Reheating Leftover Tacos to Crispy, Hot Perfection

Tacos are a popular Mexican dish that can be made with hard or soft shells filled with meat, cheese, lettuce, salsa and other tasty ingredients. Leftover tacos sometimes need a little help to make them hot, crispy and delicious again. This article provides tips on the best ways to reheat tacos using a microwave, oven or air fryer.

Microwave Method

The microwave provides a quick and easy way to reheat tacos in just a minute or two.

• Unwrap the tacos and place them on a microwave-safe plate. Hard shell tacos should be placed upright in a circle around the plate.
• Microwave the tacos in 30 second intervals until hot, checking and turning them over in between. Microwave at 50% power to prevent hard taco shells from becoming too soft.
• Let the tacos stand for a minute before eating so the filling can heat through.
• Add extra cheese on top and microwave 10-20 more seconds if desired.
• Be careful when removing the plate as contents may be hot.

Oven Method

Using the oven warms tacos gently and crisps up the shells.

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place tacos on a baking sheet lined with foil or directly on the oven rack.
• Heat tacos for 5-10 minutes until hot and crispy. Keep an eye on them so shells don’t burn.
• For soft tacos, wrap them in foil and heat for 10 minutes.
• Add any extra toppings and serve immediately.

Air Fryer Method

The air fryer makes tacos crispy on the outside while keeping the insides hot and melty.

• Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
• Place hard shell tacos upright around the air fryer basket.
• Air fry for 3-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
• For soft tacos, loosely wrap in foil and air fry 5-7 minutes.
• Check frequently to prevent burning.
• Top with any additional ingredients and enjoy.

Tips

• Microwave soft tacos longer than hard shells so the filling gets hot.
• Avoid microwaving hard shells too long or they’ll get mushy.
• When using the oven or air fryer, watch tacos closely to prevent burning.
• Add extra cheese, salsa or sour cream after heating for more flavor.
• For crispy tacos, try lightly spraying shells with oil before reheating.
• For hard shell tacos, try to reheat them upright if possible to help maintain the crunch of the shell.
• Microwave hard shells in short 30-second bursts, checking frequently to avoid sogginess.
• When microwaving soft tacos, make sure to heat them long enough for the filling to get hot.
• Preheat the oven or air fryer before reheating to ensure the shells get crispy.
• Spritz shells lightly with oil before putting in oven or air fryer for extra crispness.
• Add any extra toppings after reheating so they don’t get soggy.
• For soft tacos, wrap in foil when using oven or air fryer to keep moist.
• Let tacos rest 1-2 minutes after reheating for the heat to evenly distribute.
• Add salsa, cheese, lettuce, etc. just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you reheat crunchy tacos?

Crunchy taco shells can be reheated carefully in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes or in the air fryer at 350F for 3-5 minutes. Check often to avoid burning.

What is the best way to reheat soft tacos?

Wrapping soft tacos in foil and heating in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes is an easy way to keep them warm and melty. The microwave also works well for quick reheating.

How long do you microwave tacos?

Microwave hard shell tacos for 30 seconds at a time at 50% power, checking often. Microwave soft tacos for 1-2 minutes until hot. Let tacos stand 1 minute before eating.

Can you reheat tacos in an air fryer?

Yes, air frying is great for making tacos crispy again. Place hard shells upright around the basket and air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. For soft tacos, wrap in foil and air fry 5-7 minutes.

Do tacos taste good reheated?

Yes, tacos can taste delicious reheated with the right method. Crispy shells and melty cheese make tacos worth saving for leftovers. Just be careful not to overheat or they can dry out.

Recipes

Crunchy Ground Beef Taco Recipe

Ingredients:

• 6 hard taco shells
• 1 lb ground beef, cooked
• Taco seasoning
• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Stand taco shells upright on baking sheet.
2. Heat ground beef with taco seasoning.
3. Heat shells in oven for 5 minutes until hot and crispy.
4. Remove shells from oven and fill with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream.

Cheesy Chicken Soft Tacos

Ingredients:

• 8 small flour tortillas
• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Lettuce, diced tomato, salsa, sour cream for serving

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place chicken and cheeses on tortillas. Wrap each taco in foil.
3. Bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted.
4. Carefully unwrap, top with desired taco toppings and serve.

Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Ingredients:

• 12 corn tortillas
• 1 lb cooked shrimp, diced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• Lime wedges
• Cayenne pepper sauce or hot sauce
• Cilantro, chopped

Instructions:

1. Stack tortillas and wrap in damp paper towels. Microwave 1-2 minutes until warm.
2. Fill tortillas with shrimp, avocado slices, lime juice and hot sauce.
3. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately.

Here are some specific model recommendations for reheating tacos:

Microwaves:

1. Panasonic NN-SN966S – 1200W, 2.2 cu ft capacity
2. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS – 1100W, 1.2 cu ft capacity
3. LG LMC1575ST – 1000W, 1.5 cu ft capacity
4. GE JES1656SRSS – 950W, 1.6 cu ft capacity
5. Breville Quick Touch BMO734XL – 1200W, 1.1 cu ft capacity

Ovens:

1. GE JB645RKSS – 5.3 cu ft capacity, self-cleaning
2. Samsung NV51K7770DG – 5.8 cu ft capacity, convection
3. Frigidaire FFEB2726TS – 5.3 cu ft capacity, smudge-proof stainless steel
4. Bosch HGI8056UC – 5 cu ft capacity, convection European convection
5. Whirlpool WOS31ES7JS – 4.8 cu ft capacity, steam clean option

Air Fryers:

1. Cosori CP158-AF – 5.8 qt capacity
2. Ninja AF101 – 4 qt capacity
3. Instant Vortex Plus – 6 qt capacity
4. Chefman 6.3 qt Digital Air Fryer+ Rotisserie
5. Cuisinart TOA-60 – 6.5 qt capacity

With the proper reheating method for hard or soft shells, leftover tacos can taste just as fresh and delicious as the original meal. A quick microwave zap, some gentle oven warming or a crisping in the air fryer will have those tacos ready to enjoy again. Use the tips in this article to determine the best reheating method for your tacos.