Cochinita pibil taco shells, a Mexican snack with pulled pork, avocado and marinated red onion, a close-up shot on a black background with copyspace
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Tacos are a quick and tasty meal and they can contain a variety of fillings, including beef, pork, chicken or beans. Many people use either pre-packaged taco shells or create their own shells using tortillas. In either case, taco shells are best when they're heated before adding the fillings because cold taco shells filled with warm meat or beans aren't very enjoyable. You can use many different methods to heat your taco shells including roasting them over a campfire or toasting them in your toaster.

Bake the taco shells in the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place taco shells on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 5 minutes or until crispy. Taco shells can remain in the closed oven to keep warm until it's time to fill and serve them.

Heat taco shells in the microwave. Wrap the taco shells in a barely damp cloth and place on a microwave-safe plate. Heat them on high power for approximately 1 minute or until they are steaming.

Fry the taco shells in a pan on the stove. Fill a frying pan with canola oil until it reaches approximately 1/2 inch depth. Heat oil on medium high heat until it sizzles. Fry the desired amount of taco shells until they are crispy and very lightly browned. Place the taco shells on paper towels to remove excess grease.

Heat the taco shells over a campfire. This is a fun way to heat taco shells, either on a camping trip or in your backyard. Wrap the taco shells in heavy-duty foil and heat them over a campfire; do not place them directly on the flames. Use long, metal tongs to hold the shells over the campfire. Remove the shells from the fire when they are heated; heating times will vary depending on the warmth of the campfire and your desired level of crispiness. Avoid holding the taco shells too tightly with the tongs to prevent cracking or breaking the taco shells.

Toast your taco shells with your kitchen toaster. This method works best with pre-packaged taco shells because they are thinner and firmer. Place the taco shells in the toaster slots, and toast them until you hear them sizzle.

Warning

If you use the campfire method to heat your tacos, ensure you follow any fire codes that may be in place if building the fire in your back yard. Backyard fires are not allowed in many areas. Build your campfire away from any buildings or trees and ensure you have a bucket of sand or dirt or a fire extinguisher nearby in case the flames get out of control.