Baked Potatoes In A Cooler?? The Perfect Make Ahead Baked Potatoes Hack!

How To Make Baked Potatoes For a Crowd Ahead of Time (We Used A Cooler!) 

Got a big crew to feed on a budget and need a tried-and-true idea?  Reader Lindsay was asking in our Supper Club group for advice about how to prepare a whole bunch of baked potatoes in advance to take to a Marching Band camp.

And of course our PPP readers didn’t disappoint – and she got all the tips she needed for a super successful Potato Bar Banquet!

Here’s how to make loads of baked potatoes ahead of time for a party, camping, potluck, or any event!

1. First- find big baking potatoes if you’re using for a potato bar.  If you use smaller potatoes (like the ones above) you’ll need to allot more than one per person.  (Costco has big 10 lb bags of baking potatoes that are a good size for this type of meal!)
2. Wash the potatoes under running water, and pierce them with a fork in several places.
3. Coat them in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.
5. Wrap the hot potatoes in foil (These pre-cut foil sheets would come in handy!) and pack them into a cooler that has been pre-warmed (Let hot water sit inside for a little while and then dump it out before adding the potatoes)
6. Line and top your cooler with towels to absorb the steam and excess moisture.

How Long Will Potatoes Stay Hot When Cooked Ahead of Time?

If you wrap in foil and pack them into a warm cooler – you will still have piping hot potatoes 4 hours later!  One reader commented that their sister had leftover potatoes in the cooler that were still hot 2 days later – crazy!  Here’s what Lindsay said about hers:

They were still piping hot 4 hours later and we had to use towels to unwrap the foil because they were burning our fingers!

Reader Ann added this about timing and safety:

I did this for a party for 100 plus people. I was so exhausted that I didn’t get everything cleaned up the same night. Amazed that the potato’s were hot in the same cooler 12 hrs later the next morning total surprise (ozark trail cooler) please watch food safety guidelines. Mixed reviews on if we should have kept them. Of course I ate one for breakfast straight from the cooler shocked that we didn’t have to even heat it and I survived but I didn’t want to risk it in keeping the rest. So store them more properly than I did if you have leftovers.‍♀️ We cooked and wrapped in the foil to save wrapping hot potatoes plus to limit the mess of the sea salt and olive oil on the potatoes. Would for sure do again a really, really big hit!!

You Can Also Use Your Cooler To Keep These Items Hot:

• Corn on the Cob
• Hot Dogs
• Hamburgers

Perfect for tailgating, taking lunch to the beach and other events!  We’d love to hear similar ideas that you have to share about making ahead food for a crowd  – please leave your tips in the comments!

If you don’t want to heat up your oven – you can also use a crockpot to cook baked potatoes!  It’s super easy and they come out so delicious!