Cuisinart 360° Cooking Center Review: A Sizzling Beast for Your Outdoor Cooking

Gather ’round, grill masters and aspiring BBQ aficionados! If you’re on the hunt for a top-notch griddle grill combo that can handle everything from flipping burgers to mastering the art of stir-fry, we might have something that suits your taste. We’re about to dive deep into the Cuisinart 360° Cooking Center, official name Cuisinart CGG-888, a round grill that’s been very popular among outdoor cooking enthusiasts. In this comprehensive review, we’ll put this stainless steel beast to the test, examining its features, performance, and value for money. So, fire up your appetite and let’s get grilling with the Cuisinart Griddle Cooking Center!

Cuisinart is a reputable brand specializing in the production of kitchen appliances and tools. Established in 1971 in America, it has since gained widespread popularity worldwide. The brand is known for its innovative, high-quality products that simplify food preparation and enhance the culinary experience. From mixers, toasters, and coffee makers to grills, Cuisinart offers a wide range of products that cater to the needs of cooks of all skill levels. With a focus on performance, durability, and ease of use, Cuisinart has become a trusted name in households across the globe.

The Cuisinart CGG-888 is a versatile, stainless steel, 360-degree griddle cooking center, designed to cater to all your grilling needs, and it’s the perfect addition to your backyard or patio. The grill boasts a 22-inch diameter cooking surface, giving you ample space for those massive cookouts. With two heat zones, you can sear your steaks on one side while keeping your veggies warm on the other. Plus, the foldable side tables offer extra prep space and easy storage when not in use.

The Cuisinart 360 Cooking Center sports a sleek, modern design that is both visually appealing and highly functional. The stainless steel construction gives it a professional and polished look, making it an attractive addition to any outdoor cooking space. The grill features a 22-inch diameter, 360-degree cooking surface, which provides ample space for preparing a variety of dishes simultaneously.

The 360 Cooking Center is equipped with two independent burners that offer dual heat zones, allowing you to cook different dishes at varying temperatures. The control knobs are conveniently located on the front panel, making it easy to adjust the heat settings while cooking.

Adding to its versatility, the grill also includes foldable side tables that can be used for extra prep space or to hold your cooking utensils and condiments. When not in use, the side tables can be easily folded down, saving space and making storage a breeze.

In terms of build quality, we were more than pleasantly surprised, you can tell that this baby is made to last. The main body of the grill is made from sturdy stainless steel, which not only provides excellent heat retention and distribution but also ensures resistance to rust and corrosion.

The cooking surface is crafted from high-quality stainless steel, which means you won’t have to worry about uneven heating or poor heat retention. Plus, it’s easy to clean, so you can spend more time enjoying a perfectly grilled steaks and less time scrubbing away.

The grill’s frame and legs are also made from stainless steel, providing a strong and stable base for the griddle cooking center. Large caster wheels are attached to the legs, making it easy to move the grill around your outdoor space when needed.

As much as I appreciate the overall design and build quality, I must admit that I’m not a big fan of its finish. After a few uses, I expect it to show some wear and tear, and I would not recommend using steel tools. This is not a deal-breaker by any means, but it’s worth considering if you’re someone who values a pristine-looking grill even after multiple uses.

While the Cuisinart CGG-888 round grill isn’t a small portable grill like some other models designed specifically for camping or tailgating, it does strike a nice balance between being a robust, full-sized griddle grill and offering a degree of portability and easy storage for those who appreciate the convenience.

With its reasonably compact dimensions of 44.5″ x 34.5″ x 45.5″ and a weight of 60 lbs, it’s relatively easy to maneuver this grill around your outdoor space, thanks to the large caster wheels attached to the legs. These wheels make it a breeze to roll the grill to your desired location, whether it’s on your patio, deck, or any other outdoor area.

The foldable side tables are a great feature that adds to the grill’s portability and storage convenience. When not in use, the side tables can be easily folded down, reducing the overall footprint of the grill and making it more compact for storage. This is particularly useful if you have limited space in your garage or storage shed.

The CGG-888’s performance is quite impressive, as the two heat zones allow for precise grilling and temperature control. The cast iron grates ensure an even heat distribution and give your food those mouth-watering grill marks. The integrated thermometer takes the guesswork out of grilling, making sure your food is cooked to perfection every time. Additionally, the 30,000 BTUs of cooking power provide enough heat to sear steaks, grill burgers, and roast vegetables with ease.

We tested the Cuisinart Cooking Center on a variety of dishes, and as expected, it heated up quickly and evenly. The high-quality stainless steel cooking surface provided excellent heat retention and distribution, ensuring that my food cooked perfectly every time. The dual heat zones allowed me to multitask like a pro, and the easy-to-use grease management system made cleaning up a breeze.

