Looking for possible ways to impress guests but do not want to cook? You should know how to reheat leftover nachos. No one wants to serve soggy nachos to their guests as a starter for the night.
The crunch of nachos is what keeps us coming back for more, and if that is missing, then nachos lose their meaning as well. Luckily making the leftover nachos crisp and making them look and taste like freshly made ones is a simple task. So if you are wondering what the best way to reheat nachos is so they are crispy and flavourful, then follow this guide.
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What are Nachos?
Nachos is a regional dish of Mexico that originates from northern Mexico. Nachos are made from heated tortilla chips covered with a simple cheese or a sauce with cheese as a base and are often served as an appetizer.
You can also put multiple toppings of your liking like beans, some meat, but the original version contained corn tortilla chips with melted cheese and jalapeno as toppings. Nachos are relatively low in calories than the traditional fried chips.
The calorie count of a nacho serving depends on ingredients like cheese, type of nachos, and additional toppings like beef or any other item used. For example, the normal corn tortilla chips have 15 calories per chip, and a baked tortilla chip has about 6 calories that make them a healthier option over normal chips.
Cheese like Mexican cheddar cheese has about 110 calories in an ounce, and meat like beef and chicken has about 100 calories. So, all in all, a single serving of nachos has around 300 to 600 calories which are a lot healthier and safer than most available options.
What is the difference between Nachos and Nacho (Tortilla) Chips?
When we talk about tortilla chips and nachos, it is important to remember that the tortilla chips might be the base and the most important part of nachos, but the two are not the same. Both of them originate from Mexico and are served in almost every restaurant. However, nachos are a newer addition to the diet.
Tortilla chips are the main ingredient in nachos and are typically made from yellow corn, white corn, whole wheat, or flour. The kernels of corn are the first ground to make a sourdough called masa. It is then cooked, then ground up, formed into chips, and finally backed and seasoned typically with normal salt.
When it comes to nachos, the most important part is the tortilla chips. Other chips can be used, but that is rarely the case. Nachos are made by first placing tortilla chips as a base, then cheese is added on top. After that, toppings like chilies, beef, chicken, and beans or vegetables are placed to give it an extra bit of punch.
The second factor is the cost of tortilla chips on their own is cheap as compared to nachos. The chips can be found in the markets for $4 easily, whereas the nachos can range from 8 to 20 dollars.
Methods of Reheating Nachos:
Here we have mentioned some of the ways you can easily reheat the nachos.
- Skillet.
- Oven.
- Microwave.
- In Toaster oven.
How to Reheat Nachos in a Skillet?
One of the methods of reheating the nachos is by using a skillet. Here is a step-by-step process of reheating nachos by using a skillet.
- Make sure to have a skillet big enough to spread the leftover nachos.
- Spread the nachos evenly over the skillet.
- Tear a big piece of aluminum foil and cover the nachos and the top of the skillet completely.
- Place the lid of the skillet on top of the foil to keep the foil in place.
- Place the nachos on medium heat for 5 minutes and make sure to check them one or two times so that they are not burnt.
- Take the nachos out and let them rest/cool before serving them to your guests.
How to Reheat Nachos in the Oven?
When it comes to the best way of reheating nachos in the oven seems to be the best choice. One thing to keep in mind is to remove the cold toppings like sour cream, salsa, etc. before you heat the nachos in the oven.
To make sure that the nachos remain just as crisp and tasty, follow this guide.
- Preheat the oven to 225 Fahrenheit.
- Take out the leftover nachos and place them in an oven-safe plate dish.
- Cover the nachos with aluminum foil.
- Depending upon how crisp you want the nachos, you can heat them for about 5 to 20 minutes.
- After the timer stops, take the nachos out and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Add on new toppings if you want, and enjoy.
How to Reheat Nachos in a Toaster Oven?
The oven also works great for reheating leftover nachos, especially if you have a small portion to heat up. Since the regular oven and toaster oven works the same, you can reheat the nachos with the toppings and not have to worry about anything.
Here we have mentioned the steps to reheat the nachos.
- Preheat the oven to 225 Fahrenheit.
- Take out the leftover nachos and place them in an oven-safe plate dish.
- Cover the nachos with aluminum foil.
- Depending upon how crisp you want the nachos; you can heat them for about 5 to 20 minutes.
- After the timer stops, take the nachos out and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Add on new toppings if you want to enjoy them even more.
Can you Reheat Nachos in a Microwave?
Microwaving the nachos is a bad idea, especially if the leftover nachos have sour cream in them. Microwaving nachos turns them into a sloppy mess, and no one wants to eat that.
If you cannot restrain yourself from using a microwave or if you do not have any other option, then we suggest you add more cheese. By adding more cheese to the nachos, you can turn them into a casserole and eat in a bowl.
When it comes to how long you can place them in the microwave, you can only go by your sight. Keep an eye on the microwave and stop it when you think the nachos are done. We urge you not to use a microwave to heat up nachos if you do not want to ruin your meal as well as the microwave.
How to Store Nachos?
Here we are listing some of the ways you can store nachos for later use.
- Put the nachos in an airtight bag. Make sure there is no air left in the bag by pressing and removing it or vacuuming the air out.
- After that place, the nachos in the refrigerator.
- Do not place it in open areas; they have many toppings that can go bad.
- Before you reheat the stored nachos, make sure to remove the cold toppings so as not to make a mess.
The Most Loved Crunchy Nachos:
The most loved aspect of the nachos is the crunch of the tortilla chips, among many other things. If the nacho is not hot and crisp, then there is no point in eating it. The heat from the nachos makes everything gross and messy.
To avoid making your nachos soggy and dripping with heated sour cream, then follow the guide above to reheat the nachos and enjoy.
How to Choose Proper Toppings?
If you want to enjoy nachos in their true meaning and origin, then simple cheese and chili peppers will do the trick. But if you want to make it tastier, then you can do the following things to make it even better.
The first thing to consider is that the ingredients should Strike a perfect balance between freshness, depth, acidity, and smothering.
- If you want to add depth to your nachos, then chili peppers and any meat is the perfect option. In case you are a vegetarian, you can switch the meat with beans. Mostly kidney beans are preferred with nachos.
- For adding acidity to nachos, the best option is the Mexican special that is salsa to the nachos. You can also add lime and pickled jalapenos.
- For freshness, you can add tomatoes, avocado, diced onions, scallions, etc.
- And for smothering, nothing beats the same old sour cream.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you microwave nachos?
Yes! You can, but it is highly recommended not to. The microwave leaves a mess of nachos so try not to use it.
Are nachos a healthy snack?
Yes! Nachos are a relatively healthier option than regular fried chips. The total calorie count of nachos is about 300 calories per serving which is lower than the same amount of fried chips.
What kind of cheese goes on nachos?
You can top your nachos with any cheese you want to have both flavor and stringiness. You can also put two different kinds of cheese to get even better results.
Final Verdict:
Nachos are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is relatively low in calories. How good can something get with a mouth-watering taste and low in calories as well? If you have some nachos leftover, then store them in the refrigerators, and you can reheat them following the guide above.
You can easily impress guests or enjoy the crispy reheated nachos yourself by following the simple steps.
