Want to reheat leftover enchiladas? And do it the Best Way To Reheat Enchiladas possible? Let me help you! I’ll show you what re-heating your enchiladas should always look like (no one wants tough, rubbery, inedible food). It’s easy to remember how to reheat enchiladas, just keep the following in mind.
Why do you need to Reheat Enchiladas Properly?
It’s not just about making sure the dish tastes good. It’s also about making sure it’s safe to eat. And that means following a few simple steps when reheating enchiladas.
You probably know that reheating food can cause it to become contaminated with harmful bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria. But did you know that most of these bacteria are heat-resistant?
That means they can survive high temperatures — like those in your microwave or oven — without being killed off by the heat. So if you don’t take care to reheat foods properly, the bacteria could still be present after cooking and could make you sick if you eat them later on.
Perfect Way To Reheat Enchiladas
If you’ve ever reheated enchiladas, you know that they can turn into a soggy mess. But there’s a way to reheat them so they stay crispy and delicious.
1. In The Oven
The key is to use the oven. The oven uses less energy than the other methods and won’t dry out your enchiladas. You can even use this trick for tacos, quesadillas, and burritos as well.
From the refrigerator
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Place the enchiladas on a baking sheet and cover them with aluminum foil.
Step 3: Bake for 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
From the freezer
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Remove frozen enchiladas from freezer packaging and place them on a baking sheet.
Step 3.: Bake frozen enchiladas at 350 degrees for 20 minutes per 1 pound of food until they are heated through, turning once halfway through cooking time (if desired).
2. In the microwave
You can even use the microwave to reheat them so that they are still crispy on top and not soggy.
From the refrigerator
Step 1: Heat up the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a sheet pan with nonstick spray.
Step 2: Place your enchiladas in a single layer on the sheet pan and cover with foil.
Step 3: Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the foil, rotate them, and bake for another 5 minutes or until heated through.
From the freezer
Step 1: Remove from the freezer and wrap in aluminum foil or place in a microwavable dish with a lid.
Step 2: Heat in the microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, then flip over and heat for an additional 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
Step 3: Remove from the microwave and serve immediately!
3. in the Toaster Oven
Enchiladas are a great choice for a weeknight meal. You can assemble them ahead of time and bake them when you’re ready. If you have leftovers, reheating them is easy — just pop them into the Toaster Oven.
From the refrigerator
Step 1: Heat up the enchiladas in the Toaster Oven for about 2 minutes on high power or until they are hot. Do not overcook them or they will become dry and rubbery.
Step 2: Place the enchiladas on a plate and cover them with aluminum foil to keep warm until ready to serve.
Step 3: This can take up to 5 minutes depending on how much food you have heated up at once.
From the freezer
Step 1: Remove Enchiladas from the freezer and allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Step 2: Heat a large pot of water over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Once boiling, add your Enchiladas and cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.
Step 3: Drain the water from the pan and serve immediately
4. in a skillet
Enchiladas can be reheated in a skillet. It is an easy way to reheat them, especially if you are short on time.
From the refrigerator
Step 1: Place your skillet on the stovetop and pour in some oil.
Step 2: Add your enchiladas to the pan and cover them with cheese and salsa if desired. Allow these ingredients to melt together before stirring your meal around until it looks as though it is heated through once again.
Step 3: Remove from heat after two minutes or so and serve immediately with garnishes such as sour cream or guacamole if desired.
From the freezer
Step 1: Remove the desired number of enchiladas from the freezer and place them on a baking sheet. Leave them in the foil and do not unwrap them.
Step 2: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 3: Bake the enchiladas, still tightly wrapped in foil, for 25 minutes or until they are hot throughout. The frozen tortillas may become slightly crisp on top but will soften up again as they sit out at room temperature before serving.
Step 4: Serve immediately with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa if desired!
5. In An Air Fryer
That’s where the air fryer comes into play! This handy appliance allows you to reheat your frozen meals in a healthy way without any mess or fuss.
