Methods of firing a cordierite green body to form a fired cordierite body. The green body comprises cordierite-forming raw materials and organic material, the body having a core portion and a skin portion. The green body is pre-heated to a pre-heat temperature that is less than a thermal decomposition temperature of the organic material. The green body is maintained at the pre-heat temperature for a period of time sufficient to minimize a temperature differential between the core portion and the skin portion. The green body is heated to a low firing temperature in a firing atmosphere sufficient to reduce a content of the organic material and to substantially remove chemically bound water from hydrous alumina. The green body is heated to a high firing temperature in a firing atmosphere sufficient to reduce the content of the organic material prior to a substantial removal of chemically bound water from clay.