Being an avid tailgater, I don’t apologize for being particular when buying just about anything. If I was to spend my hard-earned cheddar on a grill, for example, I would do my research first. You probably feel the same way and that’s why you’re going through a couple of Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center reviews to determine if this grill is the right fit for you.

Here, at Simply Tailgating, we do all the research for you, so all you have to do is sit back, read our reviews and make a decision on which grill suits you best. That’s exactly what we’ve done in this Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center review. So before you jump the gun and make the purchase, read below to learn about some shocking truths you should know about this grill.

About Cuisinart Grills:

Cuisinart is an American manufacturer of home and outdoor appliances. They manufacture and sell ice cream makers, microwaves, kitchen tools and portable grills, including the Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center. They publicly trade as Conair Corporation. The company was founded in 1971 by Carl Sontheimer and their headquarters are in Stamford, Connecticut.

Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center Features:

Cuisinart claims that the Cuisinart 360 Griddle Cooking Center is the brainchild of innovation and functionality, for that all-round grilling experience. With that in mind, let’s look at some of its outstanding features:

• 22” Griddle Cooking Surface – The 22” griddle, made of cold-rolled steel, settles above two independently controlled 30,000 BTU burners. That means you can grill at different temperatures, or sear your meat on one side while warming some veggies on the other.

• Stainless Steel Lid – A 10-inch tall stainless steel cover sits nicely atop the cooking surface for that additional heat. If you’re anything like me and you prefer your boneless chicken breasts to cook more evenly, then you know how important a lid is.

• Foldable Prep Table – There’s a foldable prep table on the left, with hooks for your spatulas and tongs and a paper towel holder. You want your seasoning containers or a cold beverage near you at all times, don’t you?

• 360-degree Grease Pan – Completing the cook-top setup is a 360-degree grease pan surrounding the griddle where food debris, grease, oils and such can be scraped onto. You can then collect the waste into the grease cup located in the rear of the grill.

Other Notable Features:

• Four independent caster wheels (two of which lock).
• Uses a 20 pound propane tank
• Requires assembly

Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center Cleaning & Maintenance:

Heads-up, the Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center doesn’t come pre-seasoned, so you may want to buy extra seasoning oil along with the grill. Either way, to clean it, here’s what you do:

Interior Cleaning

Before you season the griddle, clean the surface with mild soap and warm water, rinse and let it dry off. The manufacturer recommends applying two or three coats of oil with a bristle brush or paper towel.

Exterior Cleaning

The exterior of the grill is made of blackened stainless steel. So warm, soapy water and a scrub will do. Thoroughly scrape off oil drips or dirt, then give it a good rinse and let it dry. Same applies for the side shelf, lid and cookbox.

Storage

Before storing away the grill, season the griddle nicely. In my experience, canola oil, peanut oil or even flaxseed work best but you can also use spray-can vegetable oil too. The lid should provide additional protection to the griddle. Once you’re done, cover it with the model’s grill cover. You can find the grill cover on Amazon.com.

Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center Portability:

The Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center is perhaps not your dream portable grill, but they give it a shot with four caster wheels, two of which lock. But the unit weighs 60 pounds, not accounting for the 20 pound propane tank. But you can use the smaller screw-in tanks if you wish. It measures 31.8” long, 40” wide and stands 43.6” above ground. So you may want to consider your storage options when taking this beast out for a spin.

Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center Warranty​:

This CGG-888 360° Cooking Center warranty covers defects for up to 3 years. If the grill arrived damage, let the manufacturer know within 30 days. Here’s what the warranty does not cover:

• Damage caused by improper assembly or disregard of the manual.
• Use of spare parts not supplied by the manufacturer or damage resulting from modifications or inappropriate use.
• Damage caused by improper maintenance or repairs by an unauthorized person.

Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center​ ​Accessories:

Cuisinart took a pretty good shot at making the CGG-888 360° Cooking Center grill functional, but you can of course take things a notch higher with these accessories:

• Cast-iron cooking grates
• Grill cover and Melting dome
• Griddle cleaning kit

You can get these items on Amazon.com where there all sorts of deals and offers to take advantage of, like the FREE 1-2 Day Delivery of you are a Prime member. Another great store with amazing deals and perfect for saving is Walmart.com. You should definitely give them a look.

Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center ​Replacement Parts:

Not all parts of the grill will stand the test of time, so it’s always good to know what your options are in case one breaks down. So with the Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Griddle, you can replace the following:

• Drip tray
• 42” adapter hose
• Burner unit
• Caster wheels
• Igniter knobs

Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center Cost:

Scoring a great deal on an amazing product makes shopping online all the more worthwhile. With that in mind, the Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center costs around $270. For the best price, check it out on Amazon.com, for discounts and offers plus FREE 1-2 Day shipping if you are a Prime member. Shopping on Walmart.com also guarantees you amazing prices. 

Check the latest price on Amazon

Check the latest price on Walmart

What Do We Like?​

The Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center is an exciting unit to say the least. It may be heavy, but the following features counter the weight problem:

Independent Temperature Control – With the knobs heating the two burners independently, you have the option of cooking two different meals at once. You can also keep ready food warm as you’re cooking.

Easy to clean – Keeping things tidy, even while cooking shouldn’t be a problem. Grease and unwanted food settles onto the 360-degree drain pan surrounding the griddle.You can drain away the debris into the removable drip tray behind the grill.

Functional – The grill’s lid has vents meaning you can roast, steam, warm or smoke with the grill. Adding its dual-cooking capability and the wheels for mobility makes the grill pretty functional.

Cuisinart 360 Griddle Cooking Center Complaints:

No matter how functional and easy to use the Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Griddle may be, here are a couple of complaints about it you should be aware of so you can decide whether it is a worthy investment.

The burner knobs wear out easily – Veteran grilling customers say the knobs give in after a couple of cooking rounds. So you may have to replace the knobs several times over the grill’s lifetime.

You’ll have trouble controlling heat – The grill’s temperature tops 700 degrees. It’s great for grilling a thick T-Bone steak, but the lowest heat setting is still too high for slow cooking.

Other Tailgating Grills to Consider:

If you’re just not convinced that this grill is the right match for your money, check out these Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Griddle alternatives.

• Char-Broil Classic 280– Almost similar in size for half the price
• Coleman RoadTrip LXE – Same size, better heat control
• Weber Jumbo Joe – Round, charcoal-based table-top alternative

Should You Buy the CGG-888 360° Cooking Center?

The Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Griddle is definitely a great tailgating grill, especially if you’re expecting to feed an army. 22 inches of cooking space means you can fit 12-15 burgers at once, not forgetting you have the option of using different temperature settings at once. It’s a functional grill fit for any occasion. It may be heavy, but the thought of four wheels should cheer you up. So if you’re looking for a large grill that can comfortably satisfy the cravings of a dozen tailgaters, this one may prove worthy.

What’s Hot:

• Independent temperature control
• Functional
• Easy to clean

What’s Not:

• Weak burner knobs
• Troublesome temperature control

Well, that’s our Cuisinart CGG-888 360° Cooking Center review. Feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and experiences about this or any other grill in the comments section below. If you have any questions about this unit, you can find answers to FAQs about it on the product’s page on Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

Chris