Our neighbors have a neat little portable grill made by Cuisinart, and I must say we’re tempted to buy one. So are they any good?

Since 2008, the Fulham Group has been the exclusive licensee for Cuisinart outdoor cooking products. The Fulham Group is a consumer products manufacturer based in Newton, Massachusetts. However, Cuisinart products are made in China. Reviewers give Cuisinart portable grills 4.4 stars out of 5.

Join us as we discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Cuisinart brand, company history and products…

Where Are Cuisinart Portable Grills Made? (The USA?)

Nope. Cuisinart portable grills are made in China, not in the USA.

Who Makes Cuisinart Portable Grills? (Are They Trustworthy?)

Since 2008, the Fulham Group has been the exclusive licensee for Cuisinart outdoor cooking products.

The Fulham Group is a consumer products manufacturer based in Newton, Massachusetts. They launch top-name brands and innovative products in the home lifestyle industries.

What Products Are in The Cuisinart Portable Grills Collection?

Cuisinart’s line of portable – and adorable – grills are designed for campouts, beaches, small patios, picnics and tailgating parties. Some are tabletop and some have foldable legs. Most are powered by camp-sized gas canisters but larger models use a full size propane tank. 

Cuisinart also offers a portable, kettle-style charcoal grill. Cuisinart’s newest line has two portable wood pellet grills: one is a freestanding grill and one is a tabletop model.

The Cuisinart Petite Gourmet gas grill comes in two models. One model, the CGG-180, has telescoping legs that lock at three height levels – tabletop, mid-level and a full 30 inches tall. The second Petite model, the CGG-180T, is designed just for the tabletop. 

When you are done with the Petite Gourmet, the legs telescope down in seconds – or fold up – the lid latches closed and you are left to carry a briefcase-sized grill that weighs 14 pounds. The Petite Gourmet grills have 160 square inches of grill space and are fueled by 16-ounce, camp-size propane bottles.

Cuisinart’s Chef’s Style tabletop grills have one or two burners with electronic ignition. It uses a full-size propane tank. The heavy-duty stainless steel grates fill around 280 square inches of grill space. To transport the grill, the cover locks and the legs fold up.

The totally adorable Venture portable grill looks exactly like a picnic basket. Lift off the wooden cutting board cover and the grill sits on top of a holding area for a camp-size propane bottle. Sure, it’s tiny – it’s got one square foot of cooking space (that’s 144 square inches). But the stack and go design features a grill, a cutting board and a storage space, all weighing in at only 21 pounds.

Cuisinart offers two wood pellet grills, one that is freestanding and one that rests on a table. Both offer 8-in-1 grilling versatility: they can smoke, BBQ, grill, roast, sear, braise, bake and char-grill.

The freestanding model, the CPG-465, has 465 square inches of grill space and a hopper that holds 13 pounds of pellets. It has one meat probe and an integrated sear zone. These grills can be ignited electronically or manually.

What Size & Weight Are Cuisinart Portable Grills?

Cuisinart’s portable grills are small. The smallest, the Venture, looks just like a picnic basket. Including the handle, it is only 17 inches high and weighs only 24 pounds.

The largest portable grill is the freestanding wood pellet grill, the CPG-465. It has 465 square inches of grill space and weighs around 84 pounds.

Do Cuisinart Portable Grills Come With a Warranty?

Cuisinart warrants most of their portable grills against any defects in parts or workmanship for 12 months from the original purchase date. Some higher-value grills have a three-year warranty.

Can You Smoke & BBQ On a Cuisinart Portable Grill?

Yes! Ever hankered to sit around your campsite while a rack of baby back ribs is smoking? Cuisinart has just introduced the portable wood pellet grill and smoker. It can smoke, BBQ, grill, roast, sear, braise, bake and char-grill.

The Cuisinart tabletop wood pellet grill, the CPG-256, has 256 square inches of grill space, and the hopper can hold 4 pounds of pellets at a time. It has a digital temperature readout with a temperature range from 180° up to 500°F. It weighs a hefty 40 pounds. 

