Look, no fast food is going to be good when you reheat it. But if you tend to order way too much food because you’re, ahem, drinking or experiencing the munchies — or maybe your eyes were just bigger than your stomach — there are some items that reheat better than others. If you find yourself stashing extra Taco Bell in your fridge often, consider ordering some of these items next time, which have been deemed the most “reheatable” by the superfans on Reddit’s r/tacobell forum.
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Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito
The cheesy bean and rice burrito has two big things going for it: there’s nothing in it that doesn’t reheat well, and it’s only $1. Refried beans, rice, nacho cheese, and creamy jalapeno sauce aren’t going to wilt like microwaved lettuce. “I always buy an extra cheesy bean and rice burrito or two to eat the next day since they’re only $1 and heat up so well in the toaster,” says u/onebadnightx. Other commenters bake them with salsa and cheese the next day, or just give it the old college try and eat them cold from the fridge.
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Spicy Potato Soft Taco
The lettuce is not going to hold up well in a spicy potato soft taco, but reheated fried potatoes are one of the best morning-after things you can eat, so it evens out. One commenter’s suggestion makes this sound downright delicious, too: “I also enjoy reheating spicy potato taco and adding and egg for a nice breakfast treat.” Sold.
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Beefy 5-Layer Burrito
Cheese, beans, and beef make up the majority of the beefy 5-layer burrito, with sour cream being the only questionable ingredient for reheating. A double tortilla wrap means it won’t get soggy or lose structural integrity, either. “I feel like the flavor comes out more when reheated later,” one Redditor goes as far as saying.
Chipotle Chicken Melt
Simpler is better when it comes to reheating, which is why the chipotle chicken melt excels. Chicken, shredded cheese, and chipotle sauce are the only ingredients, so a quick reheat in a pan or the microwave just makes everything more melty and gooey. “I get 3 as a snack for later and when I need to meet the DoorDash minimum,” says u/deetdooter.
Chalupa
The Chalupa’s crispy, thick fried shell holds up well to reheating, though you may want to scrape the lettuce and tomato out before you do it. “But I really really enjoy reheated chalupas (in the toaster oven as opposed to the microwave),” says u/bodiesenmotion. “The way the shell hardens up and the cheese melts makes it fantastic.”
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Anything Without Hard Shells
Obviously, crunchy fried tortillas are going to get soggy by the next day — some people won’t even eat them if the item was put together 30 minutes ago. So it’s pretty universally agreed that hard shell tacos, Crunchwraps, Mexican pizzas, and nachos are completely out of the question for leftovers. It’s just not pretty.
Any Burrito Without Fresh Ingredients
Let’s face it, Taco Bell’s burritos are all a little paste-like and homogenous anyway, so reheating them in an air fryer or a frying pan to crisp the outside up a little is actually an improvement. And if you’d like it to stay soft, just wrap a damp paper towel around the burrito when you microwave it. Just avoid the burritos with lettuce, tomatoes, or guacamole in them.
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