What the Knister Original is
The Knister Original is a charcoal grill made of two steel drawers that slide into each other. When you pull them apart by the wooden handles, the short box becomes a longer trough. Two stainless steel legs fold out underneath. In the product photo the body sits as a downward-tapering trough on the splayed legs, with a wooden handle at each end and rows of ventilation slots in the lower third.
Amazon lists the device as “Knister Grill Original” in black, item number MOV9956821. According to the instructions, the manufacturer is Babossa BBQ GmbH & Co. KG from Bergisch Gladbach. One attribution up front: the manufacturer’s pages show no Amazon ASIN. That our ASIN B081Z29YD9 belongs to the Original model is something we only know from Amazon’s catalogue data. According to our price box, the price is approx. €50.
The Amazon title speaks of a “massiver Edelstahl Rost” (solid stainless steel grate). That is true for the grate. It is not true for the body, more on that shortly.
Construction, material and dimensions
The body is made of 1.5 mm thick steel, which the manufacturer describes as fire-resistant painted. The racks are made of stainless steel, 2.5 mm thick, and the legs are also stainless steel. The two wooden handles are untreated ash. If you want stainless steel on the body too, you will only find it on the Premium model, which the manufacturer lists separately.
In the box you get a body made of two drawers, a large meat rack, a small vegetable rack, two wooden handles with two small screws, two legs and a wing screw. For the wood screws you need a Phillips screwdriver. The bike mount and the balcony or railing mount are not included.
On dimensions: set up, the grill measures 40 to 62 x 26 x 33 cm (length x width x height) according to the manufacturer, while the instructions give approx. 40 to 61 x 25 x 31 cm for the pulled-apart state. Packed together it is 17.5 x 38 x 27 cm. The ground clearance is 14 cm.
On weight, there is an error in circulation. The Amazon bullet point says 3.4 kg. The manufacturer and the instructions state 4.5 kg (the instructions: without bike mount), and Amazon’s own catalogue data lists 9.92 pounds, which is likewise approx. 4.5 kg. We go with 4.5 kg. The instructions also contain a statement of conformity with DIN EN 1860-1 (a standard that applies in Germany and the EU).
In detail: extension, air supply and two rack heights
The extension is the distinctive feature of the concept, and the instructions treat it strictly. You place the grill with the handles facing up on a level, firm surface, take off the racks and gently pull the wooden handles apart as far as they go. Never lift the grill into the air while you pull the drawers apart. Never pull it apart with the legs set up, and never push it together while it is still standing on its legs. The manufacturer adds that you should neither extend nor push it together during grilling.
The device can be used in both states, small and large, and the manufacturer assigns it to 2 to 6 people on its product page.
Air comes in through the slots in the body. The manufacturer speaks of a chimney effect: you put a firelighter under the charcoal, wait about 15 minutes, and fanning is not supposed to be necessary. The instructions recommend a different procedure. The grill is heated up before use, the charcoal glows through for around 30 minutes, and the food only goes on the rack once a layer of ash covers the fuel. Both times come from the manufacturer, and they do not necessarily contradict each other, since the 15 minutes describe lighting and the 30 minutes describe glowing through.
In our assessment, the adjustable factors that remain are the amount of charcoal and the rack height. The small rack can be turned by 90 degrees and slid into a slot 4 cm deeper. With this, according to the instructions, you grill at different temperatures or indirectly, and four skewers also fit in. Whether this means indirect cooking like under the lid of a kettle grill is left open by the instructions. A lid that guides the heat around the food is missing: the manufacturer states explicitly that the Knister has none. We would therefore assume direct heat.
The manufacturer gives the grilling area in three places and differently each time. The data table on the product page lists 22 x 28 to 52 cm (extendable), the FAQ on the same page 20 x 28 cm pushed together and 20 x 48 cm extended, the instructions 27 to 48 x 19.5 cm. Amazon speaks of about 2 A4 sheets. Two A4 sheets side by side are 59.4 cm long, more than any manufacturer value. We do not calculate an area from outer dimensions, and we do not want to commit to three different values. What is certain: the rack width lies between 19.5 and 22 cm. For six people we would plan on several rounds.
