Tacos! Whether it’s fish tacos, beef tacos, chicken or bean tacos, it’s just one of those meals that so many people name with enthusiasm and look forward to eating on the regular. Whether that’s for Taco Tuesday or just because, who doesn’t love chowing down a good taco every now and then? While tacos are awesome to eat fresh, they can also be a great option to pack if you’re looking for non refrigerated lunch ideas.
Tacos are one of my favorite keto lunch ideas. They are a convenient and delicious way to eat healthy at work or in school. They are a special delight to take with you on the go for the days when you’ve run out of lunch ideas. You can also pack your own version of tacos with different ingredients to make them more special.
Today, I’m sharing a guide for how to pack tacos and keep them warm for lunch.
How To Pack Tacos For Lunch
Step 1. Get proper containers
When it comes to packing tacos for lunch and keeping the ingredients fresh, there are a few steps that you’ll want to ensure you take. The first step is to make sure you have the proper lunch box or storage containers. You can use a bento box to keep ingredients in their own separate compartments and buy sauce cups with lids to store ingredients like guacamole, salsa, or sour cream. This will help ensure you have what you need to pack the best taco possible with ingredients served fresh that you’re proud to eat.
Step 2. Prep the night before
Although tacos are a relatively quick meal to whip up, leftovers are pretty easy to pack for the next day. If making burritos, you can pre-roll them for your lunch boxes throughout the week. If eating your taco served with chips or a crunchy taco, you’ll want to keep the leftover ingredients stored separately.
Step 3. Use a thermos
If you aren’t able to microwave your meat, another great option is to pack your taco meat in a thermos to keep it warm. You’ll have to pour boiling water in your thermos, let it sit for a few minutes, and then dump it out (before packing the meat) in order to heat it up properly. Using a thermos will ensure that your meat stays warm and you can use an ice pack to ensure your toppings stay cool.
Step 4: Pack it lunchable style
Depending on the type of tacos you make, most tacos are best packed lunchable style so things won’t get soggy or wilted. Meaning, if you‘re making the classic beef taco and wanting it served with a crunchy taco or chips and garnished with lettuce and tomatoes, each ingredient should be kept separate. Plus, it’s also fun to build! Tacos served on burritos or that won’t need reheating can be packed ready to eat.
Step 5. Use an ice pack
For food safety purposes, pack your lunch boxes with an ice pack to maintain proper temperature before eating. Food can’t be left out for more than 2 hours without being temperature controlled with an ice pack or thermos. This will ensure you’re following food safety guidelines and maintaining proper food safety.
How To Keep Tacos Warm For Lunch
Use a microwave
Obviously, if you want warm food for lunch this can be done by warming your lunch boxes up in a microwave or oven if available. If using a microwave, it’s best if your meat is stored in its own separate container for easy heating. If the food is going in the oven, aluminum foil is best.
Use a thermos
If no microwave is within reach, the next best option is to boil water in the morning before packing your lunch and use a thermos to keep it warm. Food warmed in this way has a time limit. Most can be kept warm anywhere from about 6 hours, but check the instructions on your thermos to determine how long yours will last for you.
Heat and wrap in foil
If neither of the first two options are available, another solid way to keep food warm is to heat your food up beforehand and then store it in aluminum foil wrap. This method should keep your food moderately warm for 30 minutes to a couple of hours at best.
