I don’t know about you, but for me, there’s just something irresistible about a burrito.
Whether I make it at home or grab a Chipotle or Taco Bell burrito, they’re one of my go-to comfort foods.
Sometimes though, we all have eyes bigger than our stomachs and end up with leftovers. The good news is that you can reheat your leftover burrito the next day and it should still be just as delicious.
The problem is that there are a couple of risks when you reheat a burrito. If done incorrectly it can go soggy, with the resulting wet burrito an unappetizing mess. The other risk of the reheating process is burning your burrito – ruining the texture and making it too crispy.
Fortunately, I’ve made every mistake in the book and suffered through my share of soggy and burnt burritos so you don’t have to!
Read on to learn all about the best way to reheat a burrito.
What is a Burrito?
A burrito is a Mexican wrap made from a flour tortilla filled with select toppings before being rolled shut and served, usually wrapped in tin foil.
Some of the more popular burrito fillings include refried beans, seasoned meat, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream.
The true appeal of burritos is that there are no hard and fast rules, and you can customize them to your taste.
If you have a burrito craving in the morning, you can even give a breakfast burrito a try!
What’s the Best Way to Reheat a Burrito?
As I’ve mentioned, the main thing that matters during the reheating process is preventing your burrito from either going soggy or accidentally drying it out.
My personal recommendation for delivering the best reheated burrito is to use the oven.
Although it takes a little longer than other methods, it heats evenly and is the best way to avoid a burned or soggy burrito.
How to Stop Your Burrito Going Soggy when Reheating
There are few culinary experiences more disappointing than a soggy burrito. Your best bet for a delicious burrito that is not a wet, mushy mess is to reheat it in your oven.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, wrap the burrito in aluminum foil. The foil will work to keep the tortilla shell soft, without it possibly drying out or going soggy.
Once in the oven, you should reheat the burrito for thirty minutes, or until it is heated through. Make sure to check the internal temperature from time to time with a meat thermometer until it registers at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can You Reheat a Burrito with Sour Cream?
If you are like me, you have often wondered if it is safe to reheat a burrito that has sour cream on it, and if so, how? As it turns out, it is safe to reheat a leftover burrito if it has sour cream on it.
If you have the option, scoop as much of the sour cream off as possible, and after reheating, add it back.
If scooping the sour cream off is not an option, you can reheat the burrito as is, and then once reheated, you can add extra sour cream then.
Can You Reheat a Burrito with Guacamole?
Yes, reheating a burrito that contains guacamole is fine. Guacamole is traditionally served warm in Mexican cuisine, so reheating it in a burrito shouldn’t be a problem.
You have two options for reheating the burrito, and either one will work perfectly fine:
- Scoop out the guacamole and set it to the side, reheat the burrito, and then add it back in.
- Reheat the burrito, leaving the guacamole inside with all the other toppings.
If you feel that you need to, you can always add a few more dollops of guacamole to the burrito after heating.
How to Reheat a Burrito in the Oven (Best Method)
Of the various methods to reheat your burrito, the one I recommend the most, hands down, is using the oven.
I’ve found that it delivers the most consistent results. It’s much easier to get the perfect temperature and texture compared to the microwave.
The pros of using the oven include:
- Evenly heated.
- Tortilla is crispy and not soggy.
- Delicious results!
The only real con to speak of when using an oven is that it takes a bit longer. Reheating in the oven can take anywhere from twenty to thirty minutes.
Here’s how to properly reheat your burrito in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wrap your burrito, or burritos, in aluminum foil and place them on a baking sheet.
- Allow twenty to thirty minutes for the burrito to heat evenly throughout.
To ensure a crispier tortilla, remove the aluminum foil halfway through the reheating process. Be sure to use oven mitts when you do as the foil will be extremely hot.
How to Reheat a Burrito in a Skillet
After the oven, the next best method for reheating a burrito is in a skillet.
By using this method, the burrito is ready to eat fast, the tortilla turns out delicious and crispy, and the resulting taste is fantastic.
There are a few cons to this method, though. Although the tortilla will be nice and crispy, not everyone is a big fan of this result. You should also be mindful of the fact that this technique works best for smaller burritos.
To reheat a burrito using a skillet on top of the stove, follow the steps shown below:
- Preheat your skillet over medium heat.
