Baked Potatoes in Foil

One of our favorites dinner sides is a baked potato in foil. Whether you’re hoping to make a baked potato in oven or on the grill, we’ll teach you how to make a perfect baked potato every time!

Serve your baked potato in foil with a yummy sous vide steak, seared salmon, or even a vegetarian black bean burger!

Favorite Side –> Baked Potato Wrapped in Foil!

Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall…there isn’t a bad time to make a baked potato in foil! Baked potatoes are my all-time favorite food. Ask my parents, they called me spud growing up because I asked for them so often.

I love eating a perfectly baked potato next to grilled steak, slow-roasted pork shoulder, or juicy pan-seared chicken. They’re the perfect vessel to load up on toppings to complete any meal.

Today we thought we’d go back to the basics to teach you how to make a perfect baked potato every time. To get started, you’ll need just a few things…and don’t worry, you’ll get both an oven and a grill option!

Ingredients

• Large Idaho Potatoes: in this recipe, we used Idaho potatoes, but you can actually use this method for any kind of potato such as russet, red, sweet, etc!
• Olive Oil: we’ve found olive oil to have the best flavor for baked potatoes, but you can also use canola.
• Salt and Pepper: these two spices are magic when it comes to baking a potato in foil. Be generous, I promise your tastebuds will he happy.
• Toppings: We’ll get into toppings later, but a freshly cooked baked potato is your oyster. Get creative with your favorite toppings and have fun!

How to Bake a Potato in Foil

Step 1: Clean potatoes

Potatoes come from the ground so sometimes there can be dirt or residue left behind on your tater. Run them under warm water and if you have one, use a scrubby brush to clean the skin of the taters.

Then, pat dry with a towel and move to step 2.

Can I Use Any Kind of Potato?

Technically you can use any kind of potato with the foil-pack method. Do note that size matters when it comes to baking time. The bigger the potato, the longer you’ll have to cook it. Here are some other potato options you can try:

• sweet potatoes
• yams
• russet potatoes
• red potatoes

Step 2: Rub with olive oil and season

Now it’s time to drizzle your potatoes with olive oil. We like to drizzle and then massage the oil into the potato skin to make sure that ever knick and cranny is covered.

Then, generously season your potatoes with salt and pepper. Don’t be shy on this part…you’ll thank me later!

Step 3: Roll in Tin Foil

Now it’s time to roll your potatoes in foil. The reason we roll potatoes in foil in the first place is so that you can trap the heat close to the potato and cook it evenly.

There is no right or wrong way to actually roll the potato, so use your best judgment and get rolling! We like to mimic a burrito roll, it seems to be effective.

What are the benefits of using aluminum foil on a baked potato?

We’ve found that when wrapping a potato in foil, they actually cook faster because the aluminum foil traps the heat, thus cooking them faster.

We’ve also found that if you’re planning to make baked potatoes in the oven as part of a larger meal, that they stay warmer longer wrapped in the foil because it insulates them once they’re done cooking.

Do I have to poke holes in my baked potatoes?

There is a big debate about this on the internet and the truth is, we’ve done it both ways and get the same results!

Step 4: Time to Cook

Oven vs. Grill

Good news folks…you can make a baked potato in oven wrapped in foil and baked potatoes on the grill! Plus, it’s pretty much the same method (you can even make your baked taters in the crockpot!)!

Oven: To make a baked potato in oven wrapped in foil, preheat the oven to 450ºF. Place baked potatoes in foil directly on your oven rack. Let cook for 45-60 minutes rotating after 30 minutes. Use a fork to pierce the potatoes to see how soft they are.

Grill: Preheat grill to 450ºF. Place your baked potatoes in foil directly on the flame and cover. Let cook for 45-60 minutes rotating every 10 minutes or so. The time will depend on how big your potatoes are. Use a fork to pierce the potatoes to see how soft they are.

For both methods, let cool, for about 15 minutes before unwrapping so you don’t burn yourself! Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.

So, to recap: How long to bake a potato?

We recommend baking your potatoes at 450ºF for around 45-60 minutes depending on the size. If you’re planning to grill, it’s the same temp and time.

Topping Ideas

Looking to get creative with your toppings? Here are a few you should try!

• Sour cream/Greek yogurt and chives
• Bbq sauce and cheddar cheese
• Salsa
• Leftover chili
• Butter, salt, and pepper
• Vegan queso

Storage

Let your potatoes cool completely. You can either leave them wrapped in foil or unwrap them (it’s all preference). Then, store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. We like to place them into a gallon-size bag.

How to Reheat Baked Potatoes in Foil

Looking to reheat your potatoes? Check out 2 options below for reheating!

Oven: if you keep your baked potatoes wrapped in the foil, you can reheat them right in the oven. Preheat oven to 400ºF and let cook for 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are warm.

Microwave: remove baked potatoes from tin foil and place on a plate. Microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes or until hot.

More Grilled Vegetables in Foil

• Grilled Peppers and Onions
• Grilled Asparagus in Foil
• Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes