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My problem with the hard shell tacos is that I can’t seem to eat them. They break in half as soon as I take a bite. This problem isn’t unique to americanized me

My problem with the hard shell tacos is that I can’t seem to eat them. They break in half as soon as I take a bite. This problem isn’t unique to americanized mexican food though. It’s nearly as difficult to eat a sope. Taco Bell made a hard shell taco with a soft shell wrapped around it - that worked fine. I’ve also had tacos where the tortilla was fried so that it had crust, but still had enough give and integrity to hold together. Those were excellent! I suspect that the hard shell taco kit format was developed because it was easier to make it shelf-stable, not because it tasted good. But I don’t have any evidence.

munk-a 5y ago
The closest "authentic" thing to a hard shelled taco is, IMO, Flautas Ahogadas (sorta translated as fried flutes) which I'd encourage you to try if you ever get a chance - unlike hard tacos they're formed like thinner enchiladas so you can take chunks of them whole as bites. Actual corn tortillas are an absolute royal pain to work with - they need to be reheated in a pretty precise manner to avoid cracking and damage and their shelf life is extremely short. I agree that it's probably more mundane concerns that led to the innovation of hard taco shells.
- msrenee 5y ago
  I wouldn't say corn tortillas have a particularly short shelf life. Or that they're all that hard to reheat. If you're getting fresh ones straight from the tortilliera, they're not going to last long on the counter, but that's because they're not formulated or packaged for shelf life. There are quite a few larger brands that make more shelf-stable corn tortillas and I've never noticed them going bad any faster than flour tortillas. I'm not sure if you mean something specific by reheating, but I've always just toasted them in a pan on medium heat for a bit. I'm sure a good Mexican cook puts more finesse into it than I do, but there's at least enough structural integrity when I toast them to get the filling down your gullet with minimal complications. Damn I miss living where the grocery store had a cooler of this morning's fresh-made corn tortillas. La Banderita is better than nothing, but it's just not the same.
koolba 5y ago
> Taco Bell made a hard shell taco with a soft shell wrapped around it - that worked fine. The double decker taco supreme did not “work fine”. It was the undisputed apex of humanity’s culinary development. The perfect vessel to combine the crunchy mouth feel of a hard shell taco, with the practical consistency and resilience of a soft shell wrapper. Bound together by a mix of refried beans. I still can’t believe they removed it from the menu.
- ethbr0 5y ago
  - aspenmayer 5y ago
    I will agree that Fox News sucks, but leave Taco Bell alone. Even I can see that both of the above are products and corporate apparatus that creates the products. The parent company of Taco Bell is also the owner of a bunch of other fast food brands, so it just feels strange to call them out specifically. That said, it’s practically the only vegan/vegetarian restaurant option available in large parts of USA. And people can eat what they like. Shaming people for their food choices, in current year? I’ve seen you around HN - I know you can post better than this.
    - ethbr0 5y ago
      Fox and Fox News are two different channels. https://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/08/the_20_greatest_shows_canceled_by_fox_before_their.php https://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/08/the_20_greatest_shows_c... But yes, I would also judge someone who considered Taco Bell "good" food (by any metric). "Cheap" I'd accept.
      - aspenmayer 5y ago
        Fox and Fox News can both suck independently. My bad for assuming you meant Fox News. I take it as a given that most broadcast TV is horrible no matter where you are. What they did to Firefly they will do again to countless other shows. Part of me wants to just not care, but culture matters, and people dedicate their lives to the culture. They deserve better too. > But yes, I would also judge someone who considered Taco Bell "good" food (by any metric). "Cheap" I'd accept. Ah I guess I’ll agree there. It’s not great, but it’ll keep you from starving. Sadly, that’s the nutritional status quo in much of food desert America.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
nicwolff 5y ago
The trick is, fill the bottom with meat and put them in a 350° oven for 6 minutes – the hot oily meat will soften the "hinge" of the taco shell just enough that it won't crack when bitten.
- tpmx 5y ago
  That sounds brilliant. I shall have to try it.

munk-a 5y ago

The closest "authentic" thing to a hard shelled taco is, IMO, Flautas Ahogadas (sorta translated as fried flutes) which I'd encourage you to try if you ever get a chance - unlike hard tacos they're formed like thinner enchiladas so you can take chunks of them whole as bites. Actual corn tortillas are an absolute royal pain to work with - they need to be reheated in a pretty precise manner to avoid cracking and damage and their shelf life is extremely short. I agree that it's probably more mundane concerns that led to the innovation of hard taco shells.

msrenee 5y ago
I wouldn't say corn tortillas have a particularly short shelf life. Or that they're all that hard to reheat. If you're getting fresh ones straight from the tortilliera, they're not going to last long on the counter, but that's because they're not formulated or packaged for shelf life. There are quite a few larger brands that make more shelf-stable corn tortillas and I've never noticed them going bad any faster than flour tortillas. I'm not sure if you mean something specific by reheating, but I've always just toasted them in a pan on medium heat for a bit. I'm sure a good Mexican cook puts more finesse into it than I do, but there's at least enough structural integrity when I toast them to get the filling down your gullet with minimal complications. Damn I miss living where the grocery store had a cooler of this morning's fresh-made corn tortillas. La Banderita is better than nothing, but it's just not the same.

koolba 5y ago

> Taco Bell made a hard shell taco with a soft shell wrapped around it - that worked fine. The double decker taco supreme did not “work fine”. It was the undisputed apex of humanity’s culinary development. The perfect vessel to combine the crunchy mouth feel of a hard shell taco, with the practical consistency and resilience of a soft shell wrapper. Bound together by a mix of refried beans. I still can’t believe they removed it from the menu.

ethbr0 5y ago
- aspenmayer 5y ago
  I will agree that Fox News sucks, but leave Taco Bell alone. Even I can see that both of the above are products and corporate apparatus that creates the products. The parent company of Taco Bell is also the owner of a bunch of other fast food brands, so it just feels strange to call them out specifically. That said, it’s practically the only vegan/vegetarian restaurant option available in large parts of USA. And people can eat what they like. Shaming people for their food choices, in current year? I’ve seen you around HN - I know you can post better than this.
  - ethbr0 5y ago
    Fox and Fox News are two different channels. https://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/08/the_20_greatest_shows_canceled_by_fox_before_their.php https://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/08/the_20_greatest_shows_c... But yes, I would also judge someone who considered Taco Bell "good" food (by any metric). "Cheap" I'd accept.
    - aspenmayer 5y ago
      Fox and Fox News can both suck independently. My bad for assuming you meant Fox News. I take it as a given that most broadcast TV is horrible no matter where you are. What they did to Firefly they will do again to countless other shows. Part of me wants to just not care, but culture matters, and people dedicate their lives to the culture. They deserve better too. > But yes, I would also judge someone who considered Taco Bell "good" food (by any metric). "Cheap" I'd accept. Ah I guess I’ll agree there. It’s not great, but it’ll keep you from starving. Sadly, that’s the nutritional status quo in much of food desert America.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

nicwolff 5y ago

The trick is, fill the bottom with meat and put them in a 350° oven for 6 minutes – the hot oily meat will soften the "hinge" of the taco shell just enough that it won't crack when bitten.

tpmx 5y ago
That sounds brilliant. I shall have to try it.