A method of firing a green structure to produce a ceramic structure may comprise heating a firing environment during a first stage of firing of a green structure over a first timed temperature cycle having an average ramp rate sufficient to substantially complete burnout of organic material prior to initiation of clay dehydration proximate a core of the ceramic structure. The method may further comprise heating the firing environment during a second stage of the firing over a second timed temperature cycle having an average ramp rate that is faster than the average ramp rate of the first timed temperature cycle.