How To Reheat A Burrito – I Test 6 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 5th September 2023 for freshness and to incorporate new tips.

I love burritos – they make the perfect Mexican lunch. The only problem is finding a way to reheat them that doesn’t leave you with a big, sloppy mess.

So I experimented with several different reheating methods to find the one that delivered tasty fillings and a soft (but not soggy) tortilla.

The best way to reheat a burrito is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350° (180°C). Wrap the burrito in foil and place it on a wire rack in the oven. Reheat the burrito for 12-15 minutes or until it’s piping hot throughout. Remove the foil for the last two minutes to crisp the tortilla.

How I tested reheating burritos

I ordered a load of my favorite burritos (pulled pork with all the trimmings if you’re interested) and kept them in the fridge overnight.

The next day, I experimented with the following six reheating methods:

• Oven: The best method
• Microwave: A bit soggy.
• Skillet: Delicious if you like a crispy tortilla.
• Air fryer: Like a healthy Chimichanga.
• Sandwich toaster: Okay for a neat burrito!
• Bonus method: Making a chimichanga (i.e deep frying)

Reheating burritos in the oven

Time: 10-15 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Preheat the oven to 350°(180°C).
2. Remove any cold condiments or fillings from the burrito if possible, you can add these back in before serving.
3. Sprinkle the burrito with water before wrapping it in foil and placing it on a wire rack in the oven.
4. Bake the burrito for 12-15 minutes or until hot all the way through.
5. To crisp the tortilla slightly, unwrap the foil for the last few minutes of heating.

Note: timings will vary depending on the size of your burrito, the fillings, and the type of oven you’re using. For example, toaster ovens will be quicker than conventional ovens.

The foil keeps the tortilla from drying out by trapping some moisture inside. I like to use a wire rack because I find the bottom of the burrito heats up too fast with a baking tray.

If you do use a baking tray, flip the burrito halfway through heating.

If you want to speed up the process, pop the burritos into the microwave for 15 seconds before putting it in the oven (without foil!). This will give the middle a headstart reheating.

Results: The thing I love about the oven is its consistency. It’s a slow method, but this means very little can go wrong, as long as you don’t completely forget about the burritos. My burrito was lovely and warm all the way through, the filling was still moist, and the wrap was soft.

Reheating burritos in the microwave

Time: 2-3 minutes
Rating: 6/10

1. Remove the foil wrapping (foil and the microwave don’t mix). Make sure to check any wrapping thoroughly because sometimes the foil can be hidden.
2. Remove any cold condiments or fillings from the burrito if possible, you can add these back in before serving.
3. Place the burrito seam-side down on a microwave-safe plate.
4. Cover the burrito with a damp paper towel (or sprinkle it with water and wrap it in parchment paper).
5. Microwave the burrito for 60 seconds and then in 30-second intervals until piping hot all the way through.
6. Optional: crisp the burritos up in a toaster oven or under the grill for 1-2 minutes.
7. Allow the burrito to sit for 30 seconds before serving.

The damp paper towel helps keep the tortilla from drying out, but don’t wrap the whole burrito in it. I find resting the burrito on wet paper makes the bottom soggy.

Microwave-heated tortillas tend to trap a lot of heat inside. So be very careful when taking your first bite, because the trapped steam could burn your mouth. The 30-second rest period helps avoid this issue.

Results: Reheating burritos in the microwave is not the best option if they have more watery fillings. My tortilla became quite mushy as the damp filling leaked out, which wasn’t very appetizing. However, if the fillings are all pretty dry and you’ve removed any lettuce or other water-filled toppings, then it works okay.

Reheating burritos in a skillet

Time: 4-6 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Heat a little butter or oil in a skillet on medium heat (or use a non-stick skillet).
2. Remove any cold condiments or fillings from the burrito if possible, you can add these back in before serving.
3. Place the burrito seam side down into the hot pan and sprinkle some water around the edges.
4. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and let the burrito steam for 2-3 minutes.
5. Carefully flip the burrito over and heat for a further 2-3 minutes without the lid.
6. Keep flipping them until they’re hot all the way through.

Adding the water creates steam which helps to keep the wraps soft and moist. 

I use medium heat because it enables the inside of the burrito to warm up nicely before the wrap starts to burn. But if you have a thick or dense burrito, I recommend microwaving it first for 30 seconds to ensure the middle heats all the way through… you don’t want to bite into a cold middle!

Results: Using the skillet to reheat my burrito was one of my favorite methods. The pan gave the tortilla a bit of a crunch and a slightly charred flavor – and it got rid of the sogginess it had acquired in the fridge. My only complaint is that it can be a bit tricky to keep the burrito from falling apart when you’re flipping it. 

Reheating burritos in an air fryer

Time: 5-10 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (160°C).
2. Remove any cold condiments or fillings from the burrito if possible, you can add these back in before serving.
3. Put the burrito into the air fryer basket.
4. Option 1: Wrap the burrito in foil to keep the tortilla soft.
5. Option 2: Brush the burrito with some butter or oil for a crisper tortilla.
6. Heat the burrito for 7-10 minutes, or until it’s warm in the middle.

Timings will vary based on how well-stuffed the burrito is.

The air fryer has quite a harsh heat, and the outside of the burrito can get very hot to the touch while the inside is still cold. For this reason, don’t rely on touch testing to determine when your burrito’s done. 

Use the knife test I explained above (stick a sharp knife into the middle of the burrito and feel how hot it is when you pull it out)

Results: The air fryer is a good choice if you like a crisp, crunchy tortilla – kind of like a healthy chimichanga without all the sauce.  It worked better with smaller burritos because the inside heated up faster. When I used foil, the results were very similar to the oven (just faster).

