Air Fryer Hack: Crispy Corn Tortillas Perfection

Corn tortillas are a great snack, side, or base for a meal, and you can make them crispy in an air fryer. You can make them into chips or taco shells, and there are many ways to season them.

Use olive oil or cooking spray

Corn tortillas can be made crispy in an air fryer with the help of olive oil or cooking spray.

To start, you will need to slice the tortillas into 6-8 pieces, depending on their size. A pizza cutter can be used to make this process easier. Next, spray the tortilla pieces lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle them with coarse salt. If you don't have cooking spray, you can also brush the tortillas with olive oil. It is important to ensure that the tortillas are in a single layer in the air fryer basket to allow for even cooking.

Once the tortillas are prepared, place them into the air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking time will vary depending on the desired crispness, but it typically ranges from 3 to 8 minutes. During the cooking process, keep an eye on the tortillas and feel free to flip them over to ensure even cooking.

For added flavour, you can experiment with different seasonings. For example, a combination of olive oil, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, and fine sea salt can create a zesty 'cheese' flavour. Alternatively, a mixture of olive oil, white vinegar, and fine sea salt can result in a salt and vinegar flavour profile.

In summary, using olive oil or cooking spray is a crucial step in achieving crispy corn tortillas in an air fryer. By following the above steps and adjusting the seasonings to your preference, you can create delicious, crispy corn tortillas at home.

Cut tortillas into triangles

To cut tortillas into triangles, start by stacking the tortillas on top of each other. This way, you can cut them all at once. Using a sharp knife, cut each tortilla into 6 triangles, like a pie. You can also use a sharp pizza cutter or a pair of kitchen scissors. If your knife is not very sharp, cut 3 tortillas at a time.

Cook at 350-400°F

To make corn tortillas crispy in an air fryer, you can cook them at 350-400°F for 5-8 minutes.

First, cut the corn tortillas into chip-sized wedges or triangles. You can do this by slicing them like a pie, so you get around six triangles per tortilla. Stack the tortillas on top of each other to cut through them all at once. You can use a sharp knife, a pizza cutter, or kitchen scissors.

Then, apply a light coating of oil to the tortillas. You can do this by misting them lightly with avocado or olive oil spray, or brushing the oil onto the tortillas with a pastry brush or baster brush. This will give the chips flavour and make them crispier.

Next, sprinkle the tortillas with salt or another seasoning of your choice. You can also add other seasonings like ground chipotle chilli pepper, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, or cinnamon.

Finally, arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 350-400°F for 5-8 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Check on them occasionally and give the basket a shake to ensure they aren't sticking together.

Once they're done, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool. They will continue to crisp as they cool.

Flip halfway through

To make corn tortillas crispy in an air fryer, it is important to flip them halfway through the cooking process. This ensures that both sides of the tortillas get evenly cooked and browned. Depending on the air fryer model, the tortillas may need to be flipped manually, or the fryer may have a function that flips them automatically.

Flipping the tortillas is crucial to achieving the desired crispiness. By exposing both sides to direct heat, the moisture from the tortillas is evaporated, resulting in a crunchy texture. Corn tortillas, in particular, benefit from this technique as they tend to have a higher moisture content than flour tortillas.

When flipping the tortillas, it is recommended to spray them with cooking spray or oil on both sides. This adds to the crispiness and prevents the tortillas from drying out and becoming too brittle. Additionally, seasoning the tortillas with salt or other spices at this stage enhances their flavour.

The cooking time and temperature settings may vary depending on the air fryer model and the thickness of the tortillas. However, as a general guideline, cooking corn tortillas at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-7 minutes, flipping them halfway, should result in crispy and golden brown tortillas.

For taco shells, the process is slightly different. After shaping the corn tortillas into taco shells, they are placed in an upside-down mini muffin pan and air-fried until golden brown. Then, they are flipped and placed directly into the air fryer basket to crisp up the bottom sides. This method ensures that the tacos hold their shape while also achieving the desired crispiness.

Season to taste

Seasoning your corn tortillas is a great way to add flavour and make them taste even better. You can season your tortillas before or after air frying them, depending on your preference.

If you want to season your tortillas before air frying, you can do so by brushing them with oil and sprinkling your desired seasoning on top. This method ensures that the seasoning sticks to the tortillas and gets locked in during the air frying process. You can also mix the oil and seasoning together before brushing it onto the tortillas for a more even distribution.

Some popular seasoning options include:

• Salt
• Cajun seasoning
• Chilli powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Cinnamon and sugar
• Chipotle seasoning
• Nutritional yeast
• Smoked paprika
• White vinegar
• Lime juice
• Maple syrup
• Coconut sugar

On the other hand, if you prefer to season your tortillas after air frying, you can simply sprinkle your desired seasoning on top of the cooked tortillas. This method allows you to add more seasoning as needed and customise the taste to your preference.

Regardless of when you choose to season your tortillas, the key is to be creative and experiment with different flavours to find your favourite combinations. So, go ahead and season your corn tortillas to taste, and enjoy the delicious results!

Frequently asked questions