Any Hints: Shrinking Taco Shells

[PoppyJ]

I made tacos last night and when I took the taco shells out of the oven, their opening had shrunk to less than 1/4 inch. This made it near impossible to put anything in them. I ended up breaking mine and eating them like a sandwich. Any hints to prevent shrinkage?;)

[mrswaz]

When you bake taco shells, make sure that you don't seperate them entirely. They should overlap on the baking sheet. I take them out of the box and put them on my cookie sheet lengthwise. Then I spread them out so that they fit the entire length of the pan (one long row). This way they overlap enough to keep the shells from shrinking.

HTH- rereading this post- it's kinda confusing- but hopefully it makes sense to you.

[sandee]

i actually put my shells upside down (open side down) on the tray in the oven so that they don't close as they heat up. you can let them cool a bit this way so that they stay open.

just be careful putting the tray in the oven since the shells will rock back and forth and move around a bit if they're jostled.

[memartha]

Mrs. Waz - I always wondered why the instructions stated to warm the shells without completely separating them, and, being the good doobie that I am, I always follow the instructions and never have a problem. Now I understand WHY they say to do it that way. Thanks!

[Ann Sanders]

I made rolls (like cigars) out of tin foil that I put in the shells before baking them. This will keep them open also.

[BeachBum]

I just hang my on the actual oven rack.