Is wood allowed in the Knister, and how much charcoal fits?
Yes, the manufacturer allows charcoal, briquettes and wood, on all Knister grills. The quantity limit in the instructions applies to charcoal: at most 1 kg, one third of the body height, only up to the upper edge of the ventilation slots.
In the wording of the instructions: “Höchstmögliche anzuwendende Menge des Brennstoffes (Holzkohle) ist ein Drittel der Korpushöhe bzw. bodenbedeckt bzw. maximal 1kg.” (The maximum amount of fuel (charcoal) is one third of the body height, or enough to cover the base, or at most 1 kg.) For wood, the manufacturer only specifies on its product page that you should load it like the charcoal.
It is lit with dry firelighters or special liquid grill lighters complying with EN 1860-3 (an EU standard). The instructions expressly forbid methylated spirits, petrol or similar liquids, including for relighting. Only light the charcoal in a wind-protected area.
How long a fill burns is not stated anywhere (more on this below). We therefore do not calculate running costs per grilling evening, as we lack the basis. The manufacturer counts the racks as wear parts in its warranty, and says it supplies replacements through support.
Cleaning, rust and safety
Before first use you wash the racks with warm soapy water. According to the instructions, racks and legs may go in the dishwasher, then dry them thoroughly. For the body and the wooden handles the statement is thinner: cleaning in the dishwasher is “theoretisch ebenfalls bei allen Modellen möglich” (theoretically also possible for all models), but the manufacturer accepts no responsibility for it. The manufacturer’s shop says the body can be rinsed in the dishwasher or with water, with the wooden handles removed beforehand. We would rinse the body by hand and dry it, for one reason: the instructions themselves say “da er aus Stahl ist, besteht die Möglichkeit, dass er rostet” (since it is made of steel, there is a possibility that it will rust).
What to do then is also stated there. Clean rust spots and touch them up with fire-resistant paint, remove ash before it gets damp, store dry. The warranty excludes paint flaking and light corrosion. The wooden handles are an untreated natural product; the instructions advise sanding them regularly with fine sandpaper and oiling them with, for example, olive oil.
For safety, the wording of the instructions applies, not our summary. Intended use is described like this: “Der Grill ist ausschließlich zur Verwendung im Freien geeignet und nur zur Verwendung im privaten Bereich bestimmt.” (The grill is suitable only for outdoor use and intended only for private use.) Carbon monoxide is the reason: “Dieses Gas ist geruchlos und kann in geschlossenen Räumen tödlich sein!” (This gas is odourless and can be fatal in enclosed spaces!) Among other things, the instructions name buildings, tents, caravans, motorhomes and boats as places where the grill must not be operated. If you are travelling with a tent, you grill in front of it, never inside.
For set-up, the instructions specify a level, horizontal, safe, heat-resistant and clean surface and at least 1.5 metres of distance from easily flammable materials, with examples such as trees, shrubs, grasses, awnings, wooden decks and furniture. The grill must not be transported while in use, and children and pets must be kept away. You should keep a fire extinguisher and first-aid kit ready, use long-handled grill tools with heat-resistant handles and gloves, and not wear loose sleeves. Use on a bicycle is forbidden: the instructions require you to take the grill off before using it.
For cooling down, the instructions require you to let the charcoal burn out completely, let the grill cool, remove the racks and only dispose of fully cooled charcoal. The wing screw serves as a transport lock here. The shop speaks of 5 minutes after emptying or extinguishing the charcoal until the grill can be transported again. We would stick to the version in the instructions.
What the manufacturer does not state
These gaps are all we found. We list them here once and leave them out of the rest of the text.
