Clean burn
The clean burn
The 2025 manual's "Self cleaning", as needed and whenever mould appears.
- Take the cooking grates out and wash them; they stay out.
- Light the charcoal.
- Fit the deflectors dirty side down on the accessory rack (the 2022 edition: both of them, with the Divide & Conquer rack in its top position).
- Open both vents fully and close the dome. Let it rise to 315 °C (600 °F).
- Hold about 315 °C for 15 to 20 minutes, or until no smoke shows.
- Close the draft door; below 205 °C (400 °F) 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Limits, and advice that is out of date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 2025 manual: do not exceed 398 °C (750 °F).
- No foil. The 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- Out of date.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 current 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.