Clean burn

The clean burn

The 2024 manual's self-clean, as needed and whenever mould appears.

1. Take the cooking grate out and wash it; it stays out.
2. Light the charcoal, no more than 1.36 kg (3 lb).
3. Fit the accessory rack and the deflector dirty side down.
4. Open both vents fully (swing the top vent's cap aside) and close the dome. Let it rise to 315 °C (600 °F).
5. Hold about 315 °C for 15 to 20 minutes, or until no smoke shows.
6. Close the draft door; below 205 °C (400 °F) close the top vent and let it go out.

The 2020 and 2021 manuals close the top vent after another 15 to 20 minutes.

Limits, and advice that is out of date

• The ceiling. The 2024 manual: do not exceed 398 °C (750 °F), and never more than 1.36 kg (3 lb) of charcoal.
• No foil. Kamado Joe's Classic manual: do not cover the grate with foil; it traps heat and may cause damage.
• Grease and the gasket. In a Kamado Joe gasket video (Big Joe I, felt like the Joe Jr.'s), flames running up the inside wall at high heat scorched the felt 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• Out of date.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.