Kamil Perry
Tacos are a delicious and versatile meal, but they can be messy to eat. A common problem is that tacos fall apart after the first bite. However, there is a simple solution to this: melting the cheese first. Not only does this hold the taco together, but it also adds a new texture and a layer of salty goodness. There are several ways to melt cheese for tacos, including using a skillet or baking it in the oven.
Characteristics of melting cheese for tacos
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cheese | Cheddar, Manchego, Parmesan, Pepper Jack, Cotija |
| Type of taco | Hard shell, soft tortilla, crispy cheese taco |
| Cooking equipment | Oven, skillet, spatula |
| Cooking temperature | Medium heat, 300F |
| Cooking time | 2 minutes |
| Toppings | Chipotle dipping sauce, salsa, sour cream, avocado, lime, slaw, hot sauce, pico de gallo |
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What You'll Learn
Put cheese in first to hold taco together
If you want to prevent your tacos from falling apart, a good tip is to put the cheese in first. This will melt and hold the taco together while eating.
To do this, place a soft tortilla cut to the size of your hard shell in the oven with your choice of cheese. You can use a Mexican blend of shredded cheese. Once the cheese has melted, stuff your taco as you normally would. The cheese will cling to the shell and hold it all together.
If you're using hard shells, add the cheese before baking the shells. This will give you a great crisp that also holds the shell together. If you're pan-frying corn tortillas, you can sprinkle cheese on the tortilla while it's on the pan. Let the cheese in direct contact with the pan get extra toasty before folding the taco over itself. You can also add cheese on top of the taco for flavour.
If you're making a burnt cheese taco, cook the cheese until it's a deep golden brown. If the cheese starts to burn, turn down the flame. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the taco over itself, sealing it with the melted cheese inside.
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Use a nonstick skillet to melt cheese
A nonstick skillet is a great option for melting cheese for your tacos. This method will give you a crispy cheese taco with a soft, pliable tortilla. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Prepare Your Ingredients and Tools
Before you begin, gather your ingredients and tools. You will need a nonstick skillet, cooking spray, a spatula, and your choice of shredded or grated cheese. Common cheese choices include cheddar, Manchego, Parmesan, and Pepper Jack, but you can experiment with other hard or semi-hard cheeses as well.
Heat Your Skillet
Place your nonstick skillet on the stovetop and turn the heat to medium or medium-low. It is not necessary to use oil or additional nonstick spray, as the oils from the cheese will be enough to prevent sticking.
Add the Cheese
Once your skillet is hot, it's time to add the cheese. Sprinkle or spread your shredded or grated cheese in a circle or rectangle shape on the skillet. The amount of cheese you use may vary depending on your preference and the size of your tortilla, but a rough guide is to use about 1/3 to 1/2 ounce of cheese. It's okay if there are some gaps in the cheese, as long as it forms a decent base for your tortilla.
Melt the Cheese
Allow the cheese to melt until it turns a golden brown color. This should take around 2 minutes. Keep an eye on the cheese to ensure it doesn't burn. If it starts to get too dark, adjust the heat accordingly.
Add the Tortilla
Once the cheese is melted and golden, place your tortilla on top. You want the tortilla to cover about half of the melted cheese, leaving the other half exposed. This will create the crispy cheese effect.
Cook and Fold
Let the tortilla cook for a minute or two until the cheese begins to crisp up and bubble. Then, use a rubber or thin spatula to gently lift and fold the bare half of the tortilla onto the cheesy half, pressing down to adhere it. Cook for another minute or so, until the center is completely melted and both sides have a deep golden brown color.
Fill and Serve
Remove the crispy cheese taco from the pan and fill it with your desired toppings. You can fill it with anything from meat to vegetables, salsa, sour cream, or avocado. Serve immediately while it's still hot and crispy!
Reheat Leftovers
If you have any leftover crispy cheese tacos, you can reheat them on a hot skillet to restore their crispiness and melt the cheese again. Simply place the tacos on a hot skillet for a few minutes, and they'll be good as new!
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Get the cheese crispy and golden brown
To get the cheese crispy and golden brown, you need to cook it until it is almost burnt. This will give your tacos a crispy, deep golden brown texture and a mind-blowingly delicious taste.
Start by heating a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly coating it with cooking spray. Once hot, sprinkle about 1/3 cup of cheese in a 6-inch circle. It's okay if there are gaps in the cheese, as long as the circle is large enough. Place the tortilla on top of the cheese circle, ensuring that there are still some pieces of cheese visible around the edges. Then, sprinkle about 1/4 cup of cheese on top of half of the tortilla.
Let the cheese cook until it turns a golden brown colour and becomes bubbly and oily. This should take about 2 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to gently lift the crispy cheese off the skillet and fold the bare half of the tortilla onto the cheesy half, pressing down to adhere. Remove the pan from the heat and let the cheese cool and firm up slightly before carefully sliding a thin spatula under the cheese and removing the tortilla from the pan.
If you notice that the cheese is turning too dark and becoming unpleasantly burnt, turn down the flame. The goal is to achieve a deep golden brown colour, not a burnt black appearance.
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Use a rubber spatula to fold the taco
When it's time to fold your taco, it's important to act quickly and gently. Using a rubber spatula, gently lift the crispy cheese off the skillet. Then, fold the bare half of the tortilla onto the cheesy half, and press down to adhere the two sides. You want to seal the taco with the melted cheese inside.
Be sure to let the cheese that's in direct contact with the pan get extra toasty before folding the taco over itself. You're aiming for a deep golden brown colour. If the cheese starts to burn, turn the flame down.
Once you've folded your taco, you can serve it immediately with a chipotle dipping sauce. Or, if you prefer, salsa, sour cream, or avocado.
Grilled to perfection, the taco is now ready to be devoured.
If you have any leftover tacos, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply place them on a hot skillet to re-crisp the exterior and melt the insides.
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Top with salsa, sour cream, or avocado
While cheese is a staple ingredient in tacos, you can elevate your taco by topping it with salsa, sour cream, or avocado. You can also use a combination of these ingredients to make a creamy sauce to drizzle over your tacos.
If you want to add some spice to your tacos, you can make a creamy avocado sauce. This sauce is made with ripe avocados, jalapenos, and fresh cilantro, and can be made vegan and dairy-free by using pickled jalapeno juice instead of sour cream. You can also add a unique twist to your sauce by adding a jalapeno for some extra heat. To make the sauce, simply blend all the ingredients until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste. You can adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding water, and it can be made dairy-free by substituting dairy-free alternatives for sour cream and cream cheese.
Alternatively, you can make a Mexican-style green sauce with ripe avocados, cilantro, fresh lime zest and juice, chive and onion cream cheese, sour cream, and oregano. This sauce can also be made dairy-free by substituting dairy-free alternatives for sour cream and cream cheese, or by using Mexican crema.
You can also top your tacos with salsa, sour cream, or avocado slices individually. These toppings will add a burst of flavor to your tacos and can be combined in various ways to create different flavor profiles. For example, you can pair the coolness of sour cream with the spiciness of salsa, or the creaminess of avocado with the tanginess of salsa.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to melt cheese for tacos. One way is to place a tortilla on top of a circle of cheese that has been sprinkled in a hot pan and then sprinkle more cheese on top of half of the tortilla. Another way is to place a tortilla on top of melted cheese in an oven and stuff the taco as usual.
Cheddar, Manchego, Parmesan, Pepper Jack, and Cotija are all good options for taco cheese.
To make crispy cheese tacos, sprinkle shredded cheese in a hot pan and let it melt. Once it starts to bubble and brown, add your taco filling and fold the crispy cheese over the filling.
