It’s an exciting time to be a dedicated tailgater, with the new NFL season upon us. Yes, it’s that time of year again when we need to do an equipment check to make sure we have the essentials for our first NFL tailgating experience of the year. You have had months to prepare, but some of us wait for the last minute. That’s probably why you’re going through Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill reviews to see if this grill is worth grabbing at the eleventh hour.

Well, if you’re the procrastinating type and don’t have your grill yet, no worries, Simply Tailgating has got you covered. This Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill review will tell you all you need to know about this grill and then some. You may want to pay attention though because based on our research, there are some hard truths you’ll have to consider before committing to this grill.

About Cuisinart Grills:

Company Highlights

• Company Name: Conair Corporation
• URL: Cuisinart.com
• Address: Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
• Founder: Carl Sontheimer

Cuisinart is an American manufacturer of home appliances such as cookware, dinnerware, catering equipment and portable grills, including the Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill. The company was founded by Carl Sontheimer; an MIT graduate inspired by his love for french food and fine dining. The company is currently owned by Conair Corporation and they’re headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut here in the US.

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Features:

Features Highlights

• Fuel Source: Charcoal
• Cooking Capacity: 14″ Chrome plated grill surface – 150 Square inches
• Construction: Enamel coated firebox and lid
• Elevation: Stand-up
• Size & Weight: 14.5 x 14.5 x 15 in, 2lbs
• Assembly: Required

The Cuisinart brand is an amalgamation of the words “Cuisine” and “Art,” meaning their appliances inspire artful cooking of cuisine-grade meals. So how veracious was Cuisinart while making the CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill? Let’s take a look:

150 Square Inches Cooking Surface – The grill’s cooking surface can fit 8-10 burgers at once, with the cookbox able to hold enough charcoal for a 5-6 hour grilling session. So, you can comfortably feed up to 10 people depending on what you’re cooking.

Chrome Plated Cooking Grate – Atop your scorching charcoal is a chrome plated cooking grate that’s non stick and easy to clean. You don’t really have to worry about cold spots with charcoal grills, and chrome plated grates impressively hold heat.

Dual Venting System – Perhaps an underrated feature with charcoal grills, but a well designed venting system controls the temperature of your grill while helping you manage charcoal consumption. Unlike gas and electric grills, you can’t really turn your charcoal grill on and off with the turn of a knob. So, this grill’s dual venting system is a great feature to have.

Enamel Coated Firebox and Ash Catcher – The enamel coating on the firebox, lid and ash catcher should make cleaning the grill a breeze. Grilling using charcoal can get messy pretty fast, with ash and charcoal doing little to promise a neat cooking experience

Other Notable Features:

• Three secure lid locks
• Plastic lid handle
• Painted steel legs
• Available in red and black

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Cleaning & Maintenance:

There’s everything wrong with not cleaning your grill, especially charcoal grills. From grease fires to rust buildup or even germ accumulation. It’s a terrible idea not to clean your grill. With that in mind, here’s how you clean the Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill:

Exterior Cleaning

The lid, firebox and legs are painted steel, so warm, soapy water should bring back the shine. Once you’re done, rinse and let dry.

Interior Cleaning

Remove the cooking grate and empty the firebox. The grates are fairly easy to clean. Use a plastic bristle brush to scrub off food residue. Then, with soapy water and a scrub, give the cookbox and chrome plated grate a good old bathe, then rinse and let dry.

Storage 

Your grill should stand the test of time if you keep it clean and dry. Always use a grill cover to protect any grill you own. You can get a commercial grill cover for your CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill on Amazon.com for around $50.

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Portability:

The Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill is one of the most portable grills we have ever reviewed, only second to the Coleman Fold-N-Go. It weighs just 2 pounds and it is extremely easy to dismantle and reassemble the 14.5”x 15” unit. You shouldn’t have a problem carrying it around, with the enameled grates and cookbox contributing to the features that make up a true outdoor grill.

