Why There's No Such Thing As 'Hard-Shell' Tacos

Bite into a warm, crisp taco shell and it playfully shatters upon impact, spilling the contents of meat, cheese, and tomatoes onto your plate (or your lap). That's the ultimate taco experience. And since Americans consume over 4.5 billion tacos each year, it's clear we don't mind the stains on our pants (via South Florida Reporter).

But are we eating authentic tacos if they're crunchy? According to Chef Aarón Sánchez, hard shells are used for tostadas, not tacos (via Food and Wine). For taco perfection, Sánchez warms his tortillas on a griddle — with a squirt of oil and water — to ensure flawless consistency and temperature. Not crunch.

That said, many believe that crispy tacos are perfectly authentic, too. Often called tacos dorados, or golden tacos, these traditional, crunchy fried tortillas are made to order (without the use of pre-formed shells) and filled with ingredients from the region, whether that's beef from Northern Mexico, or pork, chicken, seafood, and vegetables from other areas of the country (via Atlas Obscura).

According to Kitchn, Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell, created the first preformed taco shell in an effort to keep up with fast food giants like McDonald's. But did Bell really invent the crunchy vessel for food?

In the 1950s, Bell's San Bernardino hamburger and hot dog stand was situated across the street from Milta Café, a lively Mexican joint operated by Lucia Rodriguez. Every day, long lines formed for Lucia's ultra-popular, ten-cent tacos featuring fried tortilla shells filled with meats, shredded cheese, and diced tomatoes (via Mel Magazine). Bell wanted a piece of that prosperous taco action and nuzzled his way into Milta's kitchen to learn the ropes. Once Bell cracked the code to the cafe's success, he found a way to mass-produce crunchy taco shells so more people could enjoy the signature treat (via LA Eater). And since Bell could repurpose the ground beef and cheddar from his burgers, he was able to pump out those prefabricated taco shells with ease, reports First We Feast.

The bottom line? If you're eating tacos, crunchy or soft, you're enjoying one of life's most enjoyable handheld feasts.