- Maximum operating temperature. Only the heat resistance of the paint is given, and it contradicts itself: instructions up to 600 °C, manufacturer’s shop fire-resistant up to 800 °C powder-coated.
- Burn time of a fill and charcoal consumption per grilling hour.
- Load capacity of the racks and load rating of the legs.
- Operating rules for the fire bowl: wood quantity and distance are missing, the 1 kg limit applies only to charcoal.
- Behaviour after several seasons. The instructions point to rust as a possibility; we have no evidence for or against rusting through.
- Balcony use: the instructions do not mention it, the balcony mount is an accessory.
- The price. The manufacturer’s shop and Amazon list the Original at clearly different prices, and no source gives the reason. We took the price from the price box (approx. €50) and advise comparing both offers before buying.
What else comes into question?
Three portable charcoal devices from our catalogue that a buyer weighs against the Knister. Prices and scores come from our reviews.
| Model | The difference | Price | Our score | Pick this one if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knister Original (this one) | Extension from 40 to up to 62 cm, no lid, 4.5 kg | approx. €50 | 8.2 | you want a light device with a fire bowl option and can do without a lid |
| Weber Go-Anywhere | Lid with vent sliders, 6.78 kg, no extension | approx. €95 | 8.3 | you want to cook with a lid for 2 to 4 people and accept the extra weight when carrying |
| FENNEK Grill light | approx. 2.3 kg including bag, folds flat, 27 x 18 cm grilling area | approx. €70 | 8.2 | pack size and weight matter more than space on the rack and you mostly grill for two |
| Everdure CUBE | One-piece enamelled trough with 670 cm² rack, 7 kg, only 0.5 kg of charcoal allowed | approx. €239 | 8.6 | you want a heavier tabletop device with a fixed trough and weight during transport is secondary |
In our price box the Weber costs approx. €95, the FENNEK approx. €70, the Everdure approx. €239 and the Knister approx. €50. The table is not suited to comparing durability or burn time, because we have no measured values on those. Prices are guide values according to the price box, and the score is an editorial assessment.
Decision guide: when the Knister, when another
First the time budget. Plan on 15 to 30 minutes until grilling starts: the manufacturer’s FAQ mentions about 15 minutes after lighting, and the instructions recommend letting the fuel glow through for 30 minutes and only putting food on once there is a layer of ash. How the two statements relate, the manufacturer does not say. For a quick evening after a bike ride that is fine. For two hours of cooking at low temperature, a grill without a lid and with at most 1 kg of charcoal is not designed, and we would choose a device with a lid, such as the Weber Go-Anywhere.
Then transport. At 4.5 kg and a pack size of 17.5 x 38 x 27 cm, the Knister fits in a backpack or bike basket. If you want to carry even less, look at the FENNEK; if you prefer to grill stably in one place, look at the Everdure CUBE.
Then the group. The manufacturer states 2 to 6 people. If you regularly grill for more than six, you will find larger devices in our overview of charcoal grills.
And the set-up location. A balcony stands or falls with the tenancy agreement and house rules, which the manufacturer does not know. Our guide to grilling on a balcony sorts out the rules. For camping and weekend trips, the camping grill guide helps. Whether charcoal or briquettes suit your plan better is explained in the article charcoal or briquettes. If you remain undecided, let the grill finder guide you.
Who is it suited to?
The Knister suits people who often grill on the move and want a device of 4.5 kg with a flat pack size, plus the option of burning wood in winter. The manufacturer draws the line itself: converting to gas is not possible with the Original, the Small and the Bayern Grill; for gas there is the Knister Gas Grill.
It is wrong for campers who want to grill in a tent or motorhome, because the instructions forbid that. It is also wrong for anyone relying on the warranty against rust: it excludes light corrosion. And it is wrong for anyone expecting a stainless steel body: the Original’s body is painted steel, while the stainless steel body belongs to the Premium model, which the manufacturer lists at a clearly higher price.