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Warranty:

The 190RB grill comes with a three year warranty from the date of purchase. Cuisinart doesn’t cover damage caused by faulty maintenance or improper use, assembly or use of off-market spare parts.

But, you don’t have to worry about warranty issues when you shop on Amazon.com, where you’re guaranteed quality products and superb, reliable customer service.

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Accessories:

So maybe you just bought your grill and you’re excited about your next tailgate experience. But you can only do so much with it if you don’t accessorize some more. That said, here are a couple of Cuisinart CCG-190RB Grill accessories:

• Flavored wood chips
• Charcoal briquettes
• Chimney starter
• Cuisinart branded toolset

You can shop for these accessories and more on Amazon.com for the best price and great deals like the 1-3 Day Free Delivery if you’re a Prime member.

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Replacement Parts:

There are several reasons why your grill can give in to the pressure of continued use. One of the most popular is the lack of replacement parts. So you may want to keep in mind that besides the grate, no other part of the Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill is replaceable. But that’s nothing strange with charcoal grills of this kind.

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Cost:

One of the best things with online shopping is that you’ll know when to expect pain at checkout, or if you’re scoring a great deal. For instance, you can get the Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill for a little under $30. This deal and other great prices and discounts on grills, such as the Free 1-2 Day shipping if you are a Prime Member, are available on Amazon.com.

What Do We Like?

It’s no surprise that 4 out of 5 buyers loved their Cuisinart CCG-190RB. So here’s what stood out on our end:

Compact and Portable – The grill is super lightweight, weighing just 2 pounds. It also measures 14.5 x 14.5 x 15 in (LWH), translating to a compact and portable grill you can take virtually anywhere. You may have to consider your storage options if your trunk is not as large, but it’s pretty easy to assemble the unit.

Stylish and Durable -It’s pretty hard to find a charcoal grill that is both beautiful and considerably sturdy. More often than not you have to compromise and choose one. But with the CCG-190RB, you get a sturdy grill with a nice shine.

Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill Complaints:

The perfect grill does not exist, as far as I know. If you come across one, feel free to point me to it. So, here’s what is frustrating about the Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Grill:

It’s not heat-treated – Most grills made of painted steel are usually heat treated to protect the paint and overall look of the grill. The overall construction is of good quality, but only while new. After a couple of cooking rounds the lid begins to decolor and if you have the red model, you should expect nasty heat maps on the lid that eventually dents.

No replacement parts – If one or more parts of the grill requires replacement you may have to settle for off-market parts. It seems the latches are usually the first to go based on what customers are saying, followed by the lid handle and eventually the lid.

Other Tailgating Grills You May Like: 

• Weber Q 2200 – A tabletop, charcoal alternative
• Cuisinart CGG-180T – Functional, portable and versatile grill
• Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 – Tabletop gas grill with impressive BTUs

Should You Buy The Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill?

The Cuisinart CCG-190RB is a functional, affordable and beautiful grill, with a nifty design for outdoor use. What makes the grill stand out is its portability, weighing just 2 pounds. You’ll of course have to get over the heat treatment problem, as most grills of its class don’t develop heat maps after continued use.

But the cooking space is enough to feed up to 10 tailgaters and you shouldn’t have a problem bringing your meat to sear – a characteristic of most charcoal grills. For a $30 grill you don’t expect outstanding features, but accounting for the price versus utility, this grill definitely stands out, which is what we’ve come to expect from Cuisinart.

If you’ve resolved to buy this grill, you can enjoy deals for it on Amazon.com, such as the FREE Guaranteed 1-3 Day Delivery, if you’re a Prime member.

What’s Hot?

• Portable and compact
• Stylish and durable

What’s Not?

• No replacement parts
• Gives in to extreme heat

Well, it’s a wrap, folks! Would you buy the Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill? Feel free to share your two cents in the comments section below. If you have more questions about the grill, you can find answers on the product’s Amazon page.

Chris