These Homemade Corn Tortillas Will Transform Taco Night Forever (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep corn tortillas warm for a taco party? ›

Wrap your tortillas in foil, then stick them in the oven. When you are ready to serve, remove them from the oven, but leave them wrapped in the foil, so that they don't dry out before go-time. If your party is on the smaller side, you may want to try just using a damp dish towel to keep those tortillas warm.

Homemade tortillas, which will obviously not be in a tortilla packet, will only last around 2-3 days in the cupboard. However, they last up to a week in the refrigerator and much longer in the freezer, so why not make your own tortillas and store them away for when the burrito craving hits!

Hydrate your masa properly: This is the best tip to get your tortillas to puff. If after combining and kneading the ingredients the masa still cracks around the edges, it needs more water.

Take a tip from Mexican restaurants and steam your tortillas to warm them. They retain their flavor and texture, without getting too soft or too crisp. Steam-warming tortillas is a great way to heat them up before using without adding any extra fat, requiring a gas stove, or getting them too crisp.

Tips for Maintaining Tortilla Quality

a) Avoid exposure to air: The primary enemy of tortilla freshness is air. Minimize air exposure using airtight packaging, whether aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or resealable bags.

Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, then set aside until ready to serve. This method can sometimes make tortillas a bit gummy, but it still works if you're short on time. Careful to not microwave for more than 30 seconds as the tortilla can harden. Now that you've heated your tortillas, keep them warm before serving.

Make sure not to over cook the tortillas as they will get hard and tough as they cool down. If you don't wrap them as they come off the stove they will not stay soft instead they will dry out. If your dough is sticking to the plastic wrap/baking paper your dough it to wet and it needs more flour.

It's important to store your tortillas at a steady temperature. Room temperature tends to vary from home to home, so we recommend refrigeration to help maintain freshness. Just remember to bring the tortillas back to room temperature before use.

Tortillas are one of the most freezer-friendly baked goods out there: As long as they're properly wrapped, they'll maintain their flavor and texture excellently for up to 6 months. Even better, they're easy and speedy to defrost once you're ready to use them.

You could set up a steamer, but much faster is to simply dip the tortilla in water and toss it straight on a hot surface. As the surface moisture evaporates, it steams the tortilla until it's soft all the way through. Meanwhile, the hot contact with the pan gives it some nice toasty browned spots.

Why do you double corn tortillas? ›

But a popular explanation is that the second tortilla can be used to make another taco with any fillings that spill out the side. Other reasons include preventing a tortilla from breaking, or if you have a particularly moist filling, & others do it because corn tortillas are delicious – can't argue with that!

Steam corn tortillas in the microwave so they stay pliable and don't split under the weight of taco fillings. Wrap a stack of tortillas in damp paper towels or a damp kitchen towel, then wrap in plastic wrap or place in a microwave-safe resealable plastic bag (keep the bag open to vent).

Aluminum Foil: Wrap a stack of tortillas in aluminum foil. Preheat your oven to a low temperature (around 200°F or 90°C), then place the foil-wrapped tortillas inside to keep them warm until serving time. Set up a buffet tray with a bit of hot water in the bottom and another tray on top with the tortillas.

To make the tortillas flexible, put about a 1/4 inch of oil in a fry pan large enough to hold the tortilla. Heat the oil to ~350F. Place a tortilla in the hot oil for about 30 to 40 seconds then turn over for another 30 to 40 seconds. Place the tortilla on a paper towel to remove excess oil.

Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the tortilla for about 10-30 seconds on each side, until browned and cooked. The tortilla should be soft and pliable, not crispy. Fold a paper towel in half, and lay it on a plate.