Maybe a stupid question...

[drholly]

When I was younger and was canoeing, backpacking, or cycling I often created meals in foil over a variety of fires. It was a convenient way to keep the ingredients together and let me avoid carrying / using a camp stove. I do not remember these tasting of the wood or charcoal that was used. I do remember good times around the fire.

So, as I think about using this method on my grill / fire today, I am wondering what the "value" of this method is. I do enjoy cooking outside vs. heating up the kitchen. That IS an advantage. But, I am wondering - do you find a different "taste" when making a foil pouch on the grill vs. cooking the same things in the oven?

I expect to continue cooking outdoors as much as possible - 80 - 90% in the few months available in MN and 20 - 30% the rest of the year. I am just curious about your thoughts re: foiled meals on the grill.

Thanks!

[LostArrow]

When my son was a Boy Scout we made "Hobo Packs" a lot!
No real grilled or smoked flavor, but an easy way to cook with an open fire.
It like braising , tenderizes tough meat, & the mixtures of the meat & veggie flavors works very well.

[Pappymn]

When my son was a Boy Scout we made "Hobo Packs" a lot!
No real grilled or smoked flavor, but an easy way to cook with an open fire.
It like braising , tenderizes tough meat, & the mixtures of the meat & veggie flavors works very well.

I remember these from camping as well. Ground beef, taters, onions, and some other stuff cooked in a foil pouch. Called them hobo dinners.  Were excellent

[Jaxon]

There's no such thing as a stupid question...

Now, I could give you a stupid answer, but I want  to find out how to make and cook these foil packs - hobo pockets - you're talking about.

Standing by...

[smokeasaurus]

Great way to cook something up fast and even. It gets real hot in there, especially if ya use HD foil......

[hikerman]

David, I still regularly make potato packets on the grill using onions, garlic, fresh herbs, hot peppers, and cheese.
It is low-maintenance cooking giving me time to focus on other items on the menu.

[smoker pete]

I learned how to cook hobo packets as a Boy Scout 45+ years ago and to this day, like others, still use the technique to cook potatoes on the grill at home and on the road in the RV.

Did a google search on "hobo packets on the grill" and only got about 2,120,000 results !!     There are a lot of great recipes out there.  I need to expand my horizons and cook up something besides potatoes 

[Smokin Don]

I haven't done foil packs in a while but always liked them. My favorite is sliced potatoes, carrots and onions with a little oil, butter and seasoning. I think they do taste better than oven backed. I think they taste better since they kinda steam in the packet, besides it is easy and just throw away the pan when you are done. Don

[smoker pete]

Nowadays I prefer to use those small foil pans with lids.  Same concept as a foil hobo packet but easier to seal and like Don said, you just toss them out when done.

[veryolddog]

Ah, those were the days!

Peace and quiet of the high country, green meadows, blue skies, smell of pine, bubbling brooks and steams, trout jumping out of the water, quiet little fire surrounded by rocks and the solitude of the world.

Nice memories.

Ed

[flbentrider]

And we still teach the foil packet cooking method to new scout leaders.

At the training I help teach, that is how they get their lunch.

[pz]

My thought has always been that the only stupid question is the one that is not asked. 

Like many of the members above, I recall using this method in Boy Scouts (man that was nearly half a century ago), and at the time they were the best tasting meals in the world, even if they were still partly cold. 

Like you, I am doing most of my cooking outside whenever possible, which fortunately has been every day for quite a while.  I'm not doing much foil cooking at the moment, but the method is sound based on my Boy Scout experience.