 | Brand Cuisinart Model CCG-100 Listprice $149.99 Price $99.00 |
The Cuisinart Gourmet Gratelifter Charcoal Grill features a novel cooking grate lifting system giving access to the charcoal bed without having to touch the dirty cooking grate. With the lift engaged, the grate raises effortlessly out of the way when you open the lid - you can also choose to open the lid without lifting the grate. This lets you start the coals, add coals for extended cooking, or brush the coal ash in to the ample collection bin without ever touching the grate! Other features include a large, family-sized cooking surface, precision air flow system for accurate temperature control, lid mounted temperature gauge, a robust table stand, and an attractive and durable porcelain enamel coated lid. ....read more
Very nice for a portable grill
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a very well made portable grill, it is very high quality. If you take a look at some of my other reviews you may get the feeling that I know (or think I know) something about grilling. I grill often. At the moment I have 4 charcoal grills, 2 smokers, and 1 propane grill (the propane grill hardly ever gets used, except by my wife) yes, I know, its a sickness. But in my defense each grill has a purpose and gets used for different things.
Let me get back on topic here. I was looking for a portable grill to add to the collection. We have a few camping trips on the schedule and there is nothing better than cooking meat over fire when you are camping. Most of the portable grills I have looked at seem pretty cheap. They are made of thin gauge metal, have inferior grates, and I would classify them more as “disposable” rather than portable. When I get something I want it to last. This Cuisinart grill is made of thicker gauge metal, has porcelain enameled grates, is very well designed, looks great, and you really get the feeling that this grill will last a long time. Exactly what I was looking for.
I received my grill on Saturday and have already used it twice. Yes, I know its only Monday morning. I told you, I grill a lot. This grill has performed flawlessly each time. Like any grill you must use it and figure out how to use it properly. Each grill works slightly differently and you need to learn how it works best. This grill is pretty easy. I left the top vents wide open and controlled temps by adjusting the bottom vent. I also had to use the “lift” feature a couple of times to move the coals to keep them burning the way I like.
Things I like about this grill,
- its sturdy and well built.
- it looks great.
- the cooking grate is very durable and will last for a long time.
- it has a temperature gauge.
- it is lightweight and has big handles so it is easy to carry.
- it has a unique grill lift system to lift the cooking grate out of the way so you can adjust the coals or add more.
Things I do not like about this grill,
- the charcoal tray is a sheet of metal with 1/2 inch holes. I normally like a charcoal tray with more holes, or a grate, so there is more air flow and I do not have to adjust the coals once or twice during cooking. Although with the easy grate lift system on this grill it is not really that big a deal to adjust the coals while the food grate is loaded with food.
- the instructions were a little off. But luckily the grill is so easy to assemble it is not really a problem. And I am sure Cuisinart will adjust the small discrepancy on the instructions for future models.
This is a very well made grill and I expect it to get a lot of use and to last a long time.
ps: my second oldest son unpacked and assembled the grill. It took him under 6 minutes to unbox the grill and have it fully assembled. It is very easy.
Assembly issues, but great small grill
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
When it arrived I was a little nervous because a few loose nuts, bolts and washers fell out. As I removed the rest of the grill a trim piece, another few washers and bolts and thermometer fell out. All were loose in the package. I then took out the instructions and the parts bag – which had the rest of the screws, wingnuts, and washers. One of the washers (they are plastic) was stapled as part of the staple holding the parts bag together. Next, I realized that the instructions didn’t match the parts at all. There are not four wingnuts and four adhesive backed washers. There are two adhesive backed washers and two wingnuts. Two are already installed. (This will all make sense when you are looking at it.) Not a big deal. I was able to easily figure it out, but it did not match the pictures at all. Installing the top on the base requres turning it 90 degrees to get the handle to fit under the base. Next, I figured out how to assemble the trim pieces surrounding the thermometer. (This obviously fell apart during shipping, but I was able to find all of the pieces and put it back together.) Finally, I was left with one small screw, nut and washer. Where did they come from? I inspected the grill and found one of the screws was missing on the side handles. There are three screws holding each side of each handle on. I put that back together and everything was assembled. (Two stars on assembly quality and instruction.)
Finally, I grilled. It worked great for a few burgers and buns. I let it burn for an hour initially to burn off the brand new smell of the inside parts.
