Cleaning the ash out of a Kamado Joe is critical for proper temperature control. Unfortunately, the stock sliding ash drawer doesn't always make it easy. After a long cook, the shallow ash drawer can be completely full, with additional ash accumulating around it and behind it. Just pulling out the drawer can cause ash to spill onto the patio and your shoes. Neglecting to remove the ash after several cooks can allow it to restrict airflow through the lower vent, affecting your ability to maintain temperature.
I replaced the Kamado Joe-branded charcoal basket and sliding ash drawer in my Kamado Joe Classic II with the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can in October 2025. After using them together for both hot-and-fast and low-and-slow cooks, I consider them some of the most practical upgrades I have made to my Kamado Joe. The combination of the Kick Ash Can and Kick Ash Basket gives me more ash capacity, easier cleanup and a less-restricted path for air to reach the charcoal.
However, replacing the original ash drawer assembly also introduces a potential safety concern that you should consider before making this modification.
Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can
Summary
What I like:
- The Kick Ash Can holds considerably more ash than the stock Kamado Joe ash drawer
- Cleaning out the grill is faster and less messy
- The basket makes it easy to separate reusable charcoal from loose ash
- Wider spaces between the basket's bars allow air to reach the charcoal more freely
- The grill lights and reaches cooking temperature faster
- Neither product has caused fit, rattling, or performance problems in my Classic II
- Both pieces are made from stainless steel
What I don't like:
- Installing the Kick Ash Can requires removing the firebox in order to remove the original ash drawer receptacle
- The appearance of both the basket and can changes after repeated exposure to high heat
- It's easy to knock the firebox retaining ring loose if you aren't careful when lifting the basket
- Removing the stock drawer assembly creates a risk that a small piece of burning charcoal could escape through the lower vent and start a fire
- Buying both pieces is more expensive than continuing to use the stock sliding ash drawer included with the grill
Bottom line: I recommend buying the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can together. The basket makes managing leftover charcoal easier, while the can catches the ash and provides considerably more capacity than the original drawer. They work best as a system. I would not, however, recommend this configuration for a Kamado Joe sitting directly on a combustible wood or composite deck.
Jump to:
- What Are the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can?
- Why I Replaced the Kamado Joe Ash Drawer
- How I Tested Them
- Kick Ash Basket Performance
- Kick Ash Can Performance
- Does the Kick Ash System Improve Airflow?
- Installation Is More Involved Than It Appears
- Build Quality and Durability
- The Most Important Safety Concern: Escaping Hot Charcoal
- Kick Ash Basket vs. the Kamado Joe Charcoal Basket
- Should You Buy the Kick Ash Basket, the Kick Ash Can or Both?
- Are the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can Worth the Money?
- Who Should Buy the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict
- Where to Buy
- More Kamado Joe Resources
What Are the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can?
Although they are designed to work together, these products perform two different jobs. The Kick Ash Basket holds the lump charcoal while allowing small pieces of charcoal and loose ash to fall through the spaces between its stainless-steel bars. Depending on your grill and preferred configuration, it can be used with or without the lower charcoal grate. I removed the cast-iron charcoal grate.
The Kick Ash Can sits beneath the basket and catches what falls through. Instead of scraping ash into the Kamado Joe's small sliding drawer, you lift the Can out of the grill and empty it.
Kick Ash sells different sizes for different grills, so you need to select the products designed for your particular Kamado Joe. I tested the Classic Kick Ash Basket and corresponding Kick Ash Can in a Kamado Joe Classic II.
According to the manufacturer, the Classic Kick Ash Basket fits the Kamado Joe Classic I, II and III. It is made from electropolished stainless steel and carries a three-year manufacturer's warranty. The matching Kick Ash Can is also made from electropolished stainless steel and is available in different depths, so check the space beneath your firebox before ordering.
The Kick Ash Can does not work with the Kamado Joe's existing ash drawer. Installing it requires removing the original ash collection assembly.
Why I Replaced the Kamado Joe Ash Drawer
The sliding ash drawer included with the Kamado Joe seems convenient, but it has two important limitations. First, it doesn't hold very much ash. One long brisket or pork shoulder cook can produce enough ash to fill the drawer. Once it is full, additional ash accumulates on top of the drawer, around its sides and behind it. That makes cleanup messier than it should be.
When you pull out a drawer that is overflowing, ash can spill onto the patio or blow around in the slightest breeze. The drawer collects some of the ash, but it does not prevent ash from accumulating elsewhere in the bottom of the grill.