From the refrigerator
Step 1: Put the enchiladas on a baking sheet and place them in the oven. Turn the oven on to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and use tongs to flip over each enchilada, so that both sides can crisp up. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes.
Step 3: Take out of the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
From the freezer
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400˚F (204˚C).
Step 2: Place frozen enchiladas in a single layer on the wire rack of the air fryer.
Step 3: Cook for 20 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 4: Remove from the air fryer using tongs or a spatula and serve immediately with your favorite toppings or as part of a meal.
How To Keep Enchiladas Hot In The Office
In the office, you’re bound to be surrounded by all sorts of delicious food. And while it may be tempting to grab a bite during your lunch break, it can also lead to an unproductive afternoon.
If you’re looking for ways to keep your enchiladas hot in the office, here are some tips:
1. Use an insulated container
The best way to keep enchiladas hot is with an insulated container designed for food storage.
2. Don’t overfill the container
If you overfill an insulated container with food, it won’t be able to maintain its temperature as well.
3. Keep it covered
If using a thermos isn’t an option for you, just wrap your enchiladas in aluminum foil before putting them in your lunchbox.
4. Use glass containers with lids
Glass containers are another good choice for keeping food warm while transporting it from one location to another — especially if there’s more than one person involved in carrying out meals for everyone at work or at home after a long day.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Reheating Enchiladas
If you’re going to reheat enchiladas, there are some mistakes that you should avoid. Here are five mistakes to avoid when reheating enchiladas:
1. Don’t Overcook Them
Enchiladas are best when they’re freshly cooked and hot, but don’t let that stop you from reheating leftovers. Keep in mind that once they’ve been cooked and cooled, the tortillas will be less pliable, so it’s important not to overcook them the second time around.
2. Don’t Use Plastic Containers Or Wraps
Plastic can get hot enough to melt the enchilada sauce right off the tortilla, which is why we recommend using glass containers or baking dishes instead of plastic wrap or foil when reheating enchiladas in the oven.
3. Don’t Forget About Them!
Even though you’re not making these ahead of time as some other freezer meals, it’s still important not to forget about them when you put them in the oven or on top of your range!
4. Using the wrong kind of dish.
It’s tempting to use any dish you have lying around — but not all dishes are created equal when it comes to heating food up in the microwave.
5. Keep Your Enchilada Sauce Warm Before Serving It
If your enchilada sauce is cold when you serve it at dinner time, then it won’t taste as good as if you had served it warm or even hot right off the stovetop or in the oven. To keep your sauce warm before serving time, transfer it into a slow cooker set on low heat or into an electric skillet.
FAQs
1. What ingredients go into making enchiladas?
The main ingredient in enchiladas is tortillas that are rolled and filled with cheese, meat or vegetables. The tortillas are then covered with chili sauce and baked until they are crispy on top. Homemade enchilada sauce is made with tomatoes and chilies along with spices like cumin and coriander. When prepared at home, many people choose to make their own from scratch but it’s also possible to buy pre-made sauces from grocery stores or online sellers.
2. How long do you cook enchiladas?
We recommend cooking your enchiladas at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes if you want them to be crispy on top. Otherwise, they will only need 8-10 minutes of cook time!
3. What kind of pan should I use when reheating enchiladas?
You can use any kind of lidded pan for this recipe as long as it has an oven-safe lid so that you can cover the top with foil for easy cleanup.
4. What kind of enchilada sauce should I use?
Use your favorite brand of enchilada sauce, but don’t use a jarred variety that has added water or other ingredients that would dilute the flavor of this dish.
5. Is it better to make my own enchilada sauce or buy it ready-made?
It depends on how much time you have and how much effort you want to put into making the sauce yourself. If you’re making this meal for family and friends, then it’s probably better to make it from scratch since they will appreciate your efforts more than going out and buying a premade product that has been sitting on the store shelf for months (or possibly years).
In Conclusion
In any case, I hope this post has been helpful in determining how best to reheat enchiladas so they can be enjoyed by everyone. If there are other methods you have used with success, please share them in the comment section below.
