3 Super-Easy Ways to Warm Up Tortillas

Warming tortillas is an easy step to consider skipping. After cooking a batch of chicken tinga or lechon asado, it’s tempting to jump over this extra bit of cooking and get straight to eating. Don’t give in! Warming tortillas not only enhances the eating experience (now all of the food you’re eating is warm,) it makes the tortillas — even the best ones, more pliable and less likely to tear as you wrap them around fillings for weeknight tacos, bean and rice burritos, or beef enchiladas. Bonus, it’s super easy! Here are three ways to heat up your tortillas that are so simple it won’t feel like an extra step at all.

Put five or fewer tortillas on a microwavable plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave in 30-second bursts until they are warmed through. Repeat in batches of five tortillas until all your tortillas are warm.

Wrap a stack of five or fewer tortillas in a packet of aluminum foil and put it in a pre-heated 350° oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. You can do multiple packets of five tortillas each all at the same time.

Place the tortillas in a dry (no oil) stainless steel skillet over medium heat and cook them for about 30 seconds on each side. You can also do away with the skillet and char the tortillas directly over the gas flames for a few seconds using tongs!

• Add water. If your tortillas are a few days old, brush them with a little water before cooking them (using any of the methods).
• Keep them warm until you’re ready to eat. Cover tortillas with a slightly dampened, clean dish towel to insulate them until you’re ready to serve the meal. This is helpful if you’re warming tortillas a few batches at a time.
• For crispy tortillas add a little fat. To crisp up tortillas, melt a little butter or heat a little cooking oil in a skillet before adding the tortillas.