The Toaster Hack That Makes Quesadillas A Pan-Free Affair

Say goodbye to thinking of your toaster as simply a tool to heat up bread or a bagel thanks to the quesadilla hack brought to you by TikTok. The social media platform responsible for bringing us a solution to making popsicles without a mold is infamous for providing folks with new and compelling ways to create classic meals with a twist, and one of the latest videos shows how to make a staple Mexican dish without ever dirtying a pan. You may think that quesadillas are already straightforward enough to make, and if something's not broken, why fix it? After seeing the hack, you may change your tune as you rush over to your toaster to try it out. 

Although cooking can sometimes be just what you need to fulfill your creative inclinations, other times you simply want to fill the void in your stomach. By adding a couple of extra folds to the tortilla once the Mexican snack is in its typical half-moon shape, not only do you save yourself cleanup time after the meal has been enjoyed, but this method cooks a quesadilla faster than a pan or an oven can. You can use shredded cheese or sliced, but caution is warranted either way because this technique is not without its potential for mishap.

Making a quesadilla in the toaster is a quick and convenient way to get a meal on the table, but it's imperative to employ this hack with discretion. Like any other kitchen appliance, the risk of fire is legitimate, and putting cheese in a toaster is generally not recommended for this reason. That's not to say you should avoid this method, but you need to take some precautions to avoid a potential kitchen catastrophe.

Fully understanding your toaster settings is the first step in avoiding a calamity. If the appliance is set too high, it can quickly burn the edges of the tortilla. Perhaps more importantly, the quesadilla needs to be folded securely. If not, cheese could ooze out the sides and, at best, make it difficult to remove the tortilla and clean your appliance. At worst, it can catch fire. If you fold it as shown in the TikTok clip, make sure to crease the edges of your folds so it is less likely to open up while being heated. Alternatively, you could fold both sides up initially before folding it in half. This will leave you with a kind of tortilla wallet that may be less likely to lose its cheese when cooking. Should you decide to add extra ingredients inside, confirming your fold is secure will be even more essential.

When it comes to additional goodies to put in your quesadilla, the sky's the limit. Beef, beans, chicken, and veggies all make welcome additions, but your convenient kitchen appliance won't do all the work for you. Proteins need to be cooked before the tortilla goes into the toaster, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to grill any veggies you want in the dish as well.

If you are adding a greasy ingredient like ground beef, you'll want to avoid one of the cardinal mistakes and double-check that it's drained completely and as free of grease as possible. Grease fires can rapidly get out of hand, and if any escapes the tortilla folds while employing the quesadilla hack, you will soon regret using the toaster for this. Veggies don't necessarily need to be prepared prior to toasting, but it will prevent them from releasing excess moisture while the toaster goes to work. Roasting the vegetables with cornstarch beforehand will also enhance their flavor, texture, and help ensure they're not too drippy when reheated.

The tortilla used to house all these supplemental ingredients should be decently sized, otherwise, they could break free of their envelope. Large, burrito-sized tortillas are a good choice. Even if you are only using cheese, a bigger burrito can better accommodate the filling and help prevent this quesadilla hack from ruining your toaster.