Nexgrill Fortress 2-Burner Cast Aluminum vs Cuisinart Chef's Style Stainless Tabletop Grill
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Quick take: The Nexgrill Fortress 2-Burner Cast Aluminum costs $25 less; the Cuisinart Chef's Style Stainless Tabletop Grill offers more cooking space (275 vs 263 sq in).
| Spec | Nexgrill Fortress 2-Burner Cast Aluminum | Cuisinart Chef's Style Stainless Tabletop Grill |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$200 | ~$225 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Gas Grill | Gas Grill |
| Cooking Area | 263 sq in | 275 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Propane/Natural Gas | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Cast Aluminum Lid and Firebox / Cast Iron Grids / 304 Stainless Burners | Stainless Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | 2 | 2 |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 27.3 x 19.6 x 15 in | 21.5 x 19 x 15 in |
| Weight | — | 24 lbs |
| Warranty | — | 3 years |
Pros & cons
Nexgrill Fortress 2-Burner Cast Aluminum
- ✓Cast aluminum body will not rust through, unlike the painted steel used by nearly every rival at $200
- ✓Battery-free push-and-turn ignition removes the most common failure point on portables
- ✓Two independently adjustable burners give real two-zone cooking on a tabletop unit
- ✓263 sq in is generous for a tabletop — close to a Weber Q's 320 at half the price
- ✓Built-in lid thermometer rather than a bare lid
- ✗13,500 BTU is genuinely low; preheat is slow and recovery slower
- ✗Tabletop only — there is no stand, folding cart or wheels of any kind
- ✗Nexgrill does not publish a weight or a warranty term for this model
- ✗No side burner, no searing zone, no probe
Cuisinart Chef's Style Stainless Tabletop Grill
- ✓20,000 BTU on a 24 lb portable is the highest heat-to-weight ratio in this batch by a wide margin
- ✓Two independently controlled burners give real two-zone cooking on a tabletop
- ✓3-year warranty, better than most portables and matching some full-size budget grills
- ✓All-stainless construction at 24 lbs — genuinely one-hand carryable
- ✓Legs fold up and latch the lid closed, so it travels without a separate strap
- ✗275 sq in is less grate than the Weber Traveler's 320 despite costing about half
- ✗Tabletop only — no stand, cart or wheels, so it always needs a surface
- ✗Thin stainless lid means poor heat retention in wind or cold
- ✗Runs on 1 lb canisters out of the box; a 20 lb tank needs a separate adapter hose