Baked potato on grill are so darned delicious, but they can be dry and flavorless if not cooked the right way. The simple truth is that most people don’t cook them enough. They’re just so darned delicious that we tend to forget about how important they are when it comes to our diets. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn to cook them right! Eating a baked potato is a great way to get your serving of vegetables and dietary fiber, while still having something that tastes great and feels like a treat. And now, you can have your potatoes and eat them, too! Cooking a baked potato on the grill is not only easy but also quite delicious. Here’s how to cook a baked potato on the grill the right way:
Table of Contents
Add moisture to the potato
The first step to cooking a baked potato well is adding moisture. The last thing you want is for your potatoes to be dry and flavorless. To ensure that doesn’t happen, you need to add water or broth to the baking potato before placing it on the grill. This will create steam which can lock in the natural moisture in the potato, making this whole process taste amazing!
Season with salt and pepper
When you first grab your potato, there’s one thing that’s very important to do. Season it with salt and pepper.
This will give the potato some flavor on the outside, and it just tastes better. Be careful not to season too much because then the potato will be salty instead of flavorful.
Wrap the potatoes in foil
The first step to cooking a baked potato on grill is wrapping it in foil. You can wrap the potatoes in foil no matter if they are whole or cut, so there’s really no excuse not to do this. The purpose of wrapping the potato in foil before putting it on the grill is to protect it from getting too burnt and from absorbing too much smoke flavor from other foods. Add some salt and pepper to your potatoes before wrapping them for even more flavor!
Set up your grill for direct grilling
First things first, you need to set up your grill for direct grilling. This can be done in one of two ways:
- Place the coals at one end of the grill, or
- Use a two-zone indirect fire with a foil pan filled with water and soaked wood chips on one side of the grill.
Add some wood chips or chunks to the smoker box
The first step to cooking a baked potato on the grill is to add some wood chips or chunks to the smoker box. You can do this with a gas grill by turning on one side of the burner in order to generate heat while leaving one side off.
Once you have your smoker box set up, you’ll want to place it right under where the potatoes will be cooking. Your goal is to fill it with just enough wood so that it generates smoke but not so much that it catches fire.
If you’re using an electric grill, then you’ll want to get a metal pan and fill it with water before placing the potatoes in it. The pan of water will make sure that there’s enough moisture in the air for your potatoes to cook evenly.
Place foil-wrapped potatoes directly on the grill grate
First, preheat your grill to medium-high heat and prepare the potatoes by wrapping them in foil. This will keep them from sticking to the grate.
Next, place them directly on the grill grate. Don’t use any other cooking surface or create a makeshift oven for your taters. Cook for about 40 minutes total, flipping every 10 minutes.
Close the lid and cook
The first thing you’ll want to do is close the lid on your grill. We know that it can be hard to resist the urge to flip, turn, and move the potato around, but resist that urge! Baked potatoes need a steady heat source for a long time in order to cook through. A lot of people think that flipping a potato over is going to give it more heat. But it actually does the opposite: all those cracks in the skin are allowing more air in, which leaves less available for cooking.
Let cool before serving.
1. Preheat your grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Clean potatoes thoroughly and rub with olive oil
3. Place on the grill and cook for 20-30 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes
4. Let cool before serving and enjoy!
Conclusion
Baked potatoes on the grill are a perfect addition to any family meal. They’re easy to make and can be cooked in your backyard. Get the perfect baked potato every time by following these 3 easy steps.
1. Add moisture to the potato by wiping it with a wet paper towel.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Wrap the potatoes in foil and place on the grill grate directly over the heat.
4. Close the lid and let cook.
5. Let cool before serving.