First fire

The first, gentle fire (Classic II method)

The Big Joe manual has no first-fire section. It says only: keep the charcoal red hot for at least 30 minutes before you cook, and wait until it has a coat of ash. These steps are the Classic II's 2025 manual ("Initial Heating"), Kamado Joe's current advice for its Series II grills.

1. Check all the hardware is tight, bands and hinge included.
2. Wash the cooking grates in mild washing-up liquid and dry them.
3. Light a small to medium fire on the fire grate, within the Big Joe manual's limit of 4.5 kg (10 lb).
4. Keep the grill under 204 °C (400 °F) for 1 hour.
5. Shut it down.

Kamado Joe's chef seasons a Big Joe II on video with the firebox about a quarter full for 25 to 30 minutes, then cooks something fatty first.