How long are tortillas good for?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long are tortillas good for” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of different variants of tortillas in different mediums. Moreover, we are going to discuss whether or not it is safe to eat tortillas that are past their “best by” or “ best before” date.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How long are tortillas good for?
The shelf life of tortillas depends on various factors like where you store them, what type of flour was used in their making, and whether they’re opened or unopened. Opened tortillas do not last much and go bad within 2 – 3 days. For unopened tortillas stored under different conditions, refer to the table below
| Type of tortilla | Shelf Life (Past printed date) | Cupboard | Refrigerator |
| Flour | 7 days | 3 – 4 weeks | 6 – 8 months |
| Whole wheat | 7 days | 3 – 4 weeks | 6 – 8 months |
| Corn | 7 – 10 days | 6 – 8 weeks | 6 – 8 months |
| Spinach | 7 days | 3 – 4 weeks | 6 – 8 months |
| Homemade | 2 – 3 days | 5 – 7 days | 6 – 8 months |
Now let us discuss them individually.
Corn tortillas
Corn tortillas last for about 7-10 days if they are stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.
On the other hand, corn tortillas last for about 6-8 weeks if they are stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can read how to make corn tortillas here.
Flour tortillas
Flour tortillas last for about 7 days if they are stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. On the other hand, flour tortillas last for about 3-4 weeks if they are stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Homemade tortillas
Homemade tortillas last for about 2-3 days if they are stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. On the other hand, homemade tortillas last for about 5-7 days if they are stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Whole wheat tortillas
Flour tortillas last for about 7 days if they are stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. On the other hand, whole wheat tortillas last for about 3-4 weeks if they are stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spinach tortillas
Spinach tortillas last for about 7 days if they are stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. On the other hand, spinach tortillas last for about 3-4 weeks if they are stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
You should always remember that once you have opened the packet of your tortillas, the rest of the tortillas have to be stored in a plastic zipper bag or you can wrap them tightly in the plastic wrap. It is necessary to store the tortillas this way so that no air and moisture will find their way to the tortillas and degrade their quality.
It is worth mentioning that these are estimated shelf lives of tortillas and they can last for even a longer time if they are stored properly.
Other FAQs about Tortillas which you may be interested in.
Can you get sick from eating expired tortillas?
Are tortillas safe to use after the best-before date?
The “best by” or “best before” date that is written on the package of store-bought tortillas refers to the quality rather than safety so the tortillas don’t necessarily go bad immediately after the best before date.
This date refers to the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality and flavor of tortillas but you can still use tortillas that are past this date as long as they were stored properly.
How long are tortillas good for in the freezer?
You can store tortillas in the freezer to prolong their shelf life as the cold temperature of the freezer halts the bacterial growth on tortillas, thereby preserving their quality for a long time.
Whether it is corn tortilla or flour tortilla, whole wheat tortilla or spinach tortilla, all have the same shelf life when stored in the freezer. They last for about 6-8 months when stored in the freezer in a plastic zipper bag.
Moreover, you can place parchment paper or wax paper between the tortillas so that they won’t stick with each other while they are stored in the freezer.
You can either thaw the frozen tortillas by leaving them in the fridge overnight or you can directly defrost and reheat your tortillas in the pan. For defrosting the tortillas you should cook them at a low flame and afterward slightly increases the flame to reheat them.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long are tortillas good for” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of different variants of tortillas in different mediums. Moreover, we discussed whether or not it is safe to eat tortillas that are past their “best by” or “ best before” date.
Citations
Tortillas
