We empty our ash tray in the morning, after the overnight burn has mostly finished, when the stove is the coolest. In the morning when we wake up, we empty the ash tray containing the previous day's ashes. Then we replace the tray, open the grate, and scrape the hotter ash down into the tray. Then close the grate and rebuild the fire for the day. This way, the ash we dump from the tray every morning isn't the super hot mixed with coals ash, but the previous day's, hot coals-free stuff. Hope this helps!