Second, that accumulation can interfere with airflow. Air enters through the lower vent before moving up through the charcoal. If the ash drawer and the space surrounding it become packed with ash, the fire may not receive the airflow it needs.
Eventually, a thorough cleaning requires removing the cooking grates, Divide & Conquer rack, heat deflectors, firebox ring and internal ceramic components. Only then can you reach the bottom of the grill with a shop vacuum. What should be a quick cleanup can become a dirty, 30-minute project.
The Kick Ash Can does not eliminate the need to clean the grill occasionally, but it captures far more of the ash than the stock ash drawer.
How I Tested Them
I purchased the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can at full retail price and installed them in my Kamado Joe Classic II in October 2025. The Kick Ash Basket replaced the Kamado Joe-branded stainless-steel charcoal basket I had been using, while the Kick Ash Can replaced the original sliding ash drawer and its surrounding receptacle.
I have used the basket and can together for regular grilling and long smoking sessions. My evaluation is based on the areas that matter during actual use: charcoal preparation, airflow, startup time, ash capacity, cleanup, fit and durability.
I have also compared the amount of ash held by the original Kamado Joe drawer with the same ash transferred into the Kick Ash Can. The difference in usable capacity is substantial. The amount that fills the stock ash drawer barely fills the can halfway.
Kick Ash Basket Performance
One of the most tedious parts of preparing a Kamado Joe for another cook is separating reusable charcoal from ash. The Kick Ash Basket makes the process easier. After the grill is completely cool, I lift the basket by its handles and shake it gently. Loose ash and small pieces of charcoal fall through the bars into the Kick Ash Can, while the larger pieces of lump charcoal remain in the basket for the next cook.
Of course, the basket can only work with the charcoal you put in it. Lump charcoal varies considerably in piece size, density, ash production and the amount of usable charcoal you actually get in a bag. I tested those differences across several popular brands in my Best Lump Charcoal for the Kamado Joe comparison, including which brands provided the best combination of quality, performance and value.
Shaking out the ash is similar to the process with the Kamado Joe stainless-steel basket, but both baskets are much easier to clean than the stock cast-iron charcoal grate. I prefer the Kick Ash Basket because its wider bar spacing allows more ash to fall into the can and creates a less-restricted path for airflow. It also does not create a significant cloud of dust because the basket is shaken directly above the can. Most of the falling ash lands directly in the Can, although a small amount can still collect around it in the firebox.
The Kick Ash Basket has wider gaps between its bars than the Kamado Joe basket it replaced. In my experience, the less-restricted airflow helps the charcoal light faster and allows the grill to reach temperature sooner. I'll discuss that airflow difference in more detail below.
I have not noticed that the Kick Ash Basket causes the charcoal to burn faster or makes the grill less efficient. Once the Kamado Joe is at the desired temperature, I still control the fire with the upper and lower vents as usual.
The Kick Ash Basket is also easy to lift when it is full. You do need to lift it carefully, however. If you pull it sideways or allow it to catch against the surrounding ceramics, you can knock the metal firebox retaining ring out of position.
Kick Ash Can Performance
The Kick Ash Can is the less visually interesting of the two products, but it provides the more noticeable improvement. Its biggest advantage is capacity. The original Kamado Joe drawer is shallow and can fill during a long cook. The Kick Ash Can is substantially deeper and captures ash across a much larger area beneath the basket.
In my use, it can hold the ash from several cooks. I generally empty it after approximately three cooks rather than after every use. How frequently you need to empty yours will depend on cooking duration, temperature and the type of lump charcoal you burn.
More capacity means ash is less likely to accumulate high enough to obstruct the lower air intake during a 10 or 12-hour cook. It also means I no longer have to pull out a small, overflowing drawer and attempt to carry it without spilling ash.
Once the grill is completely cool, the cleanup process is straightforward:
- Lift out the Kick Ash Basket
- Shake it gently over the can to remove loose ash
- Set the basket aside
- Lift out the Kick Ash Can
- Empty the cold ash into an appropriate container
- Return the can and basket to the grill
The process is fast, and nearly all the ash comes out at once.
Does the Kick Ash System Improve Airflow?
In my Kamado Joe Classic II, it does. There are two ways it improves airflow. First, the wider spaces in the Kick Ash Basket allow air to circulate through the charcoal more freely. Second, installing the can requires removing the Kamado Joe ash drawer and the metal receptacle surrounding it. That receptacle occupies space directly behind the lower vent. Once it is removed, the incoming air has a more open path into the bottom of the firebox.
