Close-up of a Weber grill and food wrapped in foil being cooked on it.
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Although slow-cooking a tri-tip roast wrapped in foil is typically done in the oven, you can just as easily slow-cook it on your grill, ideal on a hot summer day. Tri-tip is a tender, boneless roast, sometimes cut into steaks. As a roast, it benefits from long cooking at a low temperature, allowing the heat to slowly melt the connective tissues in the muscle to make it extremely tender. Wrapping it in foil ensures that the moisture stays in the meat. You can also include vegetables if you choose, which will slowly cook in the steam inside of the foil.
Step 1
Cover the tri-tip with a prepared dry rub seasoning of your choice and place in the refrigerator loosely covered with plastic wrap for up to 24 hours. To make a dry rub, start with equal parts salt and sugar, then add additional seasonings, such as garlic powder, chili powder, black pepper and dried herbs by the teaspoonful until you get the flavor you're looking for.
Step 2
Remove the tri-tip from the refrigerator 30 minutes to an hour before you start cooking to allow it to come to room temperature.
Step 3
Prepare your grill for indirect grilling by piling the coals to one side of a charcoal grill and placing a drip pan filled halfway with water on the other side. Light the coals and close the lid to preheat. If you are using a gas grill, turn all the burners on high for 15 minutes. Then, turn off all the burners on one side of the grill and turn the other burners down to a medium-low temperature, about 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 4
Place the tri-tip directly over the flames on your grill to sear on all sides until well browned and slightly charred. Use heavy metal tongs to turn and flip the roast.
Step 5
Remove the tri-tip from the grill and wrap it in a sheet of aluminum foil so that it is completely covered. You can opt to add vegetables that you would like to steam cook in the foil with the tri-tip, such as sliced bell peppers and onions, potatoes and carrots. Seal the foil around the meat and vegetables, leaving a little bit of room for steaming.
Step 6
Place the foil packet on the grill away from the direct heat of the flames. Cover the grill and allow the tri-tip to cook for roughly 2 1/2 to 4 hours, depending on the size, until the tri-tip has reached an internal temperature of at least 145 F. Use a meat thermometer to determine the temperature.
Step 7
Remove the tri-tip roast from the foil and place on a serving platter. Surround the roast with any vegetables you included, as well as the drippings. Allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing the roast into thin slices, across the grain.
Tip
FoodSafety.gov recommends fresh beef be cooked to 145 F, which will bring your tri-tip to about a medium temperature. To avoid cooking it beyond medium, remove it from the grill when the temperature reaches 140 F and keep it loosely covered for about 5 to 10 minutes. The temperature will raise another 5 degrees from the residual internal heat.
FAQs
Place the foil packet on the grill away from the direct heat of the flames. Cover the grill and allow the tri-tip to cook for roughly 2 1/2 to 4 hours, depending on the size, until the tri-tip has reached an internal temperature of at least 145 F. Use a meat thermometer to determine the temperature.
How do you use Aluminium foil on a BBQ? ›
The idea is to start with a large sheet of foil. Place the food in the center of the grill, bring up the sides, then fold over — at least twice — and crimp tightly. Do the same with the edges, making sure to leave some headroom for the steam that forms during cooking. Now you're ready to grill in foil packets.
How long does it take to slow grill a tri-tip? ›
Transfer to indirect heat (between 250-300 degrees F) and cover the grill, letting the tri-tip cook until it reaches 130 degrees F on an instant read digital meat thermometer (affiliate link) inserted into the thickest part of the meat for a medium-rare tri-tip. This should take roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
How do you cook tri-tip on a BBQ grill? ›
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Place the meat directly above the flame to sear the meat and lock in the juices, about 5 to 10 minutes per side. Turn the grill down to medium heat and continue to cook, turning occasionally, for another 25 to 30 minutes.
Is it safe to cook on aluminium foil on a barbecue? ›
Grill on aluminum foil only if you are using high-quality cooking oil or butter, and it's completely safe to do so. For example, you can use olive oil or butter onGrill on aluminum foil only if you are using high-quality cooking oil or butter, and it's completely safe to do so.
Which side of the aluminum foil should touch the food? ›
dull side reflects or retains, measured over time and considering the type of heat the oven emits, that difference is negligible and has little to no discernable impact on the food. That's why it doesn't matter which side you use.
How long do you barbecue tri-tip wrapped in foil? ›
Place the foil packet on the grill away from the direct heat of the flames. Cover the grill and allow the tri-tip to cook for roughly 2 1/2 to 4 hours, depending on the size, until the tri-tip has reached an internal temperature of at least 145 F. Use a meat thermometer to determine the temperature.
How to barbecue a tri-tip in foil? ›
Double wrap the meat in aluminum foil and place on a grill with indirect heat. After an hour, remove the Tri Tip. Remove from the foil and sear on all sides in a ripping hot skillet. Allow the meat to rest before slicing.
What happens when you wrap meat in aluminum foil? ›
Wrapping your brisket in aluminum foil speeds up cooking time and keeps in the meat's fat and juices, leaving it tender. It also helps keep the temperature constant, allowing it to cook evenly. However, timing is crucial when using tinfoil, especially for those who like their meat slightly crispy.
Does meat cook faster or slower wrapped in foil? ›
Aluminum foil is designed to tightly wrap food, and you should be able to do it easily the first time without any practice. Also, you probably have some at home, or can easily buy it at the store. Because foil creates a very tight seal, it will speed up the cooking process.
Sear roast for 3-4 mins on each side, only turning once. After both sides are quickly seared, you'll transfer that pan right into the oven. Cook for about 10mins per pound, until it comes to temperature (see temp guide below). Tri tip is best, and most tender, when cooked to medium rare or less.
How long does it take to cook a tri-tip at 250 degrees? ›
Let the tri-tip cook for about 3 hours at 250°F (121°C) or until the thickest part measures 160°F (71°C) as read by an accurate meat thermometer. To check the meat temperature, I used the new Thermapen ONE which reads in only one second! When the tri tip reaches 160°F (71°C), wrap tightly in pink butcher paper.
How do you keep tri-tip tender on the grill? ›
Grill the tri tip and flip it every 6-7 minutes. Mop liberally with mopping liquid and a sauce mop after each time you flip the meat. Continue to grill until your roast is within 10 degrees of your final target temperature (see the next section for a list of temperatures).
Do you put foil on grill shiny side up or down? ›
Quite simply, it doesn't matter. Since both sides are made of the exact same material, they will perform exactly the same way. The only difference is aesthetic. So feel free to work both ways.
Which side of aluminum foil does not stick? ›
The non-stick side is the side with the dull or flat finish. To help indicate which side is non-stick the foil has been imprinted with the words "NON-STICK Side."
