Clean burning your kamado? Step-by-step instructions
Have you been using your kamado for a while? If so, you’ve probably noticed that the once-white interior is now covered with a layer of black soot. To restore the white colour, you might consider burning off the soot to clean the kamado. In some cases, clean burning a kamado can be a sensible decision – but in most cases, it’s completely unnecessary. So, when is it a good idea? And how do you do it correctly? Big Green Egg has all the answers and instructions you need.
When should you clean burn a kamado?
Let’s answer the big question straight away: Is it necessary to burn your kamado back to white? No, not at all. The black layer doesn’t do any harm and actually offers a few benefits.For example, it adds extra flavour to your food and improves heat retention within the kamado. Running your Big Green Egg at very high temperatures for prolonged periods can even cause cracks in the ceramic or damage other components. That said, there are certain situations where it’s worth considering clean burning your kamado. You might want to do this if you are having difficulties with the following issues:
- My kamado has developed an overly strong or unpleasant smoke flavour.
- My kamado is producing excessive smoke.
- My convEGGtor or Baking Stone is heavily blackened or dirty.
If any of these apply, clean burning may help – but always follow the steps below to avoid damaging your kamado or ceramic accessories.
Clean burning your kamado to remove a strong smoke flavour
The signature smoky taste is one of the reasons people love kamado cooking. But if the smoke becomes overpowering or unpleasant, clean burning may help. Here’s how to do it:
- Heat your kamado to 275°C: Seen advice elsewhere suggesting a higher temperature? Don’t do it. Temperatures above 275 °C can damage your kamado, harming both the felt and the hinges. There’s also no need to clean burn the interior completely white – that’s unnecessary.
- Maintain a constant temperature of 275°C for 30 minutes: This is enough to burn off dirt and residue inside the kamado.
- You’re ready to cook your dish: After 30 minutes, the kamado is clean and good to go. The ceramic may still be black inside – and that’s perfectly normal.
Clean burning your kamado to reduce (excessive) smoke
A kamado is meant to smoke, but it can produce too much. If you’re experiencing excessive smoke, running the EGG at a higher temperature for a short period may help. It’s not really clean burning, but it’s a similar method. Use this method if the smoke is caused by:
- Leftover fat from the previous session
- Leftover smoking wood from the previous session
- Damp charcoal
- Poor-quality charcoal
To reduce smoke buildup, you can use the following step-by-step plan:
- Heat the kamado to 200°C: Avoid going up to 300°C – it’s unnecessary and harmful to felt and hinges.
- Maintain the temperature for 15 minutes: This allows the kamado to burn off excess smoke.
- You’re ready to cook your dish: After 15 minutes, your kamado is ready to use again.
Clean burning my kamado Baking Stone or convEGGtor
Baked a pizza and now your baking stone looks charred? It’s completely understandable to want to clean it, or your convEGGtor, thoroughly. This requires a different method than clean burning a kamado. We will explain how to do this step by step below:
- Grab your baking stone or convEGGtor along with your EGGmits and Grid Scrubber: For this method, you need a few more tools. If you don’t have an EGGmits or Grid Scrubber, use your own heat-resistant gloves and grill brush.
- Remove the soot from your Baking Stone or convEGGtor: Use the Grid Scrubber to scrape off loose soot from your Baking Stone or convEGGtor.
- Place it upside down in the kamado: This puts the cooking surface directly over the fire for maximum effect.
- Heat the kamado to 250°C: Don’t exceed this as higher temperatures can damage your kamado.
- Maintain this temperature for one hour: This burns away grease and dirt from your Baking Stone or convEGGtor thoroughly.
- Your Baking Stone or convEGGtor is clean again! Your accessories are ready for use again.