The practical difference is most noticeable during startup. My charcoal lights faster, and the grill comes up to temperature sooner. Greater ash capacity also makes it less likely that accumulated ash will gradually restrict the intake during a long cook.
This does not mean that Kick Ash products automatically regulate the temperature for you. A Kamado Joe is still controlled by adjusting its vents, and greater airflow means you should pay close attention during startup so the grill does not overshoot your target temperature.
Airflow is one of the most important factors in controlling a Kamado Joe because the amount of air moving through the grill determines how hot the charcoal burns. The Kick Ash system doesn't change the basic way you control temperature, but its less-restricted airflow path can make the grill respond more quickly to vent adjustments. If you're having trouble maintaining a steady temperature or controlling your fire, see my How to Control Temperature on a Kamado Joe guide for a detailed explanation of how the vents, charcoal and airflow work together.
Installation Is More Involved Than It Appears
The Kick Ash Basket itself is easy to install. Once the original basket or charcoal grate is removed, the Kick Ash Basket simply sits inside the firebox.
Installing the Kick Ash Can requires more work because it cannot be used with the Kamado Joe's existing ash drawer assembly. You must remove both the sliding drawer and the metal receptacle that surrounds it. The receptacle sits beneath the ceramic firebox base, so removing it requires taking apart the internal firebox components. This is a good opportunity to vacuum out all the ash that has collected in the bottom of the grill.
Once the original assembly has been removed, reinstall the ceramic firebox components and place the Kick Ash Can on the firebox base beneath the basket. This is not a difficult modification, but it is more involved than simply dropping the can through the top of an assembled grill. Take your time with the ceramic pieces and make sure the firebox and retaining ring are seated correctly when you put everything back together.
Build Quality and Durability
Both products feel sturdy. I have not experienced rattling, sharp edges, fit issues, or warping.
A charcoal basket is subjected to high heat inside a grill, so expecting it to remain shiny and new is unrealistic. The metal has changed color and developed the appearance you would expect from a component that touches hot charcoal. That cosmetic change has not affected its performance.
The Most Important Safety Concern: Escaping Hot Charcoal
There is one potential safety issue with replacing the stock ash drawer with the Kick Ash Can. The original Kamado Joe drawer and surrounding metal assembly sit between the firebox and the lower vent opening. In addition to collecting ash, the ash drawer helps prevent small pieces of burning charcoal from falling out of the bottom draft door.
When you remove that assembly to install the Kick Ash Can, the lower opening is unobstructed. If a small burning piece of lump charcoal falls through the basket, there is nothing equivalent to the screen used in a Big Green Egg to prevent it from potentially rolling through the vent.
In addition to collecting ash, the ash drawer and surrounding assembly create a barrier between the firebox and the bottom draft door that may help prevent small pieces of burning charcoal from escaping. I once ignited my Kamado Joe with a GrillBlazer and had a spark land on a nearby chaise lounge, setting it on fire. Small pieces of burning charcoal can start a fire if they land on a combustible surface.
For that reason, I do not recommend this modification if your Kamado Joe sits directly on a combustible wood or composite deck. Mine is used in an area where an escaping coal will not ignite the surface beneath the grill.
Regardless of which ash system you use, keep combustible materials away from the lower vent and have a fire extinguisher or water hose readily available.
Kick Ash Basket vs. the Kamado Joe Charcoal Basket
The Kamado Joe stainless-steel charcoal basket is adequate, but I prefer the Kick Ash Basket because of the greater spacing between its bars. That additional space helps ash fall into the can when I shake the basket and creates a more open path for airflow. The Kick Ash Basket does not appear to consume charcoal more quickly during normal cooking, and I have not sacrificed the efficiency that makes ceramic grills so useful for long cooks.
The Kamado Joe charcoal basket may still make more sense if you want to retain the factory ash drawer assembly. The primary benefit of the Kick Ash products comes from using the basket and can together as a complete alternative to the stock system.
Should You Buy the Kick Ash Basket, the Kick Ash Can or Both?
I recommend buying both. The Kick Ash Basket makes it easy to lift and shake the charcoal, but the can gives that ash somewhere useful to go. The Kick Ash Can holds far more ash than the stock ash drawer and can then be removed through the top of the grill.