What Do Reviewers Say About Cuisinart Portable Grills?

We used reviews from Amazon and Home Depot. We used reviews from real people – not professional reviewers. Be aware that while combing through reviews, we realized that some of the review links were broken, so that reviews were actually from totally different products. 

We found almost 28,000 reviews – over half of them from the super popular kettle-style charcoal grill. Of all those reviews, reviewers gave Cuisinart portable grills 4.4 stars out of 5.

Most reviewers loved their grills. They were the quality they expected for the price. The grills were for occasional use, so the small price tag was just right.

Negative reviewers said even for a small price tag, the grills weren’t worth it. They were cheaply made. Some reviewers claimed that parts melted and latches stopped working. Other reviewers said that small grease traps created fire hazards and stainless steel grates were hard to clean.

How Much Do Cuisinart Portable Grills Cost?

The easiest grill for your pocketbook is the super popular kettle-style charcoal grill that comes in two colors: red and black. It will set you back around $30. 

Cuisinart’s portable wood pellet stove is the top of the portable line of grills. The freestanding CPG-465 model retails for $370.

How Do I Use a Cuisinart Portable Grill?

These instructions are for the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet CGG-180 grill.

1. Grill location. As always, set up your grill in an open space with plenty of airflow. Make sure to set it well clear of any flammable stuff like trees, bushes, roofs, pergola curtains, tents or awning. Never set any grill up inside a garage or other closed space. 
2. Propane set up. Find the gas regulator at the back of the grill and screw in the camp-sized propane tank.
3. Grease tray check. Make sure the grease tray is empty and firmly fitted into its space. Be aware that, on many reviews, the grease tray is a safety drawback because it’s very small. If possible, set up another grease-catching method under your grill, like some aluminum foil or an aluminum pan. Otherwise, you may have overflowing grease dripping down from the grill.
4. Grill set up. Fold-down the legs onto a tabletop or telescope them into a standing position.
5. Grill set up. Unlatch the grill lid.
6. Grill set up. Start the grill by pushing in and turning the power button. Adjust the grill temperature with the push button.
7. You’re ready to grill! This grill has no thermometer, so be sure to check the internal temperature of your meats with a probe-style thermometer.
8. After grilling. Be sure to scrape off the charred bits of food while the grate is still hot using a stainless steel brush.
9. Going home. Close and latch the lid. Unscrew the propane bottle. Fold up the legs. Grab the grill by the handle and you are ready to go.

Are Cuisinart Portable Grills Easy To Maintain?

Cuisinart portable grills will last longer with a little TLC. Grills get smokey and full of creosote. When the grill is totally cool, wash the interior and exterior with warm, soapy water. Avoid using strong cleansers like over-cleaners or abrasives. After soaping down the surfaces, rinse with warm water and towel them off.

Remove bits of meat or vegetables off the grill by scraping the grate with a wire brush while it’s still hot.

If you have a wood pellet grill, clean out the wood pellet ashes routinely. Completely cooled ashes can be sprinkled on your lawn, dug into flower beds or added to a compost pile.

How Do I Store My Cuisinart Portable Grill?

These grills are designed to live in your camper or on a shelf in your garage. They are compact – except for the freestanding pellet grill, which should be stored under a waterproof cover.

Before putting your portable grill away for the winter, be sure they are clean and dry. Clean off the interior and exterior surfaces with warm, soapy water. Then rinse with water and towel dry. Make sure the electronic temperature readouts are dry. Electronics and water are not a good combination. 

Then, check the nuts and bolts on your grill. They should be nice and tight.

Wood pellets soak up moisture like a sponge, swell and turn into sawdust. If you aren’t going to use your wood pellet grill for a while, be sure to empty the pellets out and store them in a waterproof container. Use a shop vac or a wire brush to empty out the auger. 

Conclusion: Where Can I Buy a Cuisinart Portable Grill?

Cuisinart portable grills can be purchased at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Crate and Barrel.