How to Warm Tortillas

On the Stovetop

1. Warm flour tortillas in a preheated cast iron or stainless steel skillet. Preheat it over medium heat. Do not use a non-stick skillet unless you are sure that yours can be heated without a lubricant. Many non-stick pans can become damaged if they are heated dry. This is the best way to make quesadillas or burritos.

On a Gas Range

1. If you own a gas stove, tortillas can be warmed directly over the open flame. Turn the flame on high. Use a metal tong to place the tortilla directly over the flame. When you see a bit of smoke (usually 10-15 seconds, depending on how high your burner is), move it so it doesn’t burn. You just want it scorched.

In the Oven

1. You can warm a stack of flour tortillas in the oven. Wrap the stack in aluminum foil and place the foil on a baking sheet or on an oven-safe plate—heat for about 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven.The oven is the best option to warm lots of tortillas at once.

In the Microwave

1. Place the tortillas on a microwave-safe plate. Cover the plate with a damp paper towel and microwave it in 15-second intervals. Don’t overheat them, or they will get dried out.

In a Tortilla Warmer

1. Flour tortillas can be placed in a tortilla warmer and warmed in the oven or the microwave. You can warm a stack of flour tortillas in the oven. Heat for about 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven.Microwave tortillas in 15-second intervals until hot. Thirty seconds is generally enough. Don’t get them too hot, or they will get hard.

In the Air Fryer

1. Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil. You can stack them up, but limit them to six tortillas at a time. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 3-4 minutes. Place the wrapped tortillas in the air fryer. Air fry for 3-4 minutes, until warm.
2. For crispy taco shells; preheat the air fryer for 3-4 minutes. Arrange the taco shells in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 2-3 minutes, until hot.

On the Grill

1. Similar to heating the tortillas directly over your burner, they can be heated over a hot grill. Preheat the grill. Watch the tortillas so that they don’t get too charred. Flip them with tongs. If you want soft tortillas, they can be wrapped in aluminum foil and placed on the opposite side of the grill where the burners are lit (referred to as indirect grilling). Grill them in the foil for about 20 minutes.

In a Slow Cooker

1. Wrap a stack of tortillas in a slightly damp, clean kitchen towel. Place it in the slow cooker and set the temperature to warm. Heat them for about thirty minutes, but they can kept warm for a long time. This method is great for a taco bar.

For Corn Tortillas in Oil

1. Corn tortillas can be heated with all the above methods, including on the stovetop, in the oven, in the microwave, in a tortilla warmer, in a slow cooker, or on the grill. Additionally, corn tortillas can be heated in another way.
2. Add about ½-inch of oil to a small skillet. Turn the burner on medium-high. Heat it until the oil is very hot. Place the cold tortilla in the oil. When the tortilla starts to form bubbles on the top, flip it and fry until desired crispiness.
3. If you are making tostadas, flip the tortilla over flat. If you are making tacos, you can flip them and fold them in half with the tongs immediately after flipping. This is also the best way to soften tortillas for enchiladas and taquitos, but just soften them; don’t let them get crispy, or they won’t roll. Drain on paper towels before you use them.