What started as a Mexican treat has now become an everyday meal cooked by an array of households worldwide and beyond. The possibilities of what you can have in a taco are endless. But that’s what makes them so great! There is a taco for everybody!
Tacos are so delicious that it would be a waste of money and flavour to throw away your spare tacos when you make one too many.
To reheat tacos, you can either pop meat-filled tacos into the oven for around 20 minutes. Soft-shell tacos can be reheated in the microwave.
How to Reheat Tacos
Though there is only 1 proper way to make tacos, there are a couple of ways to reheat your leftover tacos.
Each reheating method below will benefit different types of tacos and their fillings. But as a general rule, taco fillings should be reheated separately from the taco shells.
Here are the best 2 methods for reheating tacos:
How to Reheat Meat Tacos in the Oven
Tacos that have a predominantly meat filling (such as tacos de chorizo or tacos de carnitas) are best reheated in the oven. The heat from the oven will be hot enough to kill any bacteria that may have grown on the meat while in storage.
When this method is followed correctly, you will not have to worry about the more delicate taco meats drying out in the oven when reheated:
- Preheat The Oven
Before you get started, set your oven to 175 C. - Remove Cold Toppings
You will not need to remove all the taco fillings when reheating soft sell tacos in the oven. But you will want to remove any cold toppings, such as raw tomato slices or uncooked onions, to stop them from getting soggy. - Wrap In Foil
Wrap each taco in tin foil, folding over the edges to keep as much heat locked in the taco as possible. - Place In Oven
When your oven is ready, place the tacos in the centre of your oven, leaving gaps between each taco. - Reheat
Set a timer for 10 minutes and leave tacos to warm up. - Check
After 10 minutes, pull a taco to the front of the oven and pierce the tin foil with a knife through to the middle of the taco. - Reheat (Again)
If the knife comes out cold, reheat the tacos for a further 10 minutes. If not, skip to the next step. - Unwrap
Being cautious of the hot steam, use some oven mitts to unwrap the foil from around the tacos. - Reassemble
Move the cooked tacos to serving plates and replace the cold toppings before serving.
How to Reheat Soft-Shell Tacos in the Microwave
Are you trying to cure a hangover or want to eat your leftover Friday night tacos as a treat between studying? Your microwave is the perfect quick solution to your cravings.
So long as you only use this method to reheat soft shell tacos, you will have a delicious treat in no time:
- Damp A Tea Towel
Under cold water, run a thin tea towel or a few paper towels. Only make them damp and not entirely wet, as they will make your tacos soggy. - Prep A Plate
Arrange the damp towels on a microwavable plate. Leave no part of the plate bare. - Remove Cold Toppings
Like the above method, remove any cold toppings or condiments from your taco that won’t fare well when heated. - Organize Tacos
Place your tacos (with their fillings) on the covered plate. Try to avoid any overlap with the tacos. - Set The Microwave
Turn your microwave to 100% power or a high heat and set a timer for 30 seconds. - Reheat
Place the plate in the microwave and allow the tacos to reheat. - Reheat (Again)
If, after 30 seconds, you find that the taco fillings are still cold, you will need to heat them separately. To do this, follow the additional steps below. - Separate The Tacos
Scrape out the taco fillings and place them in a microwaveable bowl. - Cover
Using plastic wrap or a dry tea towel, cover the top of the bowl to prevent the filling from drying out. - Reheat
Set your microwave to 75% power and reheat the filling in 30-second intervals until steaming hot. - Reassemble
Reassemble the taco shells, filling and cold toppings on a clean plate, then serve.
How to Reheat Tacos Successfully
Reheating tacos is a simple enough task allowing you to relive that tasty Friday night treat for days after. To get the most out of your tacos and to do such a classic meal justice the second time around, follow these few tips:
- Don’t Reheat Hard Shell Tacos In The Microwave – It is tough to reheat crispy food in the microwave as the heat does not distribute in the same way as in the oven. If you try to reheat hard shell tacos in the microwave, you will have a soft and unpleasantly chewy taco shell.
- Use A Baking Dish – When you are reheating more than a couple of soft shell tacos in the oven, you can use a baking dish to hold the tacos. This will make it easier to remove multiple tacos as soon as they are cooked quickly.
Is It Safe to Reheat Tacos?
Vegetable tacos are entirely safe to eat, either hot or cold, but are much better enjoyed hot.
As for tacos with meat or fish fillings, you will need to reheat them for them to be safe enough to eat. Only eat tacos that have been kept in your fridge for less than 3 days.
Otherwise, you could accidentally eat some harmful bacteria no matter how well you reheat them.
Reheating Tacos FAQs
Do you have additional questions about reheating tacos? Then these FAQs might help you out:
Yes, most dishes from Taco Bell can be reheated. Hard shell tacos can be reheated in the oven, but burritos are better heated in the microwave.
Yes, quesadillas can be reheated in the oven. Wrap each quesadilla in a sheet of foil then pop them into the oven for between 10 and 15 minutes until piping hot.
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.
