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How to reheat a quesadilla (Two of the best reheating methods)

How to reheat a quesadilla (Two of the best reheating methods)

After a tiring day at work, you’ve finally gone home, all hungry. While looking for something tasty to calm your growling stomach, you remembered that you stored some leftover quesadillas in the fridge yesterday. What’s next, you ask? It’s reheating time!  

The thing is, some people get truly intimidated when it comes to warming up a quesadilla as they think it can be challenging to retain the flavor and texture of the food. 

Worry not as I’m going to discuss some of the smartest tips and tricks on reheating quesadillas so you can turn that stored Mexican staple into a hot, crispy, creamy, and filling treat!

Before we get into the reheating methods, let’s tackle first the proper way to store your leftover or cooked quesadillas in the fridge or freezer. 

Cooked quesadillas will last for up to three days in the refrigerator when properly stored. Make sure to refrigerate them within two hours of cooking for safety and quality. 

Just make sure to let them cool completely before wrapping them individually with plastic wrap. Once done, slide your quesadillas into the fridge. 

If you want to extend its shelf life, the best thing to do is store them in the freezer. The process is straightforward. Wrap each quesadilla with a plastic wrap or place it into an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bags. Next, label the bag to track the date, squeeze out as much air as possible, and make sure it’s sealed adequately. 

Then, put them into the freezer. When properly done, you’ll be able to enjoy your quesadillas for up to four months; still, it’s best to consume the sandwiches within two months.

How do you keep quesadillas from getting soggy?

When reheating a quesadilla, adding some oil to the pan can prevent the tortilla from getting burned. However, people tend to add too much of it, which can be the reason behind the sogginess of the food. It’s advisable to use not more than half a tablespoon of oil for every quesadilla. 

Aside from that, you should avoid placing your quesadilla on a baking sheet if you’re planning to reheat the food using an oven. The grease and moisture from the cheese and meat will be absorbed into the tortilla, resulting in sogginess. 

Instead, I’d recommend putting the quesadilla directly on the clean oven rack then heat it for several minutes. Don’t forget to flip it so you’ll be able to achieve that nice crispy texture on both sides.

How do you keep quesadillas warm and crispy?

Your quesadillas’ crispiness depends on the reheating method you’re using and the amount of oil you included in case you’re reheating it on a skillet. For best results, I suggest using an oven or a stovetop as they’re the most suitable methods for reheating quesadillas. 

For the oven method, make sure to place the quesadilla directly on the clean oven rack and avoid using a baking sheet as it can cause the food to become soggy. Ensure to flip the treat to achieve a crispy texture on both sides.

Can you reheat quesadilla?

Yes, you can reheat a quesadilla as long as you store them beforehand. As a rule, you shouldn’t let your leftover food sit out all night or for more than two hours at room temperature as this can cause the food to spoil. 

Keep in mind that there are few things to consider when it comes to warming quesadillas up. If you happen to reheat them on a skillet, I suggest using not more than half a tablespoon of oil or butter to keep the food from getting soggy. 

On the other hand, place the quesadilla directly on the clean oven rack instead of the baking sheet.

How to reheat a quesadilla

There are two proper ways in which you can warm up your favorite quesadillas– in an oven and a skillet. You can choose whatever you want, but make sure to follow the steps for each method, so you’ll end up hot, crispy, and filling quesadillas!

Reheating quesadillas in a skillet

The process of warming up a quesadilla in a skillet is quite simple. It’s the best method for reheating the sandwich as it allows you to control the heat, making it easy to achieve that crispy goodness for your quesadillas.

But remember, it might take more time to heat the inside of the sandwich, depending on its thickness. 

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Put a thin layer of vegetable oil in a skillet and heat it on medium flame. I suggest using not more than half a tablespoon of oil for every quesadilla.
  2. Put the quesadilla in the skillet and heat each side for no more than a minute.
  3. Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and allow it to sit for a minute before serving.

If you see that it darkens quickly, adjust the heat down to low. For thicker quesadilla, it’s advisable to cover the skillet with a lid as this process can reheat the food faster.

Reheating quesadillas in the oven

Reheating quesadillas in the oven takes more time compared to the skillet. However, it’s one of the safest and quickest methods that many people use. 

Here’s how to reheat a quesadilla using an oven:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Put the quesadilla directly on the oven rack. Make sure it’s clean.
  3. Allow it to bake for about 10 minutes. If you place the quesadilla inside the freezer, it might take longer— around 15 minutes— to bake thoroughly.

For best results, I suggest flipping the quesadilla from time to time.

The bottom line

Though it’s possible to reheat quesadillas in the microwave, I discourage you from using this method as this could lead to ruining its quality, or worst, you’ll end up with a soggy hot mess. Yikes!

To protect the taste and quality of your cooked or leftover quesadillas, consider reheating them in an oven or a skillet instead!

How to reheat a quesadilla in the oven

How to reheat a quesadilla in the oven

Here’s how to reheat quesadillas using the oven method.

Ingredients

  • Stored quesadilla
  • Oven
  • Spatula (to flip)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Put the quesadilla directly on the oven rack. Make sure it's clean. 
  3. Allow it to bake for about 10 minutes. If you place the quesadilla inside the freezer, it might take longer— around 15 minutes— to bake thoroughly.

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