Finally decided to get a 28. Should I buy the no lid one and get the silicon cover, the loose lid that hangs off the side when using or the hinged lid one? Do you need the silicon cover even with a mechanical lid? I plan to use weekly. Thanks in advance!

I don't know what you should do but I have a 36 and it lives on the porch. I use the metal lid that you put on and off. It's been fine for over a decade now. If yours lives in the weather, I don't know what to do.

Thanks y'all. Mine will be under a covered porch.

My lives under a smaller covered porch. I have the silicon mat thing and a water resistant cover over the whole thing. The mat and/or metal cover in my mind is needed just to keep dust, dirt, schmutz, bugs, etc off. Before I added the mat, even with the overall cover there was always stuff on it. Don't think you need both metal and silicon.

Mine sits on an Amazon brand X cart and the big cover is also to help keep that thing from rusting away as fast.

Get the little foil loaf pans to line your drip tray with. Easier to toss than cleaning that thing out. And always keep a spare tank on hand.

I have a hinged lid on mine, and love it. #1, don't have something else to set down somewhere. #2, I use it for steaming, melting, or heating things at times (close lid while cooking for a bit).

I also have the silicon cover. I really love that. Mostly it keeps bugs and critters off the griddle surface.