How to Make a Foil Packet

Whether you're camping or just want a dishes free meal in the oven or on the grill, knowing how to make a foil packet will serve you well. You can create flavorful, healthy food with minimal mess. Here's how to do it.

Benefits of Foil Pack Cooking

• The food stays tender and juicy because it cooks in steam.
• It's a healthy way to cook, since you don't need to add a lot of extra fat to your meal.
• There are no dishes to clean up!

How to Make a Foil Packet

Creating a foil packet is easy to do by following a few simple steps. While it may seem simpler to just fold each edge over the food, the reason I prefer to fold mine this way is that is easy to check your food for doneness without opening the entire pouch. You can simply pull the center open and, if necessary, it's easy to fold back up.

1. For each foil packet you'd like to create, lay a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil on a flat surface.

2. Pile a serving of food in the center of the foil, leaving plenty of space around it. Don't be tempted to overfill your packets as the food won't cook as evenly. Ideally, create a foil packet for each serving, or if you're making side dishes, like these grilled beets with goat cheese, use one pouch for every 3 to 4 servings.

3. Lift the long edges of the aluminum foil up so that the edges meet above the food. Fold the joined edges over a couple of times until they create a flat seam on top of the food. Don't fold it too tightly--you want the steam to be able to circulate around the food in your foil packet.

4. Fold each side of the flattened foil pack in to create a sealed pouch.

How to Cook Your Foil Packet

On the Grill

For best results when cooking foil packets on a grill, prepare your grill for medium-low or medium heat, ideally with all your burners on low heat. For most recipes, you can place your foil packets directly over low flame.

If your recipe calls for indirect cooking, place your foil packets over an unlit burner, and leave the other burners lit. This is important when cooking foods that cook very quickly, or are prone to burning.

Over a Campfire

When cooking over a campfire, it's important to use hot coals, not strong flames. Start your fire well in advance of cooking, and let the fire burn until the coals are glowing. The hot coals will distribute even heat, which will allow your food to cook evenly. Strong open flame will likely result in food that is unevenly cooked, or burned.

In the oven

Most foil packet recipes can also be prepared in the oven. To minimize any potential mess or spills in the oven, I recommend placing your foil packets on a baking sheet in the oven. It also makes it easier to transfer them in and out of the oven.