Engage with Crew announcements and opportunities
• Support other members
• Participate when your time and interests allow
• Represent the brand positively and authentically

Like most communities, the more genuinely involved you are, the more valuable the experience becomes.

What Is Blackstone Looking For?

Blackstone highlights several qualities when describing someone who may be a good fit for Griddle Crew.

A genuine passion for Blackstone cooking

You should enjoy using your Blackstone, experimenting with food, and bringing people together around a meal. You do not need to make extravagant recipes every week. Breakfast, weeknight dinners, game-day food, and backyard cookouts can all tell a compelling story.

A willingness to try challenges

Crew opportunities may encourage you to use an unfamiliar ingredient, develop a themed recipe, test a different style of content, or step outside your usual routine. Being open to those challenges can help you grow as both a cook and creator.

An interest in sharing content

You should be willing to photograph, film, or write about what you make. You do not need to use every social platform, but you should enjoy helping other people discover recipes, techniques, and ideas.

A positive approach to representing the brand

Crew members are expected to represent Blackstone in an authentic, respectful, and enthusiastic way. That does not mean pretending every cook is perfect. It means being constructive, responsible, and honest while sharing why you enjoy the brand.

A community mindset

Some of the most valuable Crew members are not necessarily the people with the largest audiences. They are the people who answer questions, celebrate another creator’s successful recipe, offer encouragement, and contribute ideas without turning everything into a competition.

A desire to keep learning

There is always another recipe to try, cooking method to improve, or creative skill to develop. Being willing to learn—and being willing to share what you learn—is a big part of the experience.

Is Griddle Crew Right for You?

You may be a good fit if you:

• Regularly enjoy cooking on your Blackstone
• Like sharing recipes, photos, videos, or cooking tips
• Want to connect with other outdoor-cooking enthusiasts
• Are willing to participate rather than simply collect perks
• Can represent the brand positively while remaining yourself
• Want opportunities that challenge you to grow

It may not be the best fit if you are applying only because you want free products, have no interest in creating content, or do not have time to engage with the program at all.

There is nothing wrong with simply enjoying your Blackstone privately. Griddle Crew is intended for people who also enjoy sharing that experience and helping build the larger community.

How to Apply

Griddle Crew generally offers open enrollment in January and August, although applications may also open at other points during the year. The application process begins online. Blackstone then reviews submissions based on the applicant’s passion, content, and fit with the Crew. Selected applicants receive approval information, complete onboarding, and are connected with the Crew community.

You can learn more and begin your application here:

Apply to the Blackstone Griddle Crew

Before applying, take a little time to review your public social-media pages. Make sure your application reflects who you really are, what you enjoy cooking, and what you could contribute to the community. Do not try to imitate another creator or present yourself as something you are not. Authenticity matters.

My Final Advice

Do not wait until you believe your account is large enough, your videos are perfect enough, or your recipes are impressive enough. If you genuinely love cooking on your Blackstone, enjoy sharing that enthusiasm, and are ready to participate in a supportive community, submit the application.

At the same time, go into it with realistic expectations. Griddle Crew is not merely a source of products or social-media exposure. It is an opportunity to create, learn, participate, and build relationships with people who share your interests.

For me, those relationships and experiences have been the most valuable part.

Applications are open, so take a look at the information, be honest about what you can contribute, and decide whether it is time to join the Crew.

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