With so many great Mexican-inspired foods to choose from at Taco Bell, you may often find yourself ordering too much and having plenty of leftovers that you don’t know what to do with…
Fast food is not well known for being particularly nice once reheated the next day, but are Taco Bell dishes any different?
To reheat Taco Bell, you must first consider the dish you’re reheating. For example, hard shell tacos can be reheated in the oven, but burritos are better reheated in the microwave.
How to Reheat Taco Bell
Taco Bell’s menu varies from crunchy hard tacos to fully loaded fries. Not all of these dishes are cooked the same way in the Taco Bell kitchen, so it does not make sense to try and reheat all Taco Bell dishes the same way.
Take a look at our 3 Taco Bell reheating methods below and decide which method best applies to your leftover Taco Bell dishes:
How to Reheat Hard Shell Tacos in the Oven
Hard shell tacos are challenging to reheat once loaded with meaty, spicy goodness. However, using the oven set to a high heat will make the tacos super crunchy as if they were fresh:
- Preheat the Oven
Heat your oven to 205C or 400F. - Separate Ingredients
Now everything used in Taco Bell’s hard shell tacos will be able to stand the heat of the oven. Put the cold/ fresh ingredients, meat, and bean fillings to one side. - Wrap In Foil
Individually wrap each hard shell taco in tin foil. Or, if you are short on tin foil, place the shells in a baking tray and cover the tray in foil. - Heat
Place the shells in the middle of your oven for 15 minutes. - Heat the Filling
While the shells are in the oven, take the time to reheat the bean and meat filling either in the microwave or a frying pan. - Reassemble
Once your shells are crispy enough, immediately piece your hard shell tacos back together. Leave any fresh ingredients to last.
How to Reheat Tacos in a Pan
The above method is best used for just hard shell tacos, but if you have a combination of hard and soft shell taco dishes you want to reheat, use a pan instead:
- Separate the Ingredients
Take the meat and beans out of the tacos and set them to one side. As for the cold and fresh ingredients, place them on a plate in the fridge to keep cold while you reheat the tacos. - Heat Some Oil on Medium Heat
You will need to use enough oil to prevent the taco’s from sticking to the pan (especially when reheating soft tacos). Wait until the oil starts sizzling before moving on to the next step. - Arrange Tacos in the Pan
Place your various tacos (both hard and soft) into the pan carefully to avoid burning yourself on the oil. Do not allow the tacos to touch each other too much as they may become stuck together. - Cover and Cook
Leave the tacos to fry for up to 3 minutes. Covering the pan will help warm the tacos quicker as the heat will be trapped in the pan. If you are using a skillet, allow the tacos a minute or so longer to cook. - Flip and Cook Again
Using a spatula, gently flip the tacos over and leave to cook for a further 3 minutes. - Reheat the Fillings
Heat the meat and beans for 1-2 minutes or until softened in a separate, very lightly oiled pan. This can also be done in a microwave on a high setting. - Reassemble
Once everything has been reheated, combine all your separated ingredients and enjoy immediately.
How to Reheat Burritos in the Microwave
Taco Bell burritos can be a little tricker to reheat because they are already so moist and prone to sogginess. However, they can be effectively reheated in a microwave:
- Remove Foil Wrappings
Taco Bell burritos come in foil wrapping which can be dangerous in the microwave. Take the burrito out of the wrapping and place it on a plate instead. - Place a Damp Paper Towel in the Microwave
To allow the burrito’s moisture to evenly spread throughout the burrito rather than gathering in the tortilla and turning an odd texture, slightly wet a paper towel, and put it at the bottom of the microwave. - Heat
On a medium setting, heat the burrito for 2 minutes. Halfway through, spray the paper towel with a little extra water to prevent it from drying. Then enjoy!
How to Reheat Taco Bell Successfully
Though the above methods are easy to follow and allow you to enjoy your taco bell as though it were freshly prepared, here are a few tips that will offer even better results:
- Store Leftovers Properly – Separate any additional condiments or toppings from your dish that may soak into your taco shell or burrito wrap overnight (such as sour cream or fresh lettuce.). Use airtight containers to separately store your main dish and wetter ingredients in your fridge for up to 2 days.
- Always Reheat the Meat – It doesn’t matter what meat filling you have opted for in your Taco Bell dish. It will need to be thoroughly reheated before you eat it to kill any bacteria it may have developed in your fridge. This can be done both in a microwave or in a pan.
Is It Safe to Reheat Taco Bell?
Taco Bell can be safe to reheat. But that is only the case if any leftovers have been properly stored and are no more than 2 days old.
You will also want to thoroughly reheat any meat or bean fillings separately to remove potential bacteria that may have grown overnight.
Reheating Taco Bell FAQs
Do you still have a few questions about reheating Taco Bell food items? Then these FAQs might help you out… If not, feel free to drop a comment at the bottom of this page!
It might be possible to reheat some Taco Bell dishes in the air fryer, but it can lead to uneven reheating. Instead, we would use either the oven or the microwave for most Taco Bell items.
Yes, you can reheat Taco Bell Crunchwraps… But first, remove any cold items from inside before placing the Crunchwraps into a hot oven for around 10 minutes. Once hot through, you can place the cold items back inside.
Yes, Chalupa from Taco Bell can be reheated in the oven. There is a risk that the bread’s texture will become a little soggy when reheated, but it’ll be perfectly edible.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