It works great and is easy to adjust temperature. It gets VERY hot, and I had to use oven gloves to open the top. Once it was fully cool, I was able to dump the unused coals and move it.
Five stars for the grill. Two for assembly and shipping (no damage to the box or anything else to explain the problems.) This yields four stars for me since I was able to fix the assembly issues.
BEST Design, Grilling, Temperature Control and Clean-Up!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Our family loves summer cookouts and we’ve always owned a charcoal grill that gives the foods that great flavor that you never get with a gas grill. I’ve owned so many different brands of charcoal grills over the years and I’ve never had one without something I didn’t like about it. My biggest complaints have always been with the grill design itself- handles that are flimsy for lifting, can’t really control the heat temperature even with vents, trying to lift a hot grate full of food to add more coals or wood chips, and especially the clean up!
Cuisinart has designed the BEST Portable Charcoal Grill I’ve ever owned in the 34 years I’ve been grilling outdoors! I’ve owned both portable and standing grills and I definitely prefer the portable ones. You can always buy a stand for your portable to make it a standing grill, and Cuisinart makes a great stand for their portable grills, but you can’t beat the portability when you want to take your grill with you on picnics, games, camping or to the beach!
When I first opened the box, putting it together took about 3 minutes. After positioning the grill on the base stand, making sure to maneuver the stand around the ash frame, also making sure the bottom vent bar is UNDER the frame bar of the stand, there are only 4 screws and wing nuts to tighten around 8 plastic washers (you’ll see 2 washers have sticky backs to stay in place on the base stand), and you’re done. This portable grill is a sturdy 23 pounds with heavy sturdy long solid bar handles for lifting. The grill is perfecly sized for both portability and for grilling a family sized dinner. The grill itself is 25 inches long, 17 inches wide and 16 inches high. The grate is 17 1/2 inches long by 13 inches wide. I fit 2 whole cut up chickens on this grate, or 12 burgers, or 4 large steaks or 6 medium steaks! The size of the grate is really made for full, complete family meals!
The entire grill body and grate is made with a heavy porcelain enamel coating, which means easy cleaning with soaking in soapy water with a dish rag. No more scouring forever with mesh soap pads! This is a dream for me, as I have always hated the scouring of those grates, and I always use a coating of oil (Pam now makes a great one for the intense heat of grills) on the grate to avoid the scrubbing. There is a 16 inch by 12 inch tray for holding the coals and a large 5 inch hole underneath for ashes to go into the large 6 inch by 2 inches deep removeable ash collection bin.
For perfect cooking temperatures, there are two large vents, a bottom vent above the ash bin to make the coals hotter and a top 12 inch vent to let out the heat. There is a temperature gauge on the lid for Fahrenheit 100-600 degrees and for Celsius 50-300 degrees, so you can maintain and watch whatever temperature you need. This is a feature that always makes for perfect results on the grill!
Cuisinart has made the PERFECT design for the grill grate itself! I have always hated when I need to add more coals or wood chips or just move the coals or ashes around with a hot grate full of delicious food. This grill has a lift system! With 2 levers- one on each side that you push at the same time, you can engage the lift system or release it! When engaged, you open the lid and the grill grate lifts up and back as well, sitting 6 inches above the coals. When not engaged, the grate sits 3 inches above the coals. What a great feature for not having to disturb your arranged food! In addition to this great feature, Cuisinart designed the lid to be easily removed by sliding out 2 cotter pins on two small hinge bars. This is not only great for cleaning, but I have a friend who likes to put in more coals than normal for her children to make toasted marshmallows with a higher flame that would ruin the lid. With this feature, she can remove the lid and make her little fire without damaging the lid! Cuisinart thought of everything when they made this portable grill!
Before using this grill for the first time, you have to start your coals, opening both top and bottom vents, keeping the lid closed for 15 minutes. This heat cleans the internal parts and dissipates any enamel paint odors. Cuisinart has a 30 day damage to enamel warranty as well as a full 3 year free from defects warranty. In 34 years of owning charcoal grills, this is THE BEST DESIGNED GRILL I have ever owned. With an easy set-up, precision air flow, exact temperature readings, grill lift system, coal tray, large ash bin, sturdy portability, removable lid, easiest non scouring clean up and a 3 year warranty, all I need now is to find a fabulous Grilling Cook Book and I’m already looking at Bobby Flay’s!