Who doesn't like a burrito? The combination of meat, rice, tomatoes, spices and sour cream, all wrapped up in a tasty tortilla.
But we all know burritos are best served warm. So, what if you a leftover burrito and it's lost its heat. Have you ever wondered how to reheat a burrito?
Well, you've come to the right place. Reheating a burrito is easily done. In fact, there are several ways.
What you'll need to reheat a burrito
Depending on the method you choose to reheat your burrito, you'll need the following:
- Skillet – you can reheat your burrito by grilling it in a cast iron skillet
- Lid – you'll need to cover the skillet when heating the burrito
- Spatula – you'll need this for pressing down and flipping your burrito when heating it on the stove
- Olive oil spray – a little spray of oil will stop the tortilla catching in the pan
- Microwave – reheating a burrito in a microwave is quick and easy... but there's a few points to keep in mind (see next section)
- Oven toaster – an oven toaster is a quick way to reheat this delicious snack, without taking away the taste
- Aluminum foil – this will protect the tortilla when reheating in the oven (not in the microwave!)
- Thermometer – you'll need this to check that the meat is at a safe temperature to eat. And if you haven't got a meat thermometer, now's the time to invest!
What is a burrito?
A burrito is a mouthwatering Mexican and Tex-Mex wrap. To make a one, you take a flour tortilla and wrap it around a variety of ingredients, including meat, rice and refried beans, with some spices added for extra zing. Sour cream and guacamole is often added to balance out the spiciness.
The tortilla itself is sometimes lightly grilled or steamed, to give it extra bendability. This makes sure the tortilla hugs all the filling and that everything stays together. There's nothing worse than a burrito that falls apart!
The meat used in a burrito is normally beef, chicken or pork. Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and different types of cheese. And of course, there are a thousand different types of sauce that are used to flavour burritos.
The name burrito translates as "little donkey" in Spanish. One theory behind the name is that a burrito can carry a lot of different things all wrapped together, much like a donkey. Well, I like to think that's where the name came from!
The traditional burrito has evolved across different cultures. A particular favourite in the US is the California burrito, which goes all out – it's a gigantic flour tortilla filled with marinated spice rubbed steak, stuffed to the brim with Mexican street fries, cheese, sour cream and guacamole.
California burritos can normally be found in popular Mexican fast food joints, like Taco Bell.
Can you reheat a burrito with guacamole?
If you wondering how to reheat a burrito with guacamole and other salads, without affecting the taste, the best way is to unwrap the burrito.
Some ingredients in the burrito, like the meat and the actual tortilla wrap, need to be heated. Whereas the cold ingredients will lose flavor when heated. So, the best way is to separate them.
Once heated, you can add the guacamole and salad back into the burrito, then carefully rewrap it. It'll taste as good as new!
Can you reheat a burrito with sour cream?
The same goes for sour cream. Heating it will taint the taste. It may seem like too much effort, but it's so worth it.
Unwrap the burrito and, using a spoon, spoon out the sour cream from the filling. Once you've heated the burrito, simply replace all of the salad ingredients and rewrap your burrito. Easy!
Best way to reheat a burrito
In a microwave
If you've ever just thrown a burrito into the microwave, you'll know that it'll just turn into a soggy, messy, wet burrito. This is because the microwave heats the moisture inside the burrito, which ends up seeping into the tortilla.
The trick is to sprinkle water onto the tortilla before you put the burrito into the microwave. This way shouldn't take more than 2 minutes to heat your burrito. Make sure you remove any foil before putting your burrito in the microwave!
On the stove
This may seem a little overboard for heating a simple. But if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!
A little spray of oil in a skillet is all takes. This method should take around 5 minutes.
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In the oven
If you want a crisp burrito that tastes as good as when you first made it (or bought it), reheat your burrito in the oven. It'll keep its flavour and will gain a satisfying crunch.
In a toaster oven
Another good method, this will help the burrito to keep its texture and taste.
How to cook a frozen burrito
If your urge to eat a burrito takes over, and you'll got a handy supply stockpiled in the freezer (homemade or a leftover burrito from Taco Bell), reheating frozen burritos takes less than 5 minutes in the microwave – just wrap each frozen burrito in a wet paper towel.
But if you want to know how to make frozen burritos taste better, you'll need to take a little longer and cook them in the oven.
To cook it in the oven, preheat your oven the 400 degrees Fahrenheit. You'll need to first wrap your burrito in foil, then place it on a baking tray on the top shelf of the oven. It'll take around 40 minutes.
If you're wondering how to cook a frozen burrito in a toaster oven, it's simple. Wrap it in foil and place it in a preheated toaster oven (400 degrees Fahrenheit) and cook for 15-20 minutes.
If you want to know how to cook a frozen burrito on the stove, just microwave it for a minute, then transfer into a pan. Sautee in a lightly oiled pan until the tortilla starts to brown.
Always make sure the meat is heated through to a safe temperature. Chicken should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and pork and beef should both be 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
📖 Recipe
How To Reheat A Burrito
If you couldn't finish your Mexican meal but want to enjoy the leftovers, you've come to the right place. Learn how to reheat a burrito via all kinds of different methods. Pick your favourite way!
Materials
- Olive oil spray
- Aluminum foil
Tools
- Skillet
- Lid
- Spatula
- Microwave
- Oven toaster
- Thermometer
Instructions
How to reheat a burrito in the microwave
- Remove any aluminum foil from the burrito.
- Place your burrito on a microwaveable plate.
- Sprinkle water onto the top side of the burrito.
- Set the timer to 1 minute.
- After a minute, flip the burrito onto the other side. Sprinkle some water onto this side and place the burrito back in microwave.
- Heat for another minute.
- After a minute, remove your burrito
- Check the temperature of the burrito using an internal meat thermometer. It's important that the meat is at a safe temperature to eat. Chicken should be 165 °F / 74 °C , and pork and beef should both be 145 °F / 63 °C
- Serve up and enjoy!
How to reheat a burrito on the stove
- Spray some olive oil in your skillet and preheat on a medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove foil and place the burrito in the center of the skillet.
- Press down on the burrito for several seconds using a spatula. Repeat this for about a minute.
- Cover the skillet with a lid and leave it to heat for about 5 minutes.
- Flip the burrito onto the other side. Replace the lid and leave to heat for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid and cook for another minute or two, to let the moisture evaporate.
- Remove the burrito and plate immediately. Enjoy!
How to reheat a burrito in the oven
- Preheat your oven to 225 °F / 107 °C
- Wrap your burrito in aluminum foil, leaving one end open, so the filling is exposed.
- Put the burrito on a baking tray on the middle shelf in the oven.
- Set the oven timer for 30 minutes.
- Remove the burrito and use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. Remember, chicken should be 165 °F / 74 °C , and pork and beef should both be 145 °F / 63 °C.
- If it's still not heated properly, return it to the oven until cooked.
- Remove the foil and enjoy!
How to reheat a burrito in a toaster oven
- Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F / 204 °C
- Wrap your burrito in aluminum foil, leaving one end open, so the filling is exposed.
- Place the burrito upright in the oven, with the filling end facing upwards.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes.
- If you want a crispy burrito, remove the foil after 8 minutes and cook for another 2-4.
- Make sure to check the temperature (see previous).
- Remove from the toaster oven and serve immediately. Enjoy!
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