Ok, this is probably a stupid question, but I'm planning on having a taco bar for my son's birthday party. I think I have everything figured out, except what to do with the tortillas. I don't want to have to stand by my stove and warm each one individually. Does anyone have a quick and easy way to warm a bunch of tortillas together and keep them warm? We have a (small) plastic tortilla warmer thing, but I actually have no idea how to use it. I suspect that it's meant to be used after the tortillas have already been warmed and not as the thing in which to warm them. But I'm really just guessing.
I feel like steaming them in the microwave has never quite worked out for me, but I'm probably not doing it right. They always seem kind of gooey afterward. Maybe I'm using too much water? Another friend mentioned that she has heard of people warming tortillas in a crock pot, but she didn't know how they did it either.
Also, when it comes to soft tacos, corn (not flour) tortillas are customary, right? We normally eat crunchy tacos, but I think that will be way too messy for a kid party.
Thanks for any advice and tips!
Thanks, everyone! Wrapping them in foil and putting them in the oven worked perfectly.
Hi J., wrap a stack of 10- 12 in aluminum foil and then keep them in the oven at a low temp. 250 -300 degrees is fine. They warm much more evenly that way. I do it all the time when I have big parties. Works perfectly!
Wrap a stack of tortillas in damp paper towels and heat them in the microwave. You can keep them warm by wrapping them in a towel or cloth napkins and put them in a basket.
If you prefer heating them on the stove. Heat your oven to warm. As each tortilla is warmed put it on a towel in the oven. When you have enough warmed, wrap them up and put them in a basket. You can leave them in the oven until you serve them.
For big parties if you wrap the tortillas in a damp papertowel then wrap with foil and put in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes. You can stack about 12 tortillas per pack. Then you can keep the stove on warm and pull out more packs as needed.
Good Luck
D.
The first time we went to TGIF's we were impressed with the Mexican dish. We figured out how to make most of the same food at home. The ready soft Tortillas that you buy from the supermarket are pretty easy. Just put them on a plate, throw into microwave for 10-15 seconds and ready! They're warm and ready to serve. Don't add water. Just place in microwave. Mmm... I think I'll make them for dinner tonight.
We heat tortillas in the microwave when we have parties-unless we are barbequeing, then just toss them on the grill also. I have never wrapped them in a damp papertowel. i can see how they would get gummy. The ones we buy are in a paper wrapper. I just make sure they are separated by flipping through them, then put them on for 20 seconds at a time, a dozen at a time. Sometimes they do get gummy though if they are super fresh. For the best taste, we use a camal (sp) (iron griddle). When they are warm, wrap them in a clean towel to keep warm. If you can use a crock pot or heat pad to keep them warm, they will last. My kids prefer the corn tortillas unless we are having quesadillas.
I think the crock pot would really be easiest. I'd probably line the bottom with a paper towel (or thin, real towel) and throw them in on low. Avoid stacking, but layering would work, I would think. Do it early enough and they should be good to go by the time you want to eat.
I would second the flour tortillas if you want soft tacos. At any Mexican place we've ever been to (barring the road-side stands, but they don't use ground beef in their soft tacos, either) soft tacos are served in flour.
Hola, you can heat the corn tortillas in the microwave, use a fabric cloth, like the one you towel dry your dinerware with, instead of paper towel, heat 10 tortillas at a time at the most and no longher than 30sec. You will be fine. You don't have to use water at all. Just put the tortillas in a stack, wrap them up with the cloth and in the microwave they go for 30sec. Easy!
Hi! If you have a griddle, it's best to heat them on that. You can heat them up and wrap them tightly in foil and then maybe a thin dish cloth over. To answer your question regarding soft tacos.....you can use either corn or flour tortillas. If all else fails just go with the crunchy tacos. You can buy the pre-made taco shells. Have fun!
I think for a kid party, you are better off with the crunch shells. The taste of corn tortillas really isn't something kids will eat. If you want soft, then use flour tortillas. Check out your local Mexican restaurants. Many of them will sell you tortillas and they taste much better than store bought and don't cost but a few cents more. We have Rosa's here that I buy from but I don't know if they have a location in your city.
GL!
1. You could use the microwave, which I do often with success. No water, though.
2. Use the oven. I place a wet paper towel on the bottom on the bottom of a pie pan, fill the pie pan with tortillas, top with another wet paper towel and cover with another pie pan. I heat them in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes or so.
3. Cook ahead on the stove top and put in a warm oven to keep warm.
I have no idea on the crock pot method.
Yes, corn tortillas is appropriate. Keep in mind, a lot of kids don't like corn tortillas, so you may want to buy some small flour tortillas as well and give them a choice.
I personally do not like corn tortillas warmed in the microwave. It makes them too soft or something and they fall apart easier.
We have had many taco bars with large groups of people. Do you have a griddle you could use? I don't. I take two cookie sheets and place each across two burners on my stove, and then turn all four burners on - not too hot - usually medium works. And, then I can do about 10 tortillas at a time. I have an insulated pouch that keeps them warm for a really long time, so I just put them in there. Depending upon the size of the party, you may have to do them in batches. With my daughters grad party, we had about 100 people. My SIL took on the responsibility of cooking about 20-30 tortillas at a time and keeping the supply stocked.
Good luck!
Im confused about why you put water in the microwave. If you have one of those microwavable warmers, stick about 5 flour tortillas in and nuke for a minute. If you don't have one, take a plate, lay a paper towel down, put the tortillas on, lay another paper towel on top of that and nuke for a minute. They come out perfectly for me when I do them.
One other way is to go to your local Mexican grocery store, like Vallarta, Tres Sierras, El Gallo Giro these places make fresh tortillas eveyday. You could order ahead and pick them up the day of the party. They will be warm and no hassle. When you take them home take them in a foam cooler wrap them in cloths to keep them warm. Then you could put them in one of those warmers that you keep food warm in. (the foil trays with the burners underneath with water keeping the food warm) That always works for us when we have tacos for a party. Kids love the tortillas especailly if they are the small ones, they work better for their size and appitites. Have fun sounds yummy!!!
