How do you keep taco shells upright?

Tacos are a popular Tex-Mex food that are often served in a U-shaped fried or baked taco shell. While tasty, these shells can be tricky to eat without having the contents spill out. So how do you keep the taco shell upright while filling and eating it? Here are some tips and tricks.

Use a taco holder

Taco holders or stands are plastic or metal racks designed to hold taco shells upright. They have slots that cradle each taco, keeping the sides of the shell elevated so the ingredients stay inside. This is one of the easiest ways to prevent spilling.

Taco holders come in single-serving size as well as multi-slot holders to serve several people. For parties, choose a large plastic or acrylic holder that can hold 6-12 tacos. Individual metal or plastic wire holders work well for serving one taco at a time.

Fill the taco over a plate or bowl

Rather than holding the taco shell in one hand while you load it with ingredients, set it down into a plate, bowl or other flat surface. This frees up both hands to neatly and evenly distribute the meat, veggies, cheese and other taco fillings.

Aim to balance the ingredients so the shell maintains its U-shape instead of overflowing to one side. Toppings like diced tomatoes, lettuce and sour cream can go on last since they are lighter.

Use a baking rack

Turn a wire cooling rack upside down and place taco shells in the slots. The raised metal grid will help prop up the sides of the taco for filling. This is an easy no-cost method if you don’t have a taco holder.

For best results, choose a flat cooling rack rather than one with ridges so the tacos lie flat. The rack should be flipped upside down so the tacos are cradled between the wires instead of falling through the holes.

Double up the shells

For extra stability, double up the taco shells. Simply take two U-shaped shells and nest one inside the other so the sides help keep each other propped upright. Then assemble your tacos inside the nested shells.

This technique takes a bit more effort but helps if you have particularly fragile taco shells or a tall filling of ingredients. It also adds a nice crunch to each bite!

Use crumpled foil

Here’s an improvised hack if you don’t have anything else on hand to hold taco shells. Simply make a U-shaped cradle out of aluminum foil by loosely crumpling up sheets into strips.

Then place each taco shell into the aluminum cradles and fill them as desired. The malleable foil will conform to the shape of the shell and keep it upright. The foil strips can be reused to make more cradles as needed.

Fry the shells just before serving

Frying taco shells immediately before filling and serving can help them hold their shape better. Pre-fried shells often become rubbery or soggy as they sit. Quickly frying or baking shells for immediate use allows them to be crisper and more pliable.

Let any excess oil drain off right after frying so the shells don’t get soggy and are ready for filling. The hot crisp shell will then hold its upright U-shape very well when loaded up.

Use a taco mold

For a unique presentation, cook and mold taco meat, sauce and other fillings right into the shape of an upright taco shell. Simply prepare the ingredients, then pack them into a plastic or metal taco mold.

There are triangle-shaped molds that can be stuffed and then lifted off to reveal molded upright tacos ready to eat no shell required. This takes a bit more effort but results in edible taco bowls.

Choose street style tacos

Instead of traditional fried shells, opt for soft street-style tacos which are easier to eat. Warm soft corn or flour tortillas are folded in half and filled with meat, beans, cheese and veggies.

The soft pliable tortilla conforms to the ingredients inside without breaking or spilling. Street tacos still deliver satisfying taco flavors in an easy handheld package that doesn’t require shells.

Use a tortilla press

For a fresher approach, press and cook tortillas yourself and fill them while warm. Heat a tortilla press on the stovetop and place dough balls inside to press flat tortillas right before frying them.

Using freshly pressed warm tortilla shells allows them to hold their shape better when filling them. The homemade shells will also be flexible enough to handle ingredients without cracking.

Choose hard taco kits

Look for taco kits or pans with partitions if you want to fry your own hard taco shells. The special molds or pans allow you to fry tortilla halves into a U-shape that’s ready to fill.

Taco presses or pans with shell-shaped molds yield uniform shells that lend themselves to standing upright. Use them to fry shells fresh right before serving for optimum stability.

Use sturdy fillings

Choose thick, heavy taco fillings that can weigh down the bottom of the shell. Hearty ingredients like refried beans, shredded beef, thick chunks of chicken and gooey melted cheese help anchor the base of an upright taco.

Avoid loose ingredients like ground beef, chopped tomatoes or lettuce which are more prone to falling out. Load heaviest items first, then finish with lighter items like shredded lettuce or salsa.

Wrap it up

When all else fails, wrap and contain those toppings in some sort of wrapper. Large lettuce leaves, tortillas and even sliced lunch meat can act as an edible barrier to corral loose crumbles.

Just place the wrapper in the bottom of the taco shell before filling it to help keep contents in place. The wrapper adds an extra protective layer if toppings try to spill out the sides.

Conclusion

While taco shells are not inherently designed to stand upright, there are many clever solutions to keep them propped up. Using specialized taco holders, creative household items, and fill-proof options allows you to enjoy this fun finger food without the mess. Test out different methods to find your preferred way to serve upright tacos for maximum enjoyment.