We liked:

• Easy to clean with the 360-degree grease pan
• Two heat zones for versatile cooking options
• Durable stainless-steel construction
• Integrated thermometer for precise temperature control
• Foldaway side tables for added convenience
• Comes with a lid

We didn’t like:

• Assembly can be time-consuming
• Could be too large for those with limited outdoor space
• Some users may prefer a higher BTU output for faster cooking

When compared to other griddle grills like the Blackstone 28-inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill and the Royal Gourmet PD1300 Portable 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill Griddle, the Cuisinart CGG-888 holds its own in terms of quality and features.

The CGG-888’s stainless steel construction and excellent heat distribution surpass the Blackstone 28-inch grill, which uses cold-rolled steel. However, the Blackstone grill does provide more cooking space and is priced slightly lower at around $200.

The Royal Gourmet PD1300 offers portability with its compact design and is more affordable at around $100. However, it lacks the cooking surface and the dual heat zones provided by the CGG-888, making it a better option for those prioritizing portability over performance.

Priced at just under $250, the Cuisinart CGG-888 is a solid investment for any grill enthusiast. Considering its durable construction, impressive performance, and the convenience it provides, I’d say it’s worth every penny. Plus, with the option to use it as a flat top or a traditional grill, you’re getting a 2-in-1 deal. Talk about bang for your buck!

The Cuisinart CGG-888 is ideal for those who value a high-quality, versatile griddle grill with ample cooking space and excellent performance. It’s well-suited for both beginners and experienced grillers who are willing to invest in a premium product that’s built to last.

When it comes to the Cuisinart CGG-888 360 Griddle Cooking Center, one of the aspects that users often appreciate is the straightforward assembly process. The grill comes with a comprehensive instruction manual that provides step-by-step guidance, making the assembly a breeze even for those with little experience in putting together outdoor cooking equipment.

Most of the grill components are designed for easy attachment, requiring only a few basic tools such as a wrench and a screwdriver. The major parts, including the main body, frame, legs, and side tables, can be put together with minimal effort. Additionally, the caster wheels are conveniently pre-installed on the legs, ensuring smooth maneuverability right from the start.

On average, it takes about 30 minutes to an hour to fully assemble the Cuisinart 360 Griddle Cooking Center, depending on the user’s experience with assembling grills or similar equipment. Overall, it’s an easy and hassle-free assembly process, allowing you to spend less time setting up and more time enjoying the fantastic cooking experience that this versatile grill has to offer.

To thoroughly test the Cuisinart CGG-888 for a comprehensive review, we followed these steps:

1. Assembly and Initial Impressions:

We started by assembling the grill according to the manufacturer’s instructions, taking note of the ease of assembly, the quality of the components, and the overall build of the grill.

2. Heat Control and Distribution:

We tested the grill’s heat control by setting it to various temperatures and measuring the actual temperature with a reliable thermometer. We made sure to observe the evenness of the heat distribution by cooking food items at different areas of the griddle surface.

3. Cooking Versatility

We cooked a variety of dishes on the grill, including burgers, steaks, vegetables, and breakfast items like pancakes and bacon. This helped us assess the grill’s versatility and performance in different cooking scenarios, but also made for a truly delightful outdoor experience.

4. Dual Heat Zones

We tested the functionality of the dual heat zones by preparing dishes that require different temperature settings simultaneously: searing a steak on high heat while keeping vegetables warm on low heat.

5. Grease Management System:

We also paid attention to how the grease management system performs while cooking fatty items like bacon, evaluating the efficiency of the grease channel and how easy it is to clean after cooking.

6. Foldable Side Tables

The stability and functionality of the foldable side tables was tested by using them for food preparation and storage during cooking. We also considered the ease of folding and unfolding the side tables.

7. Durability

While testing the actual durability takes multiple used and a lot of time, we tried our best to assess the overall durability of the grill by examining the materials used in its construction, such as the stainless steel cooking surface and frame.

8. Portability and Storage:

We evaluated the ease of moving the grill around and storing it when not in use, considering the size and weight of the grill in relation to its portability.

9. Cleaning and Maintenance:

This was the least fun part, but we had to test how easy it is to clean and maintain the grill after using it. We checked how simple it is to remove and clean the grease cup, and observe how well the griddle surface can be cleaned.

10. Value for Money:

Finally, we assessed the value for money by considering the grill’s performance, features, build quality, and price compared to other griddle grills in the market.

The Cuisinart CGG-888 360 Cooking Center is an excellent flat-top grill for the modern BBQ enthusiast looking to up his grilling game. With its impressive performance, versatile cooking options, and durable construction, it’s a grill that’s built to last. While the size may be a bit intimidating and the price might seem steep, the value it provides is worth the investment.