- Unwrap the tin foil and place the burrito it in the middle of the skillet.
- Place a lid on the skillet and allow the burrito to heat for approximately five minutes, making sure to turn it over halfway through to keep it from burning.
- Repeat the process until the burrito is toasty and is heated all the way through.
As stated above, the skillet method works best for smaller burritos.
A Mission or Chipotle burrito will have trouble heating all the way through before the outside tortilla begins to burn.
How to Reheat a Burrito in the Microwave
As I’ve alluded to, microwaving isn’t the method that I’d usally choose for the best results. It’s simply too easy to mess up and end up with a soggy, wet burrito.
However, reheating your burrito in a microwave does have some advantages. The main benefit is that you can quickly reheat at work or home, and the overall results can be pretty good. I’d usually reheat a chipotle burrito or similar with this method, rather than a homemade burrito.
The major drawback is that reheating your burrito in a microwave has the issue that it may not reheat evenly, and the tortilla often comes out either soggy or tough.
- To reheat a burrito in a microwave, begin by removing any foil from the burrito and placing it in a microwave safe dish or container.
- Cover the container with a microwave-safe lid, making sure not to completely close the top to allow venting of the steam.
- You will then need to microwave the burrito for approximately one minute and remove the container from the microwave.
- Turn the burrito over and microwave for another minute.
You will repeat this process in one-minute intervals until the burrito is heated all the way through. If the burrito appears to be getting soggy, remove the lid. If the burrito seems to be getting dry, you can replace the cover.
Using this method is sufficient but not the best manner for reheating burritos. However, it gets the job done fast, and you can enjoy the burrito in the end.
How to Reheat a Burrito in an Air Fryer
Your air fryer is also a good option for reheating a burrito. Like the microwave, it’s quick and easy but has less risk of leaving you with a mushy or burnt end-product.
To reheat your burrito in an air fryer, you will need to:
- Begin by heating the air fryer to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Brush or lightly spritz your burrito with either olive or coconut oil.
- Place the burrito or burritos (making sure they are not frozen) into the basket of the air fryer, making sure that you leave space between each burrito and do not stack them.
- Allow the burrito(s) five minutes to air fry, then flip over and allow to fry one to two more minutes.
- Once they are sufficiently fried, remove the burrito(s) and enjoy them in all their crispy goodness.
How to Reheat Burrito Bowls
Whilst a burrito is served wrapped in a tortilla shell, a burrito bowl, just as the name implies, is served in a bowl. However, even though there are differences between burritos and burrito bowls, they are both considered Tex-Mex meals.
Like burritos, burritos bowls can be heated in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven. For the best results, heat them in the oven. When using the oven to reheat your burrito bowl, you will need to:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Ensure to remove any cold ingredients from the bowl and place the remainder of your ingredients into an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil, which will work to trap the heat inside your burrito bowl.
Allow the bowl to reheat for fifteen minutes or until heated throughout.
Return your cold ingredients to the bowl, and if desired, top it with cheese.
How Long Do Leftover Burritos Last?
Much like any leftover item, burritos have to follow specific rules to be safe to eat. The best rule of thumb for storing leftover burritos is to follow the 2:4 rule.
What is the 2:4 rule, you are probably asking? It is a simple method for determining the safest way to store any form of leftovers, including burritos.
Simply put, it means that you should place the leftovers into the fridge within two hours and make sure to consume them or throw them away within four days.
Due to the risk of contamination by harmful bacteria, leftovers should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Four days in the refrigerator is the suggested time to prevent any type of food spoilage. Can these times be pushed a little? Sure. However, it would be best to air on the side of caution and not stretch times by much.
For burritos specifically, the maximum time in the fridge for any leftovers is four to five days. However, if you want to extend their life, you can freeze them. A frozen burrito will last for up to three months.
Reheating a Frozen Burrito
When you’re ready to eat a burrito that you’ve kept in the freezer, don’t just directly reheat it using one of the methods above.
Instead, you must first allow it to defrost for the best results.
To do this, remove the burrito from the freezer the day before you plan to eat it. Place it on a plate, to catch any water drops as it thaws, and put it in the fridge.
Leave it in the fridge overnight.
Once it’s thoroughly thawed, you can reheat it using any one of the methods above.