Cuisinart CGG-306 Review

 

When we go camping or tailgating, the last thing we want is to be carrying along a heavy grill, that takes a while to reach full heat. At the same time though, we also want quality results, so the market for super-portable outdoor grills is a very competitive one, full of items that either hit the mark or miss completely. In this review, I’m going to focus on one of the super-portables out there competing for your attention, and I’ll be letting you in on some detail, the online stores perhaps don’t tell you. I’ll be peeling back the veil of jargon, and throwing out clear concise facts, so that you know exactly how the Cuisinart CGG-306 Professional Portable Two-Burner Gas Grill really works.

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Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Great Portability
  • Quick set-up
  • 2 Burners with a total of 20,000 BTU’s an hour
  • Built-In Thermometer
  • Quick Ignition

 

Cons:

  • Steel grates

 

Cuisinart CGG-306 Professional Portable Two-Burner Gas Grill Review:

Size/Design:

 

I was very impressed with the portability of the CGG-306 because everything about it seems geared toward ease of transportation and ease use of use, which is what people want. The legs and handles fold up completely into the unit, so you have a box you can slot into the trunk of your car, without taking up much space. The lid locks, so it’s not banging about while traveling, and this also prevents damage to the grill. When you arrive at your destination, you just fold out the legs, lift the lid, and press in the ignition to start cooking. This kind of terrific portability is even further enhanced by the 28.1 pound weight of the CGG-306, which is extremely competitive, and won’t prove a strain to carry. The whole grill measures 21.5 inches in length, by 17 inches of width, and it has a height of 13.5 inches, so it’s one of the smaller grills around; the CGG-306 marks a huge achievement in portability.

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Performance:

After a top score on portability, you might expect there to be some drawbacks, especially as the CGG-306 can be bought for less than $180. You’d be right to expect that, and the drawback is the grates, which are made from stainless steel. Stainless Steel is not as good at retaining heat and doesn’t disperse it as evenly, as for example, cast-iron might. Thus, you don’t get food as evenly cooked as you would using cast-iron grates, although the grade of steel is good, which is one of the reasons the CGG-306 heats up quickly. I should point out, that the food is still excellent, so I’d doubt buyers will have many complaints, and you can grill a wide variety of foods on the CGG-306, so it’s still a wonderful item to grill on; just be prepared for some unevenness.

 

Every grill has its flaws because compromises must be made to sell at the lowest possible price, so the best manufacturers plan in advance to minimize any reductions on quality. Cuisinart have done this excellently, and by adding 20,000 BTU’s of power, across two burners, reaching temperatures of 700 degrees, the low heat retention of the steel grates doesn’t really matter. So, unlike most steel grate grills, which take a while to heat up, you get a super-fast grill time on the CGG-306. It’s not a bad deal when you realize, the absence of cast-iron grill grates was one of the ways Cuisinart we’re able to sell for less than $180.

 

They’ve also put in some good heat control, so you can adjust the temperatures to multiple settings, and each burner has its own individual heat control, meaning you can sear a steak at high heat on one while toasting buns on the other. Not bad for a super-portable camping grill. More refreshing inclusions are the accurate thermometer built into the grill, and the quick ignition; all you do is twist the knob and the CGG-306 starts burning. These features lend themselves to exquisite ease of operation, and a low wait time, meaning buyers can focus on doing what they enjoy best, which is making food.

 

An advantage of using stainless steel to construct this grill is that it is very easy to clean and won’t rust, even if left outdoors for long periods. Nobody likes a long cleaning process or a grill that has to be replaced after 3 years because it’s rusted away, so buyers will find this a welcome addition.

 

Conclusion:

The steel grates mean a little unevenness, but Cuisinart has more than made up for this with a very quick grill time, excellent heat controls, 20,000 BTU’s, and high temperatures, that all enable the CGG-306 to perform excellently as a grill. All things considered, the CGG-306 is one of the best portable gas grills you can buy. I strongly recommend it to buyers, who want a super-portable, easy to transport grill, with quality results.