Air Fryer Taquitos: The Perfect Timing For Crunchy Treats

Taquitos are a fast, easy-to-make snack or meal that can be cooked in an air fryer. They are made by rolling corn or flour tortillas around a filling of chicken, beef, or cheese and then frying them until crispy. Air fryers are a great way to cook taquitos as they require less oil and create less mess than traditional frying methods. The cooking time for taquitos in an air fryer varies depending on the type of tortilla and the desired crispiness, but on average, they take around 5-10 minutes to cook at 400°F.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your taquitos will be as crispy as possible. The ideal temperature to preheat your air fryer is 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and this should take around 5 minutes. You can also preheat at a lower temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit if you are reheating taquitos.

Different air fryers have different preheat functionalities. Some air fryers will preheat automatically before starting the countdown timer. Other air fryers, like the Cosori, have a preheat button that you can use to manually heat up the air fryer before adding your food. If your air fryer does not have a built-in preheat function, you can simply turn it on and let it heat up for a few minutes before adding your taquitos.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you can place your taquitos inside and adjust the temperature and timer according to your recipe. For frozen taquitos, it is best to put them into a preheated air fryer basket to ensure they get crispy. For homemade taquitos, you may need to assemble them before placing them in the air fryer, but make sure your air fryer is preheated first.

Use frozen taquitos

Taquitos are a fun and simple snack, appetiser, or even a meal. You can use corn or flour tortillas and fill them with chicken, beef, or cheese. The air fryer is a great way to cook frozen taquitos because it makes them crispy, and it's faster than using an oven. Here's how to do it:

First, preheat your air fryer to 380-400° Fahrenheit. You may want to prepare the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray, but this is optional. Place the frozen taquitos in a single layer at the bottom of the basket, making sure they aren't overlapping or stacked. If you need to cook a large quantity, do it in multiple batches to ensure even cooking.

For corn tortillas, air fry the taquitos for 5 minutes initially, then check and cook in 2-minute increments until they are golden and crispy. For flour tortillas, air fry for 8 minutes initially, then check and cook in 2-minute increments as needed. The total cooking time will be around 8-10 minutes, depending on your preference for crispiness.

Once the taquitos are done to your liking, carefully remove them from the air fryer and serve. You can enjoy them plain or with toppings such as sour cream, salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese, or sliced jalapenos.

If you have any leftover taquitos, you can reheat them in the air fryer by preheating it to 350° Fahrenheit and cooking them for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.

Oil the taquitos

Oil is not always necessary when cooking taquitos in an air fryer. Some sources suggest that cooking spray is not required as the taquitos will not stick to the air fryer basket. However, other sources recommend misting the taquitos with avocado oil before cooking.

If you want to oil your taquitos, you can do so by misting them with avocado oil or another oil of your choice. You can also brush the oil onto the taquitos with a pastry brush. It is important to ensure that the taquitos are not overlapping in the air fryer basket and that there is space between them so that they can cook evenly and get crispy.

If you are making homemade taquitos, you may want to brush the edges of the tortillas with oil or an egg wash to help them stay closed once they are rolled.

Don't overlap the taquitos

When cooking taquitos in an air fryer, it's important to ensure they are not overlapping. This is because the hot air needs to be able to circulate freely around each taquito to ensure even cooking and that sought-after crispy texture. Overlapping taquitos will result in uneven cooking, with some parts remaining soft while others get too hard.

To avoid overlapping, cook the taquitos in batches. Most recipes recommend placing the taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching. This allows the hot air to circulate effectively and crisps up the outside of the taquitos without drying out the filling.

If you need to cook a larger quantity, simply cook the taquitos in multiple batches. You can keep the cooked taquitos warm in a low oven while you cook the remaining batches. This way, you can still serve them all at once without compromising their texture.

Additionally, leaving space between the taquitos in the air fryer basket helps to achieve that desirable golden brown colour. If the taquitos are overlapping, they are more likely to steam rather than fry, resulting in a softer texture and less appealing appearance.

By arranging the taquitos in a single layer and avoiding overlap, you ensure that the hot air in the air fryer can work its magic, crisping up the exterior while keeping the filling warm and flavourful. So, when air frying taquitos, remember to give them some breathing room for the best results!

Reheat in the air fryer

If you have leftover taquitos, you can reheat them in the air fryer. Reheating in the air fryer is a great way to restore that freshly cooked crispiness.

To reheat your taquitos, preheat your air fryer to 325ºF (162ºC) if you're reheating a large batch, or 400ºF (204ºC) if you're reheating a smaller amount. Place the taquitos in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space around each one. Reheat for 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through, until warmed through.

If you're short on time, you can reheat your taquitos at 400ºF (204ºC) for 2 minutes. This is a quicker method, but the lower temperature of the 325ºF (162ºC) setting will help to prevent the taquitos from drying out.

You can also reheat frozen taquitos in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC) for 5 minutes. Then, place as many frozen taquitos as you'd like in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer with no overlaps. Air fry for 6 minutes, then check. If you'd like them crispier, add 1 minute at a time. Leave the taquitos in the basket for 3 to 5 minutes after cooking to allow the insides to continue warming.

Frequently asked questions