Home Made Potato Cooker (How To)

Camping season is right around the corner and that means warm nights under the stars, beautiful scenery, and of course delicious outdoor meals! No camp out is complete without some kind of adventurous cooking. This how to is a step by step guide to making your own potato cooker for next to nothing from your wallet.

To start, gather the following supplies. Most of the following can be easily found in any household. You will need 1 metal coffee can (#10 can), 1 wire hanger (some are thicker than others, get the thickest possible), 1 wood screw, 1 piece of wood (handle), 1 drill, 1 pair of pliers, 1 hammer, 1 ice pick, and 1 bottle opener (the church key type).

 Step 1: Using the triangle side of the bottle opener (church key), cut 8 holes in the bottom of the can and 4 holes in the top of the can. These will serve as vents for the cooker.

Watch out for those edges!

Step 2: Use the pliers to bend the top cuts back so that they are not sharp. You will be reaching in and out of the cooker so the sharp edges got to go.

Step 3: Use the hammer and ice pick or the drill to poke 8 holes in the side of the can. The holes should be about 2 inches from the bottom and all should be equally spaced apart; these holes with hold the wire that will separate the potatoes from the hot coals.

Step 4: Poke a hole in the center of the lid then attach the handle to your lid with your wood screw and drill.

Overlap the wires

Step 5: Run the wire through the holes in the side of the can. The trick is to overlap them all differently so that they all support the potatoes equally.

Step 6: Poke two holes in the side of the can near the top and across from each other. Then run the remaining piece of wire from your hanger from one hole to the other. This will be your carrying handle in case you need to move the cooker while it’s hot.

Step 7: Cook some potatoes! Prepare the coals in the bottom of the cooker. I usually use 5 or six coals dosed in lighter fluid. Light the coals and after a minute or two the flames will go out but the coals will be white hot. That is when you place your foil wrapped potatoes in the cooker and place your lid on the cooker. Let the potatoes cook for about 1 hour. If desired you can turn the potatoes after 30 minutes to help equalize the cooking. Be sure to use a pair of tongs and gloves when using your cooker. The whole can will be hot!

Be safe and know your surroundings. Do not use the cooker indoors or near any kind of dry brush or other flammable objects. Dispose of the coals in a safe a proper manner to ensure that they do not start a fire. Enjoy those delicious potatoes!