How to Cook Baked Potatoes on the Grill?
Baked Potatoes On The Grill
Mastering grilled baked potatoes is easy and results in a side dish that boasts a crispy skin and a fluffy inside, akin to a steakhouse experience but right from your grill.
The key is making a salt crust on the potato, which enhances the flavor and keeps the potatoes naturally moist and tender.
Whether you’re planning to serve them alongside your favorite protein or as a stand-alone treat, these grilled marvels comply with Whole30 and vegan diets, allowing you to load them up with various toppings or enjoy their simplicity.
The transformation of baked potatoes on the grill into a crispy, fluffy delight will elevate any meal, proving that your grill can do much more than just cook meats.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
You’ll love this recipe because it turns ordinary baked potatoes into something extraordinary by using the grill. The grill imparts a unique flavor and creates a delightful salt crust on the skins, making them irresistibly crispy while keeping the insides perfectly fluffy.
This method elevates your kitchen repertoire, allowing you to prepare side dishes that rival those of a high-end steakhouse. The contrast between the crispy skins and the fluffy insides makes these grilled baked potatoes a standout addition to any meal.
What Makes These Potatoes So Good?
What makes these potatoes stand out is their fluffy insides and crisp skins, achieved through a unique grill-cooking method that also forms a delectable salt crust. This combination enhances both the texture and flavor, making them irresistible.
The process is made easy with a step-by-step guide, complete with pictures and clear directions in the article, ensuring you can replicate the results effortlessly.
For those looking to save time, the potatoes can be precooked in the microwave, making the grill time even faster. Whether you’re cooking on your patio grill for company or a quiet night in, these baked potatoes are sure to impress.
Ingredients for Grilled Baked Potatoes
For grilled baked potatoes, you’ll need:
- Potatoes: Choose large, starchy varieties like Russets for the best texture.
- Olive Oil: Helps crisp the skin and adds flavor.
- Salt: Coarse salt like kosher or sea salt is ideal for seasoning and creating a crust.
- Baked Potato Fixings: Traditional toppings include butter, salt, and chives; you can customize these to your liking.
How to Make Them
To create perfectly grilled baked potatoes, follow these steps:
Preheat the Grill:
Start by preheating your grill to a high heat setting, aiming to reach an internal temperature of 350º F. This ensures a crisp exterior on the potatoes.
Prepare the Potatoes:
Wash the potatoes thoroughly, then prick each one multiple times with the tines of a fork. This allows steam to escape during cooking. After pricking, pat the potatoes dry to remove any excess moisture.
Coat with Oil:
Place a couple of tablespoons of avocado oil (or another neutral oil) in a wide, shallow bowl. Roll the dry potatoes in the oil, ensuring they are evenly coated. Allow any excess oil to drip off by lifting the potatoes and holding them for a moment before the next step.
Salt the Potatoes:
Pour a generous amount of Kosher salt or sea salt into another wide, shallow bowl. Roll the oil-coated potatoes in the salt, making sure they are fully coated with a layer of salt. This will help form a crispy crust.
Wrap in Foil:
Wrap each salt-coated potato in foil, using enough layers to completely cover the potato. This helps to lock in moisture, ensuring the insides stay fluffy.
Grill the Potatoes:
Place the foil-wrapped potatoes on the grill. Close the lid and cook for about 60 minutes. You can test for doneness by inserting a skewer or fork into a potato; it should slide in with minimal resistance.
Unwrap and Serve:
Once done, remove the potatoes from the grill and carefully unwrap the foil. Make a slit along the top of each potato, then press the ends towards the center to open them up. They’re now ready to serve with your choice of toppings.
Remember to handle the hot potatoes with care, especially when unwrapping the foil and opening them up for serving.
How To Make a Baked Potato on the Grill: A Foolproof Method for Fluffy, Smoky Spuds
When winter fades and summer beckons, the oven often takes a backseat as the grill becomes the heart of cooking. Yet, there’s no reason for your cherished baked potato habit to come to a halt.
It’s the perfect time to transition those steaming spuds outdoors, where they can roast to perfection on the grill, gaining a savory, smoky flavor that makes them irresistibly delicious.
Start by selecting the right potatoes; large, fluffy potatoes work best. Oil and season them well to ensure a crispy skin that will make every bite a delight.
Instead of the oven rack, place your potatoes directly on the grill, ramping up the heat to mimic the oven’s “bake” setting. This method doesn’t just bake; it infuses each potato with a smoky essence that is the hallmark of grill cooking.
The joy of baked potatoes is in the load of accouterments your hearts may desire. From traditional butter and salt to a plethora of toppings, each potato becomes a canvas for your culinary creativity.
As the potatoes sit roasting, the anticipation builds until it’s time to serve. Placed on a plate, these fluffy, smoky spuds become the centerpiece of any family gathering, where they disappear as fast as they’re served, leaving everyone enjoying the warm, comforting embrace of a perfectly grilled baked potato.
Tips for Making Baked Potatoes on the Grill
For perfect baked potatoes on the grill, consider these tips:
- Choose the Right Potatoes: Russet or Idaho potatoes are ideal due to their size and texture, which yield a fluffy interior.
- Use Olive Oil and Salt: Lightly coat your potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt. This enhances flavor and texture.
- Wrap in Tin Foil: Wrap each potato in tin foil to retain moisture and ensure even cooking.
- Pierce with a Fork: Before wrapping, pierce the potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape and flavors to incorporate.
- Grill Over Medium-Direct Heat: Place the wrapped potatoes on the grill over medium-direct heat to soak up those smoky flavors.
- Cooking Time: Expect to cook the potatoes for about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on their size and the grill’s temperature.
Following these steps will ensure your grilled baked potatoes are a smoky, savory delight every time.
