We know Traeger for their wood pellet grills, but they apparently also make a three-burner gas griddle called the Flatrock, which, we guess, is their way of riding on the current popularity of griddles for backyard cooking. This time around, the outfit is releasing a smaller version of that griddle in the form of the Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone.
Why go for a dedicated griddle when plenty of gas grills and charcoal grills offer griddle accessories? For the most part, it’s because dedicated griddles are optimized exactly for that type of cooking rather than fitted with a makeshift solution, ensuring you get better temperature control, more even heat distribution, and proper grease management, among other things.
The Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone measures 59 x 36 x 35 inches (width x height x depth) with the side shelves folded out, making for a more space-efficient option compared to the outfit’s original model. It comes with two burners, which create two separate cooking zones on the griddle, allowing you to set different temperatures on each side for more versatile backyard cooking. According to the outfit, each side is fully insulated from the other, so you can crank the heat up on one side while setting the other up for a light simmer with no temperature control issues. The griddle has a 468 square inch capacity, by the way, which is supposedly enough to fit up to 20 eggs, 22 bacon strips, or 18 burgers in one go.
It uses U-shaped burners that each cover a large patch of the cooking surface on their respective sides, with the outfit claiming two times burner to cooktop coverage compared to many other backyard griddles. The griddle’s cooking surface, by the way, is slightly recessed, allowing it block out wind to ensure everything cooks consistently, regardless of the prevailing weather conditions.
The Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone can reach up to 36,000 BTUs at the highest setting, so this thing can get plenty hot, all while allowing for easy temperature adjustments using the integrated knobs. It doesn’t require any electricity to ignite, either, making it very convenient for backyard and patios with no access to power. The griddle comes with foldable shelves on the sides that you can use to set down ingredients, cooking tools, and whatever else you want, as well as an integrated compartment that catches all grease and ash, making it easy to dispose of the mess after cooking. It has a built-in lid, too, although the outfit cautions it’s not meant to be closed when cooking, instead having been added to protect the griddle when it’s not in use.
Like the outfit’s other grills and griddles, it supports their Pop-and-Lock (PAL) rail system that lets you add snap-on accessories to your backyard or patio appliance. Current options include a cup holder (for safely securing your beer), a storage tray (perfect for rubs, sauces, and seasonings), hooks (for hanging your spatula and tongs), and a roll rack, which would be handy for placing a roll of paper towels nearby.
The Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone is slated to come out soon. Price is $699.99.
