Let's have a little fun with summer one pot cooking. The upcoming series of foil cooking recipes will be the easiest meals you have ever made. Foil cooking brings a whole new meaning to one pot meals. Simply defined, a foil meal is one that is prepared in the coals of your campfire or on the grill. Using this cooking technique, the food is essentially steamed, making it a healthy, low fat meal. Once the meal is cooked, just throw away the foil and enjoy the rest of the evening because there is no clean up!
Here are the basics that make this "one pot meal" work:
1. The foil packets are all inclusive meals, meat, veggies and seasoning included.
2. Always use heavy duty foil so the food does not burn and the packet does not tear. A 12 x 18 inch piece of foil is usually an ideal size.
3. It does not matter which side of the foil is used, shiny or not.
4. Always grease the inside surface of the foil with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the food from sticking.
5. Make preparation easy and use an assembly-line technique. Lay the number of pieces of foil you need, place meat on all of them, then onion on all of them and so on.
6. Double seal each packet by folding the top over twice. Successful foil cooking requires that you keep in the moisture.
7. Do not fold the packet so tight that there is not room for heat circulation.
8. Do not cook foil packet over roaring flames; small fire or white hot coals are best. If using a grill, be sure to preheat it.
9. Foil cooking can be done on the backyard charcoal or gas grill just as successfully as on a campfire.
10. Cooking times vary depending on how hot the coals are. The general cooking rule is to turn the foil packet every 5 minutes for about 20 to 30 minutes. Fish and pre-cooked meats such as ham take less time.
11. If you are not a griller, these foil packets can be placed on a baking sheet in a 450* oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Again, fish will cook faster, in about 15 minutes.
12. The most important safety rule is: open the foil packet carefully to avoid a burst of hot steam and a subsequent burn.
13. Enjoy yourself!
Reynolds Wrap brand makes several products that work well for foil cooking. They have Heavy Duty, Super Strength and Foil for the Grill available at most Boston area markets, especially during the upcoming summer months here in the city. Shop around to find the product that works best for you.
This one pot cooking style will be offered as a series of recipes. Almost anything can be foil cooked, ham, chicken, shrimp, swordfish, baby back ribs and more. Watch for upcoming recipes!
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