The Best Potatoes for Grilling
When selecting potatoes for grilling, Russet and Idaho potatoes are top choices due to their high starch content. This attribute makes their insides turn light and fluffy once cooked, making them exceptionally absorbent to the rich flavors of smoke and char characteristic of grilled foods.
For those who prefer smashed potatoes or are looking for a sweeter taste, smaller varieties or even a sweet potato can be excellent alternatives, offering a delightful twist to traditional grilled potatoes.
How to Prep Potatoes for Grilling?
To prepare potatoes for the grill, start by heating your grill. Then, rub the potatoes with olive oil; a tablespoon of oil should be sufficient for each Russet potato. Season them generously with salt to enhance flavor.
Wrap each potato individually in aluminum foil to retain moisture and ensure even cooking. Before wrapping, pierce the potatoes with a fork in several places. This allows the smoky flavors to better penetrate the spuds, infusing them with a delicious grilled essence.
How to Tell When Your Potatoes Are Done?
The ultimate goal is to achieve tender potatoes with crispy skins and fluffy insides. To test for doneness, insert a meat thermometer into the center of a potato; it should register around 205°F. Alternatively, pierce the flesh with a paring knife; the knife should slide in easily.
Once done, using tongs, carefully remove the potatoes from the grill and transfer them to a plate. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before unwrapping, making them easier to handle.
How Long to Bake a Potato on the Grill?
The ideal internal temperature for a perfectly grilled baked potato is achieved by cooking for about 45 minutes to an hour over medium-direct heat. This timeframe ensures the potatoes are thoroughly cooked inside while gaining a desirable outer texture.
How to Serve Grilled “Baked” Potatoes?
A loaded baked potato fresh off the grill is a treat, with its butter, salt, chives, and that irresistible smoky flavor infused during grilling. Take it up a notch by adding bacon for an extra layer of flavor.
Cold leftovers become divine when cut into chunks and tossed in a salad. It’s hard to resist loading up these potatoes in various ways to turn them into a centerpiece for dinner.
Conclusion:
Cooking baked potatoes on the grill offers a delightful twist to a classic dish, infusing them with a smoky essence while achieving a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. By selecting the right type of potatoes, such as Russets, and preparing them with a simple rub of olive oil and salt, you can easily replicate oven-baked perfection outdoors.
Whether you opt for wrapping in foil to retain moisture or grilling directly for a crispier skin, the key lies in monitoring for doneness to ensure a tender, well-cooked potato. This method not only elevates the humble baked potato into a flavorful, grill-marked masterpiece but also adds a versatile side dish to your outdoor cooking repertoire, perfect for complementing any grilled main.
People also ask
How to Speed Up Baking Potatoes?
To speed up baking potatoes, first poke them all over with a fork. This allows steam to escape and prevents them from bursting. Place the potatoes in the microwave and cook until they’re slightly soft, which usually takes about 6 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
After microwaving, transfer each potato to a preheated 450-degree oven and bake them directly on the middle rack. They’re done when a skewer or fork glides easily through the flesh, typically in about 20 minutes. This method significantly cuts down the cooking time while maintaining the desired texture and flavor.
How to Bake Potatoes on the Grill Microwave First?
Starting your baked potatoes in the microwave ensures they cook thoroughly without becoming soft or mealy. Use a Russet potato for its size and texture, microwaving it for about 5 to 6 minutes before placing it on the grill.
This step helps retain the original texture. To finish, drizzle the potato with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt before baking it on a 400 F grill. This method gives the skin a nice, crisp finish.
How to Bake Potatoes on a Charcoal Grill?
When baking on a Charcoal Grill, wait until the charcoal is completely ash over before you start cooking. This usually takes about an hour. Keep the bottom vents wide open to control the temperature, and set the top vents halfway open. If the grill gets too hot, open the top a little farther to let the grill cool down slightly.
How to Bake Potato on Grill Without Foil?
To cook a baked potato on the grill without foil, transfer the potatoes directly onto the grill over direct heat. Flip them every 4-5 minutes to ensure the outside becomes nicely brown and the internal temp reaches between 200° to 210°. The total grill time should be around 12-14 minutes.
How to Grill Russet Potatoes in Foil?
While some may suggest wrapping potatoes in foil to decrease the baking time, it’s essential to know that this can result in a soggy potato with a wet skin. Therefore, it’s advised to NEVER BAKE POTATOES IN FOIL if you’re looking for that classic crispy skin.
The cost of using foil (considering 50 sheets vs. 500 sheets) could add about 36% to the cost of each potato, without the desired outcome.
How long does it take for potatoes to be done on the grill?
When grilling potatoes wrapped in two layers of foil, it typically takes about 30 to 40 minutes for them to be done. Make sure to turn them on all sides and keep the grill lid closed. The potatoes are tender and ready when they can be easily pierced with a skewer.
Should I boil potatoes before grilling?
Regarding whether to boil potatoes before grilling, it is often advised to parboil raw potatoes before placing them on the grill. This parboiling process helps achieve that crispy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside texture that never disappoints.
How do you know when a baked potato is done on the grill?
To know when a baked potato is done on the grill, test for doneness by checking the potatoes’ internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should register at 205°F. Alternatively, you can pierce the flesh with a paring knife; if the knife slides in easily, the potatoes are done.
Do you bake potatoes in foil or no foil?
As for the debate on baking potatoes in foil vs. no foil, it is recommended to NEVER BAKE POTATOES IN FOIL on the grill, as foil wraps can decrease the baking time but often result in a soggy potato with a wet skin.
While wrapping a baked potato in foil might allow it to hold heat for up to 45 minutes, making it a best method for holding them in a bread warming drawer, it may not be the best approach for achieving crispy skins on the grill.
