Tacos are a weeknight savior and crowd-pleaser all in one hand-held bite. That’s because they’re completely customizable, easy enough to prepare, and affordable to cook for a crowd. There’s also a good chance that you’ll end up with some leftover tortillas, taco meat, and toppings, which means that you can enjoy tacos well after Tuesday. To preserve the flavor and texture of tacos so that they taste just as good on days two and three, read on to learn the best way to reheat tacos.
How to Reheat Tacos
When you have leftovers, there are a few different ways to reheat tacos: the oven, the air fryer, and the microwave. However, the best method is in the oven, which will help to warm the meat filling, soft tortillas, and sautéed or roasted vegetables without causing them to turn soggy or dry out.
To do so, start by separating the taco filling and toppings from the tortillas, then arrange any ingredients that you want to be warmed on a lined baking sheet. Set aside cold toppings such as lettuce, shredded cheese, avocado, pico de gallo, sour cream, and lime wedges to serve with the reheated tacos. Place elements like pulled pork, roasted mushrooms, slow-cooker chicken, or roasted vegetables in a 375℉ oven for 7 to 10 minutes until they’re hot and crisp. Meanwhile, wrap soft flour or corn tortillas in aluminum foil and place them in the oven; the foil will help to evenly warm the tortillas without causing them to dry out.
However, there are some taco components that don’t reheat as well in the oven — namely, ground meat mixtures made with beef, chicken, or turkey. These types of fillings will be more likely to dry out quickly and be harder to scoop and serve from a sheet tray. Instead, try reheating them in a skillet on the stovetop with a small amount of liquid (think: chicken broth or beef consommé) until they’re warmed through and re-hydrated.
How to Reheat Tacos In the Air Fryer
If you have an air fryer, you can reheat most taco fillings with ease. Preheat the air fryer to 350℉ for three to five minutes and disassemble your tacos, setting cold ingredients like shredded lettuce or diced tomatoes aside. Then, place the tacos on a lined rack and reheat until they’re warm to the touch.
How to Heat Tacos In the Microwave
Using the microwave is the fastest way to reheat tacos, but if you’re going to follow this method, be sure to separate the meat and filling from the tortillas. That way, everything reheats evenly and you don’t run the risk of causing the tortillas to get soggy. Like the oven method, you should also remove any cold toppings like sour cream, lettuce, diced onions, or any other ingredients that you wouldn’t normally serve warm. Microwave the tacos in 15- to 30-second intervals to prevent overheating before re-assembling and serving.