Using the basket alone would preserve some of the airflow and charcoal-sorting benefits, but it would not provide the same ash cleanup system. Likewise, the can is designed to sit beneath a basket that allows the ash to fall into it. Together, they change the ash cleanup process from scraping ash into a small drawer to lifting, shaking and emptying two removable pieces. That combined workflow is the reason the upgrade works so well.
Are the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can Worth the Money?
For me, the answer is yes. I use my Kamado Joe frequently, including for long cooks that generate more ash than the original drawer can comfortably hold. The Kick Ash system solves a recurring annoyance every time I prepare or clean the grill.
At full retail price, these are not essential accessories. The Kamado Joe can cook perfectly good food using its original components. The question is whether you place enough value on easier cleanup, greater ash capacity and improved airflow to justify replacing parts that technically still work.
If you use your Kamado Joe only occasionally, the cost may be harder to justify. If you cook frequently, regularly reuse leftover charcoal or run long brisket and pork shoulder cooks, the improvement is much easier to appreciate.
Who Should Buy the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can?
The Kick Ash combination is best for Kamado Joe owners who:
- Cook frequently and want faster cleanup
- Regularly make long, low-and-slow cooks
- Reuse leftover lump charcoal
- Find the stock ash drawer too small or messy
- Want less restriction around the lower air intake
- Keep their grill on a noncombustible surface
You may want to keep the original Kamado Joe ash system if:
- Your Kamado Joe sits on a wood or composite deck
- You are uncomfortable removing the original ash drawer receptacle
- You use your grill infrequently and do not mind removing the drawer to dump the ash
- You are satisfied with the airflow and capacity of the stock system
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Kick Ash Can cannot be used with the existing Kamado Joe ash drawer assembly. The drawer and its surrounding metal receptacle must be removed before installing the can.
Yes. The Classic Kick Ash Basket is designed to fit the Kamado Joe Classic I, Classic II and Classic III. Always confirm the current manufacturer compatibility information before ordering.
Yes, the basket can be used without the can. However, you will not get the full cleanup and ash-collection benefits of using both products together.
Compatibility may depend on the exact basket and grill configuration. I tested and recommend the Kick Ash Can with the Kick Ash Basket. The two parts are designed to work together, and that combination produced the results described in this review.
I have not noticed any meaningful increase in charcoal consumption. The wider spacing improves airflow during lighting and startup, but I still control the cooking temperature by adjusting the upper and lower vents.
I generally empty mine after three cooks. You may need to empty it sooner after an especially long cook or when using charcoal that produces more ash. Never allow ash to accumulate high enough to restrict the lower vent.
No. Wait until the grill, charcoal, basket and can are completely cold. Charcoal can remain hot for a long time and dumping warm ash can start a fire. Years ago, I vacuumed out the ash in the bottom of my ceramic grill and caught the vacuum cleaner on fire.
I have not experienced rust, corrosion or warping. The stainless steel has discolored from heat and no longer looks new, but that change has not affected the performance.
I prefer it because the Kick Ash Basket has wider gaps between its bars than the original Kamado Joe basket I replaced. Those gaps make it easier to shake loose ash into the Kick Ash Can and provide a less-restricted path for airflow.
I do not recommend this configuration for a Kamado Joe sitting directly on a wood or composite deck. Removing the original ash drawer assembly creates a more open path between the firebox and lower vent, allowing for the possibility that a small burning coal could escape. Use the grill on a noncombustible surface and keep appropriate fire-suppression equipment nearby.
Final Verdict
The Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can change how easy it is to prepare, operate and clean a Kamado Joe. After using both products in my Kamado Joe Classic II since October 2025, I would buy them together again. There have been no fit or durability problems, and the discoloration of the stainless steel is cosmetic rather than functional.
The basket lets me shake loose ash away from reusable charcoal in seconds. Its wider bar spacing allows air to move through the charcoal bed more freely, helping the fire light and the grill heat up faster. The can catches that ash, holds considerably more than the original drawer and lifts out through the top of the grill for easy disposal.
The only significant issue is the possibility of a small burning coal escaping through the lower vent after the stock drawer assembly has been removed. That concern prevents this from being an unconditional recommendation for grills installed on combustible surfaces. If your Kamado Joe sits on concrete, stone or another noncombustible surface, the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can are practical upgrades that make ash management considerably easier.
Disclosure: I purchased the Kick Ash Basket and Kick Ash Can at full retail price. Links in this article may be affiliate links. If you purchase through one of those links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Where to Buy
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More Kamado Joe Resources
If you found this review helpful, here are a few more resources that will help you get the most out of your Kamado Joe:
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