Clean burn

The clean burn

The manual's self-cleaning (p. 15), as needed and whenever mould appears.

1. Lift the cooking grates out of the way.
2. Light the charcoal.
3. Set the Divide & Conquer rack in its top position with both deflectors on the accessory rack, dirty side down.
4. Open both vents fully and close the dome. Let it rise to 315 °C (600 °F).
5. Hold it there for 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Close the draft door, wait another 15 to 20 minutes, then close the Kontrol Tower and let it go out.

Once it is cold, brush the ceramic and the deflectors with a soft brush.

Limits, and advice that is out of date

• The ceiling. The Big Joe manual's guide tops out at 398 °C (750 °F); the Classic II's 2025 manual says plainly do not exceed it.
• No foil. Kamado Joe's Classic II manual: do not cover the cooking racks with foil; it traps heat and may cause damage.
• Grease and the gasket. In a Kamado Joe gasket video, flames running up the inside wall at high heat scorched the gasket and set the grease in it alight. Clean off grease and sauce before a burn.
• Out of date. A 2013 video on Kamado Joe's channel (Classic I) burns at 343 to 371 °C (650 to 700 °F) for 30 minutes, and Kamado Joe's 2026 spring-cleaning blog says 260 to 343 °C for 20 to 30 minutes. Both run hotter than the manual. Follow the manual: 315 °C for 15 to 20 minutes.

The burn needs no dome opening. If you must open it, burp it first: Above 175 °C (350 °F), lift the dome 5 to 8 cm for about 5 seconds before you open it fully, face and body clear.