I INCINERATED A TACO SHELL this week in my toaster oven. I was warming it up to fill it with taco meat, veggies, and shredded Mexican cheese. The darn thing burst into flames as I was prepping the ingredients.
It reminded me of a marshmallow ablaze in the middle of a campfire. I was surprised that an El Paso hard taco shell would ignite so easily. I couldn’t blow the flames out, so I unplugged the toaster oven, quickly doused the flaming shell with a glass of water, and then shut the lid. Just think if it had been dinner time and I was having a tumbler of vodka. I shudder at the thought. Talk about adding fuel to a fire.
I watched the smoke come through the edges of the oven’s door and listened to the sizzling water on the grates and heating elements. Satisfied that I had averted a disaster, I breathed a sigh of relief as my heart rate slowed and quickly reflected that it was a close call. I had it set for my morning toast at 450 F. This might require a review.
After everything cooled down, I went to work thoroughly cleaning, and drying the toaster oven. I lined the bottom with aluminum foil and plugged it in. It seemed to work just fine.
Here it is two days later and I’m baking a raspberry-almond cake for my family who arrive tomorrow for a week’s vacation. Everything seems to be back to normal, none of the electronics suffered from this calamity.
I have concluded that I can warm my taco shell but at a lower temperature, more like 325 F seems prudent.
Taco Tuesday is coming soon!
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