Reheating burritos in a sandwich toaster

Preheat the sandwich toaster while wrapping the burrito in parchment paper to protect the wrap. Place the burrito inside the sandwich toaster and close it gently, making sure not to squish all the fillings out of the burrito. Heat for 4-5 minutes.

Check the burrito is hot inside and then serve.

You can skip the parchment paper if you don’t mind a bit of a charred taste on the wrap. 

Results: The sandwich toaster worked great for heating my burrito. If you have one at work, it’s a great alternative to the microwave that produces quick and tasty results.

Reheating a burrito by making a chimichanga (deep frying)

Heat around 1 inch of oil to 365°F (185°C) in a large saucepan. When it’s up to temperature, slowly lower in the burrito and fry it for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Carefully flip the burrito over with some tongs and fry again for 2-3 minutes. 

Remove the burrito (now a chimichanga) and let it drain on a paper towel before serving.

It’s crucial to get the oil temperature right with this method – I highly recommend using a thermometer to measure it. If the oil is too cold, the wrap will soak it all up and become very greasy. If it’s too hot, the wrap will burn and the filling will be cold.

Results: I quite enjoyed my chimichanga, and my friend LOVED it (they love anything fried), but it does change the essence of the burrito and make it pretty unhealthy.

How to store burritos

To store leftover burritos, let them cool to room temperature and then wrap them in a paper towel followed by a layer of foil or plastic wrap. Burritos filled with wet things like salsa and sour cream will last 1-2 days before they get too soggy. If you’re only using dry fillings, the burritos will last up to 4 days. 

I like to use a layer of paper towel when storing my burritos because it leads to a less soggy tortilla (the paper towel absorbs any excess moisture instead of the wrap). 

Ensure the plastic wrap/foil is airtight to keep the tortilla from drying out. 

It’s also important that you allow the burritos to reach room temperature before storing them, as any heat will create condensation, which can leave you with a mushy tortilla.  

If you’re prepping the burritos in advance, allow any filling to cool to room temperature before wrapping the burrito. This will prevent steam from the filling dampening the wrap.

Can you freeze burritos?

Yes, burritos freeze well as long as you pick the fillings wisely. Wet vegetables, salsa, and sour cream don’t freeze well. Meat, eggs, beans, and cheese burritos are better choices to freeze. Burritos will last for up to 6 months in the freezer, but I aim to use them within 3 months.

How to freeze burritos:

1. Let the burritos cool, and then wrap them tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap followed by foil.
2. Place the burritos in a freezer bag and remove the air before sealing.
3. Label and date the bag.
4. Place the burritos in the coldest part of the freezer (the middle back) so they freeze quickly. 

Using a double layer of wrapping helps protect the burrito from freezer burn. I like to use a freezer bag as well, but that’s not necessary if you’ll eat the burrito within three months. 

As with storing in the fridge, the burrito must be at room temperature before it goes into the freezer to avoid condensation ruining the texture. I like to chill my burrito in the fridge for an hour before I freeze it to make sure it’s cool. This also helps it freeze faster.

When you want to eat the burrito, you can either take it out of the freezer and let it thaw overnight before reheating it using one of the methods above. Or you can heat it straight from frozen (I explain how in the next section).

How to reheat other types of burritos

There are so many different types of burritos and some of them have certain tricks to reheating them which you can learn all about below!

How to reheat frozen burritos

To reheat a burrito straight from frozen, wrap it in foil and place it inside a 350°F (180°C) oven for 35-45 minutes, you can turn the heat up once the burrito has defrosted to speed things up.

You can also use the microwave. Cover the burrito with a damp paper towel and heat it on 50% power (or on defrost) in one minute intervals, flipping the burrito over in each break. Then optionally pop it in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes at the end to crisp up the tortilla.

Tip: Once the burrito is soft enough, poke some holes in it to help the middle heat up.

How to reheat a wet burrito

Warning: a leftover wet burrito is going to be very soggy, there’s no way around that. The best way to reheat a wet burrito is definitely in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 350° (180°C), cover the burrito lightly in foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of heating to help dry the burrito out slightly.

Do not reheat a wet burrito in the microwave – the sauce will get really watery and you’ll have a wet mess!

How to reheat a burrito bowl

The best way to reheat a burrito bowl is in the microwave. First, remove any ingredients you want to stay cold like avocado or salad. Then cover the bowl with a damp paper towel. Microwave the burrito bowl in 30 second intervals until its piping hot all the way through.

For best results, make sure the damp paper towel touches the rice.

And if the rice is extra dry, you can also sprinkle a few teaspoons of water or stock over it before covering it. This will create extra steam to re-fluff the rice.

How to reheat a breakfast burrito

Breakfast burritos often contain egg, which can make them tricky to reheat. You can go for the oven or the microwave. In the oven, wrap the burrito in foil and heat it at 350° (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.

If you use the microwave, cover the burrito in a damp paper towel and use 50% power. The lower power setting will help ensure you don’t end up with rubbery eggs.

How To Reheat A Burrito [Tested Methods]

In this short recipe, I show you the best way to revive and reheat your leftover burrito.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 0 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 1 person

Calories 206 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 portion burrito

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350°(180°C).
• Wrap the burrito in foil and place it on a wire rack in the oven. You can leave any cut ends exposed if you want.
• Bake the burrito for 15-20 minutes or until hot all the way through.
• To crisp the tortilla slightly, unwrap the foil for the last few minutes of heating.

Notes

The foil keeps the tortilla from drying out by trapping some moisture inside.

I like to use a wire rack because I find the bottom of the burrito heats up too fast with a baking tray.

If you do use a baking tray, flip the burrito halfway through heating.

If you want to speed up the process, pop the burritos into the microwave for 15 seconds before putting them in the oven (without foil!).

Keyword burrito, reheat burrito