Learn how to grill a whole potato without aluminum foil with these two secrets. Just follow the easy step-by-step photo instructions.
Introduction
A great grilled side 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 break, 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.
🥔The Potato
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.
👨‍🍳No-Foil Secrets
First, the potato needs to be partly cooked (heated) before grilling. You can not get the inside done otherwise.
Second, a done baked potato is 210° 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 break, 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. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, then grill over direct heat until done.
Please 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.
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. I love butter.
đź“–Grilled Side Dishes
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo 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 ½ 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 an internal temp of about 210°. Total grill time 12-14 minutes.
đź“–Recipe
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 ½ 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 an internal temp of about 210°. Total grill time 12-14 minutes.
My Private Notes
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° plus to me. I like 210°. A little too high is better than not enough. Do not stop under 190°.
- 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.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally Published May 9, 2013. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Susan H
I cut the potato in half. Microwave for 1-2 minutes per whole potato, until el dente with a large fork. Brush cut side with oil. Throw it on the grill, skin side down. Turn over after 4-5 minutes. Give it another 4-5 minutes. Done after that. Takes a little longer than the pork chops, so I put them to grill first.
What's nice is you can pre-cook the potatoes a little ahead of time, so there's no hurry on that front.
Dale
my new way of baking pots on a gas grill. I put a grill mat between the potatoes and the flame and they came out perfect.
Thanks for sharing
Cheers!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Dale,
Welcome to the blog.
I do love a good baked potato. Good idea on the mat.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Ian
It 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
Hi 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
I 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
NO 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
What happens when you follow the directions and the potatos are still hard in the center?
DrDan
The 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
I need to try this when I don't have time to bake them. good tips.
Jerry
Great tip that I'm going to try :) Thanks for sharing!