Tacos are a popular Tex-Mex dish that typically consist of a folded tortilla filled with seasoned meat, cheese, lettuce, and other toppings. While tacos are delicious, their open-ended nature can make them tricky to eat, as the fillings often spill out. Luckily, there are some clever ways to hold tacos to make eating them more manageable.
Use Taco Holders
One of the easiest solutions for keeping tacos intact is to use taco holders. These specially designed holders prop up tacos into an upright position, cradling them to prevent spillage. Taco holders come in a few different styles:
- Metal taco holders – These reusable metal racks come in round or square shapes with slots to stand tacos upright.
- Disposable paperboard taco holders – Cheap paperboard holders are a common option at taco catering events. Sturdy paper or plastic stands prop up the tacos.
- Wire taco holders – Bent wire holders have loops that slide over the edges of tacos to hold their shape.
Taco holders work best for tacos with sturdy structures. Fillings like shredded meat, beans, rice, and cheese tend to stay put in the upright taco shell. Toppings like diced tomatoes, lettuce, and salsa may still fall out.
Use Tortilla Warmers
Keeping taco shells warm is another trick for sturdier, spill-proof tacos. Letting taco shells cool makes them more brittle and prone to cracking. Using a tortilla warmer keeps shells pliable and strong.
Options for keeping tortillas warm include:
- Insulated tortilla warmers – These useful containers have insulated linings and/or electric heating elements to safely keep tortillas warm and steamy.
- Oven warming – Wrap stacks of tortillas in foil and keep them warm at the lowest oven setting.
- Steamer basket – Place tortillas in a metal steamer basket over a pot of simmering water.
Ensure tortillas stay warm and moist until serving time. Then fill the flexible tortilla shells tightly with ingredients to make tacos that hold their shape better for eating.
Use Doubled Up Tortillas
An easy hack for more durable tacos is to make them with two tortillas instead of one. Layering two tortillas provides extra support to contain messy fillings. Options include:
- Double decker – Fill one tortilla, then place a second tortilla on top.
- Stuffed – Stack one tortilla inside another, filled in the middle.
- Outside layer – Fill one tortilla, wrap with a second tortilla around the outside.
Any style of double tortilla taco provides a protective outer shell to keep ingredients tucked inside. Just be sure the two tortillas are sealed together snugly with generous amounts of filling.
Choose Sturdy Fillings
Picking the right taco fillings can also prevent messy spills. Some smart fillings for stable tacos include:
- Shredded chicken or pork
- Ground beef or turkey
- Refried beans
- Spanish rice
- Cheese
Wet ingredients like diced tomatoes, salsa, and lettuce are more prone to falling out. Limit these to small amounts or place them in the middle of tacos where less likely to spill. Chopped fillings into small pieces for better adhesion.
Serve Tacos Flat
Instead of serving tacos in their signature upright position, try going flat. Laying tacos down on a plate or tray creates a lower center of gravity. This makes them much less likely to tip over and spill ingredients out the sides.
Flat tacos may lose some of their novelty, but are much easier to eat. Toppings can be layered horizontally across the middle of the tortilla rather than stuffed inside. This presentation keeps components neatly contained in each bite.
Use Toothpicks
Securing tacos shut with toothpicks is an easy and useful trick. Simply slide a toothpick through both sides of the filled taco to close the shell and prevent it unfolding. Use round or flat toothpicks to pin tacos closed. Go with longer picks for wider tacos.
Wood and plastic frilled toothpicks add some fun flair while functionally holding tacos together. Make sure toothpicks are properly discarded after use to avoid a choking hazard.
Skewer or Spear Tacos
Metal skewers take the concept of the toothpick further to make tacos even more secure. Thin metal skewers can slide through tacos width-wise to seal the edges. Or use wider flat skewers to pierce tacos from top to bottom.
Small decorative drink swords or frilly cocktail picks also work great for skewering tacos. The long handles keep hands away from fillings while eating. Skewered tacos work best when dining at home, not on the go.
Wrap in Foil or Paper
For grab-and-go tacos, wrap each one individually in foil or parchment paper. Fold or twist the edges to fully enclose the taco in a protective barrier. The wrapped package contains any leaks or drips from the filling. Tacos sealed this way are easy to pack in a lunchbox or eat on the move.
An added benefit of wrapped tacos is they stay warm longer. The foil or paper insulates heat. Just be cautious of hot fillings when unwrapping.
Use a Baking Sheet
When serving tacos buffet style for a party, keep things tidy with a baking sheet. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. As you fill each taco, place it on the lined pan side-by-side with others.
The lip around the baking sheet catches any spilled toppings or drips. The layered tacos are easily transported to the buffet table or dining space. Once plated individually, the tacos are less likely to unfold and leak.
Choose Corn Tortillas
Corn tortillas have some advantages over flour tortillas when it comes to holding tacos together. Since corn tortillas are smaller, they can be rolled tighter. The natural moisture content in fresh corn tortillas also makes them more pliable without cracking.
Well-filled rolled corn tortilla tacos keep ingredients contained in their cylindrical shape. The rounded sides help keep fillings neatly packed inside. Just be gentle when biting to avoid the snapping corn shells.
Build Tacos on Stands
Serving tacos from vertical holders allows diners to construct their own while avoiding spills. Options like banana leaf stands, wire racks, or wood displays securely prop up taco shells. Guests can freely add fillings without collapsing the shells.
Salsa bars adjacent to taco stands are also smart for piling on extra toppings after tacos are built. The serving setup lets you customize tacos to your desired fullness while minimizing the mess.
Use Muffin Tins
For an unconventional taco hack, use a muffin tin. Spray standard muffin tins with non-stick spray, then press taco shells into the cups. The surrounding rim holds the shells upright for filling.
Once stuffed, use a knife to pop the tacos out of the cups. The muffin tin provides a tidy way to prepare tacos assembly-line style at home. Kids will also love constructing tacos in the compartmentalized pan.
Conclusion
Spilling tacos can be frustrating, but is avoidable with some clever solutions. Using taco holders, tortilla warmers, sturdy fillings, toothpicks, and other tools allow you to eat tacos with minimal mess. Approach taco night with these tips so you can focus on enjoying their flavor, not chasing fallen fillings.