Air Fryer Hack: Frozen Taquitos, Crispy And Quick!

Air fryers are a great way to make frozen taquitos, which are a popular snack, appetiser, or meal. They are quick and easy to make, taking less than 10 minutes to cook, and can be served with a variety of toppings and dips. The process is simple: preheat the air fryer, place the frozen taquitos inside, and cook until golden brown. You can use corn or flour tortillas and fill them with chicken, beef, or cheese.

Preheat the air fryer to 375-400°F

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in achieving the perfect taquitos. By heating up the air fryer prior to cooking, you ensure that your taquitos will come out crispy and golden brown. The ideal temperature range for preheating is between 375°F and 400°F (190°C).

Different air fryer models may have specific instructions for preheating, so it is always good to refer to your air fryer's manual. For example, if your air fryer has a built-in preheat functionality, you can let it take care of the preheating process. On the other hand, if your air fryer doesn't have this feature, you can manually preheat it by setting the temperature to 375°F-400°F and letting it heat up for a few minutes. This step ensures that your taquitos will cook evenly and efficiently once placed in the air fryer.

It is also important to note that the preheating time may vary depending on your air fryer's brand and model. Some air fryers may take longer to reach the desired temperature, so it is always a good idea to give your air fryer enough time to preheat properly. This will ensure that your taquitos will cook evenly and efficiently.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you can proceed with the next steps of preparing your frozen taquitos for cooking, such as spraying the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray and arranging the frozen taquitos in a single layer. By following these instructions, you'll be on your way to enjoying delicious, crispy taquitos made right in your air fryer!

Place frozen taquitos in the fryer

When placing frozen taquitos in the air fryer, it is important to ensure that they are not overlapping and are arranged in a single layer. This is to allow the hot air to circulate and ensure even cooking and crispiness. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you may need to cook the taquitos in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding.

You should also ensure that the air fryer is preheated before adding the taquitos. The ideal temperature for cooking frozen taquitos is between 375-400°F.

For best results, refer to the instructions for your specific air fryer model, as the cooking time and temperature may vary slightly depending on the brand and style of your air fryer.

Additionally, while some recipes suggest spraying the taquitos with oil for extra crispiness, this step is not necessary, especially if you are using a frozen variety that already contains oil.

Air fry for 6-11 minutes

Air-frying is the final step in making frozen taquitos, and it's important to get it right. The cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness, as well as the model of your air fryer. For example, in a PowerXL Vortex Air Fryer, the taquitos will be ready in 9 minutes, while a Cosori Air Fryer might take a little longer.

If you're using an air fryer with a basket, place the frozen taquitos in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. This will allow hot air to circulate and ensure even cooking and crispiness. If you're using a wire rack, simply place the taquitos with space between each one.

You can spray the taquitos with oil before air-frying, but this is optional and depends on how golden brown and crispy you want them. If you do use oil, you may want to flip the taquitos halfway through the cooking process and respray them.

Air-fry the taquitos for 6-11 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165℉. If you don't have a way to check the internal temperature, look for the taquitos to become golden brown and crispy.

Once the taquitos are done, remove them from the air fryer using tongs and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Add toppings like salsa, sour cream, and cheese

Once your taquitos are cooked, it's time to add your toppings. You can keep things simple with a sprinkling of cheese, or go all out with a variety of toppings.

If you're serving your taquitos as a snack, it's a good idea to provide a few different dips and toppings for your guests to choose from. Some popular options include salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. If you want to add a bit of spice, you could offer hot sauces or sliced jalapeños. For some freshness and colour, you could also add chopped tomatoes and cilantro.

If you're serving your taquitos as a main meal, you could turn them into a more substantial dish by adding sides such as refried beans, black beans, and Spanish rice.

For an extra indulgent treat, you could try drizzling sour cream over the taquitos, or sprinkling extra cheese on top as soon as they come out of the air fryer.

Reheat any leftovers in the air fryer

Reheating taquitos in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to ensure your leftovers taste as good as new.

First, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You may need to adjust the temperature depending on your air fryer model. Place the leftover taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one. You don't need to use cooking spray, but you can spritz them with oil if you want them extra crispy. Air fry for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through.

If you're reheating a large batch, you may need to do it in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer. You can keep the first batch warm by placing them in an oven set to a low temperature, or by putting them in an airtight container and leaving them in the air fryer, as it will retain some heat after cooking.

And that's it! Your leftover taquitos are ready to enjoy, crispy and hot, just like the first time.

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