After assembling your Konnected Joe, you are ready to get started cooking. Before loading charcoal into the grill, double check the control panel at the rear of the grill. Make sure that the pit probe, lid switch, and power cord are all properly plugged in.
The Konnected Joe can be operated using "classic cook mode" or "automatic cook mode." The classic cook mode gives you a traditional kamado cooking experience like that of the Classic Joe® and Big Joe® grills. In automatic cook mode, your grill uses the Kontrol Board™ and Kontrol Fan™ to maintain temperature.
In this post, we will outline how to load and light your Konnected Joe in both classic cook mode and automatic cook mode.
Classic Cook Mode
- Open the lid and fully open the top and bottom vents.
- Add charcoal to the firebox and light using one or two fire starters.
- You can also light the charcoal without fire starters by pressing the AFS™ (automatic fire starter) button. The element is on when the red light on the button is glowing. It will stay on for 15 minutes. If desired, you can press and hold the AFS button to turn if off.
- After you light the charcoal, leave the dome of the Konnected Joe open for 10 minutes with the bottom vent fully open.
- After 10 minutes, close the dome.
- Start to close the top and bottom vent when your dome temperature is within 50˚F (10˚C) of your target temperature.
Automatic Cook Mode
NOTE: The first time the lid is opened after the controller is powered on the accessory screen will appear. If you are using an accessory, this is the time to select it.
If this is not the first time you are using your Konnected Joe, clean out any remaining ash as it can prevent the charcoal from igniting properly. Clean out your grill when it is cold and use the ash tool to scrape and clean out the firebox and ash drawer.
- Make sure the bottom vent is fully closed and keep it closed throughout your automatic cook.
- Add charcoal to the fire box.
- Close the dome.
- Turn on the grill with the switch at the back of the unit.
- Turn on the controller.
- Set the temperature on the controller and position the top vent as indicated on the controller. Remember to keep the bottom vent fully closed.
- Press the AFS button to ignite the charcoal. The element is on when the red light on the button is glowing. It will stay on for 15 minutes. If desired, you can press and hold the AFS button to turn if off.
- Let the Kontrol Board and Kontrol Fan do the rest.
The Konnected Joe makes it easy to start cooking no matter which cook mode you choose making this the most versatile ceramic kamado grill on the market.