How to Clean a Kamado Joe Grill Without Hurting the Ceramic

To clean a Kamado Joe, clear the ash with the ash tool, then let heat do the scrubbing: run the grill at 500 to 650°F for 20 to 30 minutes to burn off grease and carbon. Brush the grates once it cools, wipe the top vent and outside with mild soapy water, and skip harsh cleaners. The ceramic is porous and soaks them up.

A Kamado Joe is the grill that makes the neighbors wander over. It smokes a brisket low and slow, sears steaks like a steakhouse, and turns out pizza the kids brag about at school. But when the temperature won’t climb, or it climbs and won’t come back down, the family pitmaster starts blaming the charcoal, the weather, and the dog. Usually the real problem is ash and gunk. Good news: a Kamado Joe is built to clean itself like a self-cleaning oven. You just have to know how to let it.

How do you clean a Kamado Joe grill?

Clear the ash, burn off the buildup, then wipe and check the parts. That’s the whole system. Kamado Joe’s own cleaning guide says the biggest mistake is thinking a kamado needs heavy scrubbing. It doesn’t. It needs airflow and heat.

1. Wait for a cold grill. Start only when the grill and the coals are completely cold, ideally the morning after a cook.
2. Stir and clear the ash. Use the ash tool in a circle to knock ash down through the fire grate, then pull it out through the draft door or ash drawer into a metal pail.
3. Run a burn-off. Light it and run the grill at 500 to 650°F for 20 to 30 minutes with the grates and deflectors inside. Grease and carbon burn away.
4. Brush the grates once cool. After the grill cools, brush the grates and wipe the deflector plates. Rub a light coat of oil on the grates.
5. Wipe the top vent. Open the Kontrol Tower top vent and wipe it with mild soapy water, underside included. Dry it.
6. Wash the outside gently. Clean the outside of the dome with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Dry it.
7. Check the gasket and hinge. Look for a flattened, torn, or peeling gasket and a lid that doesn’t close square. Note anything you find.

Hack: Do the burn-off right after a greasy cook, while you’re already lit. Open the vents, let it run hot for 20 to 30 minutes, and shut it down. Tomorrow-you will be grateful.

Kid job: Make a kid the official vent inspector. They hold the flashlight, you wipe. Nobody has ever been fired from that job.

How do you clean the ash out of a Kamado Joe?

Stir the cold ash with the ash tool in a circular motion so it falls through the fire grate, then pull it out through the draft door or the ash drawer. Kamado Joe says even small amounts of ash can restrict airflow and make it hard to reach or hold your target temperature.

Leftover lump charcoal is fine to reuse. Shake the small bits and ash off, then add fresh charcoal on top. Dump the ash into a metal pail, not a plastic trash can. Ash can hide live coals long after the grill feels cold. Our guide to charcoal grill ash disposal covers the safe way to handle it.

Can you use soap and water on a Kamado Joe?

Yes, but only mild soapy water, and only in the right places. The ceramic is porous, so harsh cleaners can soak in and come back out as smoke and off flavors.

Kamado Joe also says to keep all grill parts out of the dishwasher, because the heat and detergent can damage surfaces and leave residue. Its complete cleaning guide adds a gasket check and a look at the vents and draft door so they open fully.

Why won’t my Kamado Joe hold temperature after cleaning?

Most of the time it’s still airflow or a leaky seal. Check for ash packed under the fire grate, a top vent gummed up from long smokes, and a gasket that has flattened or pulled away. If the lid doesn’t close square, air sneaks in and the fire runs hot. Spots or dimples in the ceramic are normal, Kamado Joe says. Cracks are not.

What our techs see

On kamados around DFW, our techs mostly find ash packed tight under the fire grate, top vents sticky with smoke residue, and gaskets that have flattened after a few hot sears. We also see grills that sat closed through a humid stretch and grew a fuzzy coat inside. Most of that comes right back with a good ash-out and a burn-off. The ones that need us usually have a worn gasket, a lid that no longer lines up, or parts the owner has scrubbed with something too harsh.

Where DIY stops

Ash, burn-offs, and wiping vents are homeowner jobs. Call a pro if you see a crack in the firebox or dome, if the gasket is torn or peeling, if the hinge or lid alignment is off, or if the grill still won’t hold temperature after a full clean. A kamado dome is heavy, and hinge work is not a one-person job.

Kamado and charcoal grill cleaning in Dallas-Fort Worth

Texas Grill Clean has cleaned and repaired DFW grills since 2015, kamados included. Our professional grill cleaning covers the ash, grates, vents, and seals so your Kamado Joe heats evenly and impresses the crowd again. We serve the whole metroplex, from Dallas to Fort Worth. Own a Big Green Egg too? Here’s our Big Green Egg cleaning guide. Call (817) 791-4606 or book online.

Cleaning a Kamado Joe: FAQ

How do you clean the inside of a Kamado Joe?

Let heat do most of the work. Kamado Joe recommends running the grill at 500 to 650°F for 20 to 30 minutes to burn off grease and carbon, then brushing the grates once it cools. Clear the ash with the ash tool through the draft door. Skip harsh cleaners inside, because the ceramic is porous and soaks them up.

Can you use soap and water on a Kamado Joe?

Mild soapy water is fine on the outside of the ceramic dome, the Kontrol Tower top vent, and soapstone. Kamado Joe says to skip harsh cleaners because porous ceramic absorbs chemicals. Clean cast iron grates without soap when you can and re-oil them. Never put any Kamado Joe parts in the dishwasher.

How often should you clean out the ash in a Kamado Joe?

Clear the ash before every cook or every other cook, depending on how long you ran it. Even a small layer of ash chokes airflow, and airflow is how a kamado holds temperature. Use the ash tool in a circle to knock ash through the fire grate, then pull it out through the draft door or ash drawer.

Is it normal for my Kamado Joe ceramic to look spotty or dimpled?

Yes. Kamado Joe says natural discoloration or small dimpling in the ceramic happens over time and does not affect performance. Cracks are a different story. A crack in the firebox or dome, a gasket that is flattened or peeling, or a lid that no longer seals is worth a closer look before your next long cook.

Does Texas Grill Clean service kamado grills in DFW?

Yes. Texas Grill Clean services charcoal and kamado grills, along with gas, pellet, and built-in grills, across Dallas-Fort Worth. We clear the ash and debris, clean the grates and vents, check the gasket and hinge, and tell you plainly what needs attention. Call (817) 791-4606 to schedule a kamado cleaning.

Written by the Texas Grill Clean team. Cleaning and repairing DFW grills since 2015.