Learn how to grill a whole potato without aluminum foil with these two secrets. Just follow the easy step by step photo instructions.
Editor’s Note: Originally Published May 9, 2013. Updated with expanded discussion and updated photos.
A great grilled sided for the summer, and it is simple, simple, simple. Only a few secrets to getting that whole baked potato grilled to perfection, and it does not involve aluminum foil.
So…wash the potato, stick with a fork a few times, so it doesn’t explode, brush with oil and season. Then the microwave is your friend. Nuke for 2-3 minutes then grill over direct heat until done.
My Rating
A really good and simple side.
Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for Grilled Whole Baked Potatoes without Foil
What Potatoes to Use?
There are several hundred types of potatoes, but I like to divide them into russets potatoes and thinner skin types.
Russets are picked when mature and tend to have more starch. They make great bakers, and the thick skin is great for this recipe.
What About the Foil Methods?
A simple way to grill baked potatoes is to wrap them in foil and cook them over direct heat. Many recommend double wrapping (I guess, so the steam doesn’t escape). But they taste more like steamed potatoes not baked and not grilled.
Just as an aside… I love the Paula Deen recipe with double wrapping, cooking and then topped with a half stick of butter each.
THE TWO SECRETS
First, the potato needs to be partly cooked (heated) before the grilling. You can not get the inside done otherwise.ssss
Second, a done baked potato is 210 degrees internal. Cook’s Illustrated recommends 205 to 212. Potatoes are very forgiving, so a little over is better than under. 200 is usually ok, but 190 is not done.
How to Precook in the Microwave
So…wash the potato, stick with a fork a few times, so it doesn’t explode, brush with oil and season.
Applying the oil before the microwave seems to help prevent that shriveled microwave potato look.
Then the microwave is your friend. Nuke for 2-3 minutes then grill over direct heat until done.
Do not over microwave or it will shrivel. But microwaves vary some and potato size varies. A little under is better than over and make it up on the grill.
Other Grilled Side Dishes
Preheat grill. Your grill surface needs to be in the 450-500 range. A little under is ok but not over. This is a little over medium on my super duper Weber, but it is a “hot” grill and would be more medium high on a normal gas grill and over the edge of the coals of a charcoal grill.
Clean and brush well under running water. You want to eat the skin so get it clean.
Pierce the skin with a fork a few times on each side.
Give them a nice brush of olive oil.
Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. I’m using my 7:2:2 to also add some garlic. Microwave on high about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per potato flipping over halfway through. This can vary some with the strength of your microwave and the size of potatoes. DO NOT over microwave.
Then transfer to grill over direct heat. Flip every 4-5 minutes. Grill until the outside is nicely brown and internal temp of about 210 degrees. Total grill time 12-14 minutes.
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Grilled Whole Baked Potatoes without Foil
Ingredients
- 2 potatoes - medium russet
- olive oil - for brushing
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat grill. Your grill surface needs to be in the 450-500 range. A little under is ok but not over. This is a little over medium on my super duper Weber but it is a “hot” grill and would be more medium high on a normal gas grill and over the edge of the coals of a charcoal grill.
- Clean and brush well under running water. You want to eat the skin so get it clean.
- Pierce the skin with a fork a few times on each side. Give them a nice brush of olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. I’m using my 7:2:2 to also add some garlic.
- Microwave on high about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per potato flipping over halfway through. This can vary some with the strength of your microwave and size of potatoes. DO NOT over microwave.
- Then transfer to grill over direct heat. Flip every 4-5 minutes. Grill until outside is nicely brown and internal temp of about 210 degrees. Total grill time 12-14 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Cook the number of potatoes you need.
- Do not do this with huge potatoes.
- Precook in the microwave for a few minutes. A little short is better than too long in the microwave.
- Oil before the microwave, it seems to help the potatoes not to shrivel up as microwave potatoes do.
- A done potato should be 200 degrees plus to me. I like 210. A little too high is better than not enough.
- Huge variables due to the size of potatoes, the microwave, and the grill.
- Times are provided as general guidelines only. GO BY INTERNAL TEMPERATURE ONLY.
Have a question or something not clear? Ask in the comments.
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Nutrition is for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.
All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated.
Originally Published May 9, 2013.
Ian
June 21, 2019 at 11:23 pmIt is 2019 and potatoes are still being grilled without foil. I came back and read this after putting my potato rocks on the grill. I realized you said microwave EACH potato 2-3 minutes. I microwaved all 3 potatos together for 3 minutes. I’m not a doctor but I think that’s going to be a problem. Maybe that should be underlined for us lazy readers. Hoping it still works out. I don’t like depending on foil for everything; Just hats.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
June 21, 2019 at 11:34 pmHi Ian,
Welcome to the blog.
I truly hate foil on potatoes. Just steam them and get it over with.
This recipe works and you may be fine with the less microwave time. When I developed this 1 minute was not dependable in getting enough of a head start on the cooking.
But the whole idea is to get enough energy into the potato and finish on the grill. If you try without that, you will generally not be successful. I do sometimes do this without the microwave if I’m doing a low and slow thing like a pork butt. I just toss them in the back of the grill for a couple of hours.
Remember a done potato is about 205 degrees. And baked potatoes are very forgiving.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Lisa Gabriel
May 27, 2018 at 7:08 pmI microwaved them for 19 minutes, brushed them with olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and put them on the top rack for 10 minutes. They were perfect!
Vera
September 16, 2016 at 5:25 pmNO WAY – it takes close to ONE HOUR to grill a potato, even if you microwave it for a few minutes beforehand. This is an epic failure. ZERO STARS!
batman
July 29, 2014 at 10:06 pmWhat happens when you follow the directions and the potatos are still hard in the center?
DrDan
July 29, 2014 at 10:15 pmThe main variable not controlled is potato size. Be sure to check the internal temperature on the potato. If not done then grill a little longer or microwave for a short period to get there. Hope that helps.
DrDan
Chris
May 9, 2013 at 1:34 pmI need to try this when I don’t have time to bake them. good tips.
Jerry
May 9, 2013 at 1:00 pmGreat tip that I’m going to try :) Thanks for sharing!