How to Warm Tortillas
on Jan 10, 2019, Updated Dec 24, 2024
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Taking a few extra minutes to warm tortillas over direct heat makes all the difference.
Whether you are making soft shredded chicken tacos, enchiladas, a layered Mexican casserole, or quesadillas, you will be amazed at how much better your dish will be if you heat your tortillas first. Store-bought tortillas (either flour or corn) become so much better when they are warmed, especially over direct heat. The texture gets a lot softer and more pliable.
This is especially true in the case of corn tortillas, which can be dry and crack when folded or bent. Heating corn tortillas improves their flavor greatly; warming them enhances their flavor and gives them a nice toasty taste.
There are three terrific ways to get the most flavor and pliability from your tortillas on the stove or grill without drying them out. While not the best option, in a pinch, you can also use the oven or microwave.
The same methods can be used for gluten-free tortillas, though they might be a bit more fragile. Level up your next soft taco night with warm tortillas, and you’ll never go back.
Table of Contents
Corn vs. Flour Tortillas
I love both flour tortillas and corn tortillas, and I think each has its place. A good flour tortilla is the perfect wrapper for a burrito and ideal for wrapping fajitas, while the flavor and texture of a corn tortilla are just right in traditional beefy enchiladas and soft tacos.
There isn’t a big difference between these varieties of tortillas when it comes to the heating process, so it really does depend on whether you’re in the mood for flour or corn. Regardless of whether you opt for pillowy flour tortillas or denser corn ones, all varieties become softer and that much more toasty and satisfying when warmed.
Warming Tortillas in a Pan on the Stove
You can use the same technique to warm tortillas on a griddle.
- Heat a skillet: Heat a pan that is larger than the diameter of your tortillas over medium heat. There is no need to oil the pan or even spray it with nonstick spray.
- Warm the tortilla: When the pan is hot, place the tortilla directly into the pan. Heat for about 45 seconds, until the bottom is browned in spots.
- Flip and brown again: Use tongs or a fork to flip it over and warm the other side for about 45 seconds.
- Remove and repeat: Remove the tortilla to a plate or a clean surface. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. You can stack them as they are heated.
Heating Tortillas Over a Gas Flame
If you have a gas stove (with a real flame), you can use it to warm tortillas. Don’t try this with an electric range, or your tortillas will burn or catch on fire!
- Turn on the flame: Turn your gas burner to medium so that the flame just barely reaches the top of the grate.
- Put the tortilla on the burner: Place a tortilla directly onto the burner over the open flame and heat for about 15 seconds, until the bottom is browned in spots.
- Flip: Then use tongs to flip it over and toast the other side for about 15 seconds.
- Remove and repeat: Remove the tortilla to a plate or a clean surface, and repeat with the rest of the tortillas. You can stack them as they are heated.
Warming Tortillas on a Grill
- Heat the grill: Heat your grill to medium; make sure it’s not too hot. (This works with a gas, charcoal, or pellet grill.)
- Grill in batches: Place the tortillas directly onto the grill in batches of up to 4 at a time, but no more, so you can control the browning without them burning.
- Flip: Heat for about 30 seconds, or until the bottom is browned in spots, then use tongs to flip it over and grill the other side for about 30 seconds.
- Remove and repeat: Remove the tortillas to a plate or a clean surface, and repeat with the rest of the tortillas. You can stack them as you remove them from the grill.
How Do You Warm Tortillas in the Microwave or Oven?
While the stovetop and grilled versions are the best ways to warm tortillas, you can also use the microwave or oven.
- Microwave: This isn’t my favorite method because it doesn’t amplify the flavor of the tortillas but merely warms them. But it’s fast and efficient. Place a short stack of tortillas on a microwave-safe plate. Wet a paper towel with a little water and place the damp paper towel over the top of your tortillas (you can also use a damp dish towel). Then, pop them into the microwave for about 45 seconds. This will keep them from drying in the microwave.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to around 350 degrees. Wrap a stack of tortillas in aluminum foil and place them in the oven for about 10 minutes. You won’t get those pleasant brown spots as when you toast them, but you will have a warm tortilla!
FAQs
To keep your tortillas from getting soggy, warm them as directed here. If you cook them in a tiny bit of oil in a pan, the oil will also form a bit of a barrier on the tortilla. This prevents the sauce from soaking into the tortilla too much when making a saucy dish like enchiladas, for instance.
You don’t need to heat up your tortillas to make a quesadilla, but it does make the quesadilla better. Here’s why: If you warm up the side of the tortilla that touches the cheese before putting cheese in, then your cheese will start melting faster and more evenly. So you’ll never get stuck with a quesadilla that’s burnt on the outside with hard cheese in the middle. Your tortilla will also have the best flavor if you warm it on both sides.
You can leave your warmed tortillas folded in a cloth napkin or clean dishtowel to keep them warm. You might want to place the wrapped tortillas in a basket to serve. There are also specially designed round serving dishes with slides for keeping tortillas warm. If you find yourself serving warm tortillas often, it’s a good purchase!
Warm Tortilla Dishes
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Warm Tortillas on the Stove
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 corn or flour tortillas
- Burrito, taco, quesadilla, or enchilada ingredients (as needed, according to recipe)
Instructions
- Heat a pan that is larger than the diameter of your tortillas over medium to medium-high heat. There is no need to oil the pan, or even spray it with nonstick spray.
- When the pan is hot, place the tortilla directly into the pan, and heat for about 45 seconds, until the bottom is browned in spots.
- Use tongs or a fork to flip it over and warm the other side for about 45 seconds.
- Remove the tortilla to a plate or a clean surface, and repeat with the rest of the tortillas. You can stack them as they are heated.
Notes
- If you have a gas stove (with a real flame), you can use it to warm tortillas. Turn your gas burner to medium, so that the flame just barely reaches the top of the grate.
- Place a tortilla directly onto the burner and heat for about 15 seconds, until the bottom is browned in spots.
- Then use tongs to flip it over and toast the other side for about 15 seconds.
- Remove the tortilla to a plate or a clean surface, and repeat with the rest of the tortillas. You can stack them as they are heated.
- Heat your grill to medium. (This works with a gas, charcoal, or pellet grill.)
- Place the tortillas directly onto the grill in batches of up to 4 at a time, but no more, so you can control the browning without them burning.
- Heat for about 30 seconds, or until the bottom is browned in spots, then use tongs to flip it over and grill the other side for about 30 seconds.
- Remove the tortillas to a plate or a clean surface, and repeat with the rest of the tortillas. You can stack them as you remove them from the grill.
Prior to reading your post, I had no idea how to warm my tacos, they either always became too hard or remained soggy, but after trying out your technique I achieved my perfect tacos!
completely delighted to hear!