In a nutshell: There are three ways to reheat enchiladas to make them delicious: in the oven, in the microwave, or in an air fryer. Each way requires covering the enchiladas with foil or a lid, but they have different temperatures and times.
When you need to choose suitable dishes that you can prepare in advance and reheat as needed, enchiladas would probably be at the top of your selection.
Homemade enchiladas are appreciated for storage either in the fridge or freezer and will be great when you reheat them. So, feel free to bake a much more considerable amount and freeze it in portions for future days when you need it.
There are several ways you can reheat beef and chicken enchiladas. The one that is our favorite and probably gives the best results is reheating in the air fryer. If you don’t have one, then the oven is a second best choice. But we will show you another way if you are in a hurry and want to escape soggy enchiladas. You can reheat frozen enchiladas with the same techniques provided.
Reheating Enchiladas In The Oven
As we have said, an oven is the best way to reheat enchiladas. Both the tortilla and the filling will heat up nicely, and everything will retain its firmness and texture.
The tortilla wrapper will not dry out or become gooey due to moisture from the filling. Also, this is a straightforward method. The only thing it requires is a lot of heating time, so it will not be suitable for a quick snack if you are in a hurry.
Step 1: Heat up the Oven to 350 °F
To be completely honest, you can actually put the enchiladas in the oven before it is thoroughly heated. It will not affect the result. Just measure the time from the moment the oven is fully heated to be entirely sure. Generally, set the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Cover the Enchiladas with Foil and Bake
First, use an oven safe baking dish. Cover the enchiladas with aluminum foil to keep everything evenly heated and to retain moisture. Put the covered enchiladas in the oven for 15- 20 minutes.
Step 3: Uncover the Dish and Keep Baking
After 20 minutes, the enchiladas are already well warmed. Now, remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to give the final touch and flavor. Take out the baking dish and serve your delicious meal immediately.
How to Reheat Enchiladas In The Microwave
When you are in a hurry or have only one serving to warm up, of course, an oven is not an option. Feel free to turn to the microwave to reheat enchiladas. You may have a little harder tortilla, but it will be a decent reheating result.
Here are a few simple steps you need to take.
Step 1: Place the Enchiladas on a Plate and Slice
Since the microwave does not heat the inside of the dish well as the outside, it is definitely advisable to slice the enchiladas before heating.
If you want to preserve the good appearance of the meal, pierce the tortilla in several places if you do not want to completely cut the meal. Place it on a microwave safe plate.
Step 2: Cover the Plate and Reheat Enchiladas
It is important to keep the steam inside the dish so that it does not dry out. So, cover the plate with plastic wrap intended for microwaves and put in for heating.
Turn on for 60 seconds and then check that it is heated enough. If not, extend the heating time to an additional 30 seconds once or twice as needed.
Warming Up Enchiladas In An Air Fryer
Forget everything we said earlier. If you have an air fryer in your kitchen, be sure to use it to reheat enchiladas. This device will be the perfect helper for the job.
The tortilla will become a little crispier, and the meat filling will be excellently warmed. And it’s all done in a few minutes. If you have frozen enchilada, be sure to thaw it first.
Step 1: Heat Up the Air Fryer to 350 °F
First, turn the air fryer to warm it to a medium heat of 350 degrees. As the preparation of the leftovers of the Mexican delicacy takes little time, you can prepare everything in a basket in just a few minutes.
Step 2: Place the Enchilada in the Basket
First, lay parchment paper on the bottom of the air fryer basket so that the sauces do not leak out. This will be especially useful if you want to spice up your leftovers with some extra cheese or enchilada sauce.
Then place the enchiladas in the basket. It will probably fit up to 3 pieces. Be sure not to squeeze them too hard, and never stack them in multiple rows if you want a perfect crispy result.
Step 3: Cook for 5 Minutes
Place the basket in the air fryer and turn it on for 5 minutes. Depending on how rich the enchiladas are, it may take an extra minute or two, so be sure to check the heat first before serving.
You can definitely freeze cooked enchiladas. In fact, it will be an excellent move for you as you will have a quickly prepared casserole dish in the future when you need it. Frozen enchiladas can last for approximately 2 to 3 months.
How long do cooked enchiladas last in a fridge?
Leftover enchilada casserole will be quite well refrigerated for the next 3 to a maximum of 4 days. Do not prolong the time after that. Note that it is a filling with many ingredients plus a topping.
Can you freeze already cooked enchiladas?
Definitely, yes. Cooked enchiladas can last for up to 3 months when frozen properly. It is actually a good way to store leftovers so you can have an easy meal for the next weeks to come.
How do you bake enchiladas so they aren’t soggy?
To bake enchiladas so they aren’t soggy, lightly fry the tortillas in a hot, dry skillet for a few seconds on each side before filling them. This step helps to create a barrier and prevents the sauce from soaking into the tortillas during baking, resulting in a firmer and less soggy texture.
Conclusion
Enchiladas are an excellent Mexican delicacy that is always a good choice for lunch. If you prepare them at home, be sure to intentionally make a larger quantity and freeze leftover enchiladas for future use.
Reheated enchiladas will taste just as good as if they had just been baked. We advise you to separate the exact portion sizes you will need before freezing, so later on, you can defrost only the amount you need.
And, if you have the time and no air fryer handy, opt for preheating in the toaster oven rather than in the microwave. Although slow, the oven method will give a slightly better outcome.
Tanja is great lover of healthy eating and lifestyle, she has been editing TV series about nutrition and health for years. She also engaged in food production in the family business, mainly focused on fruit processing without destroying vitamins and minerals. She believes that quality nutrition is one of the key ingredients of a happy and healthy life.
