Corn tortillas have the power to create or shatter quesadillas, tacos, and enchiladas. Learn how to heat corn tortillas precisely every time.

We’ve all been there: you want a nice taco or burrito, so you go to your local grocery shop and purchase pre-made corn tortillas. You arrive home and attempt to reheat them in the microwave as directed on the packaging. A catastrophe has occurred! Instead of being soft and flexible, the tortilla is rubbery and rigid. It’s no longer edible.

Fortunately, cooking them for your next burrito, quesadilla, or homemade tacos is less easier than you would imagine. Here are five fast and simple techniques to correctly heat corn tortillas every time.

Griddle

The griddle is one method for heating tortillas. A griddle is a flat surface that may be used to cook on. Its flatness makes it ideal for reheating tortillas while ensuring they keep their form. Gas, electricity, wood, or even coal may be used to power a griddle. The strategy you select is determined on your lifestyle.

When reheating any dish, even tortillas, you want to maintain the same texture and flavor. Tortillas must be warmed so that they may be folded and torn exactly as they were when they were initially created. Reheat the tortillas over low to medium heat to bring them back to life.

Before you begin cooking the tortillas, make sure they are separated from one another. Then, one at a time, set them on the griddle. When the griddle is heated, set the tortillas on it.

Allow it to warm up for around 30 seconds. Allow each side to heat up equally. This procedure should allow you to make soft tortillas once again.

Oven

When you need something cooked fast and correctly, the oven is frequently the go-to option. The problem arises when you don’t know what temperatures to use or how to maintain the food from getting crispy or entirely drying out. Tortillas may be reheated in the oven.

The key to this procedure is to wrap the tortillas with foil so that the heat is uniformly distributed. To wrap the tortillas, you’ll need aluminum foil. Wrap the tortillas in foil after stacking roughly five tortillas together. If you have the time and energy, you may reheat them separately.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then, wrap the tortillas in foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. This should be enough time to thoroughly heat them. After this time, you may open the foil and check on them. If they are not as heated as you want them to be, return them to the oven. Additionally, the foil prevents them from drying out.

Stovetop

The stovetop is one of the fastest methods to cook tortillas while keeping their integrity, preventing them from becoming overly crunchy or too wet. It’s how we make wheat tortillas for our chorizo breakfast burrito recipe, and it works as well with corn tortillas.

A burner and a cast iron skillet or stainless steel frying pan are required. Because you will not be using any oil, you must ensure that the tortillas do not adhere to the bottom of the pan while it warms up.

Turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook the tortillas in a pan without any oil. Heat them independently, turning them after every 30 seconds. This should be about enough time for each side. Turn the tortillas over to ensure even heating on both sides.

It is critical to keep an eye on them and prevent them from becoming dry and crispy. This is a possibility if they are cooked on high heat for an extended period of time. If you have the courage and aren’t frightened of a little flame, you may heat them directly over an open flame without using a skillet or pan at all. However, this is not for beginner users. In addition, the stovetop approach yields superior results with fresher tortillas.

To renew and reapply moisture to tortillas that have been sitting for more than a day, softly brush them with water.

Reheating straight on the cooktop only works on a gas stove, not an electric plate. You’ll need to know when it’s hot enough and keep an eye out for burning the tortillas. A set of tongs will help save you from being burned in the process.

Microwave

This is a popular strategy among many since it does not need a great degree of talent. It is also a quick and easy procedure. You’ll need a microwave, a microwave-safe plate, and a moist paper towel for this. You can heat one or several tortillas simultaneously.

Place the tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time. This will enable you to check on them at these times. If they aren’t heated enough, heat them for a little longer. Avoid dried-out tortillas by covering them with a moist paper towel. If you’re going to reheat more than one tortilla, lay a paper towel over each one so they’re nearly separately wrapped.

Skillet

The pan you use to warm tortillas should be nonstick. Heat the pan on the burner and make sure it is hot before adding the tortillas. Because you will not be using any oil, you must ensure that the skillet is nonstick. It will not need any cooking spray or oils. Simply heat the pan until it transfers heat to the tortillas when put in the skillet.

Heat the tortilla in the skillet for approximately 45 seconds on each sides. Some people may choose to flip the tortillas with their hands, while for others, a set of tongs will be required. As the tortilla warms up, you’ll see little brown spots appear. This is generally an indication that it’s time to flip it over.

FAQs

Why are my corn tortillas breaking?

This occurs when they are not adequately heated and are excessively chilly.

Can you warm corn tortillas in an air fryer?

Yes, you can, whether you consume them whole (depending on dimensions) or chop them up into triangles to cook in the air fryer.