How to make corn tortillas without a press?
In this article, we will answer the question “How to make corn tortillas without a press?”, and how to freeze store tortillas?
How to make corn tortillas without a press?
Ingredients
- 2 cups masa harina (9 1/2 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
Masa harina is corn that undergoes the nixtamalization process followed by drying and conversion into a powder.
Instructions
Mix and knead the dough
Mix 2 cups of masa harina with 1 and 1/2 cups of warm water until moistened. Take out the dough on the counter and knead it using water until the dough is soft and smooth.
Separate dough and roll it into balls
Start by dividing the dough into 2 halves. Divide each half into two portions. You need to keep dividing until you have dough pieces to make 12 tortillas.
Prepare dough ball
To make a dough ball, press it between masa harina floured plastic sheets or wrap.
Roll out dough
Using a roller pin, roll the round ball of dough into a flattened round that is only about 1/8th of an inch thick. The diameter should be 5-6inches. Remove the tortilla from the sheets and place it on a floured plate.
Cook your tortillas
In a hot comal or griddle, each side of the tortilla should be cooked for 30 sec or 1 minute.
How to roll corn tortillas without breaking them?
Manage the timing. Prepare the filling, baking tray, and chile sauce first. When everything is ready, then, soften the tortillas and quickly fill and roll them. Place them into the chile-coated baking tray immediately. The key is to use warm chile sauce to coat freshly heated tortillas.
How to freeze tortillas?
Grab a freezer bag or aluminum foil and a divider. Then follow the steps below to safely freeze tortillas.
It is very important to practice food safety. This is where you can control half of the food-related illnesses. Therefore, make sure your hands are clean and sanitized before handling tortillas.
Put the divider between each wrap
Prepare the wrap by cutting large enough pieces of aluminum foil to roughly cover the tortilla wrap. If you chose breadcrumbs, make sure you spread them in an even layer. Wax sheets can also be used for this purpose.
Wrap the tortilla
Wrap the stack of tortilla wraps in a freezer bag. Make sure to release the air from the bag and label it before freezing.
Put the package in the freezer
Chuck the freezer bag in the freezer. It will keep fresh for months.
Other FAQs about Tortillas which you may be interested in.
How long do corn tortillas last in the fridge?
Can you get sick from eating expired tortillas?
Can you get sick from eating expired tortilla chips?
How to defrost and reheat tortillas?
When you are defrosting the tortillas individually, you can go with the following methods.
At room temperature
Take out the frozen tortilla on a plate and put it on the counter for 10 minutes. Flip after the first 5 minutes. After 10 minutes, reheat the tortillas and enjoy.
On the stove
Heat a non-stick pan on the stovetop and toss the tortilla wrap in it. If you heat for longer, this will defrost and reheat the tortilla. If you do not want it warm, remove it from the heta early.
The shelf-life of tortillas
The following table shows an estimated shelf-life of corn and flour tortilla under different storage conditions.
| Type of tortilla | In the pantry | In the fridge | In the freezer |
| Corn tortilla | 7-10 days | 6-8 weeks | 6-8 months |
| Flour tortilla | 1 week | 3-4 weeks | 6-8 months |
The nutritional profile of tortillas
The following table shows the nutrients and their amounts found in tortillas.
| Nutrients/Minerals | Corn tortilla (44g) | Flour tortilla (45g) |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 22g |
| Proteins | 3g | 4g |
| Fats | 1g | 4g |
| Fiber | 3g | 2g |
| Sodium | 20mg | 331g |
| Calcium | 3% of the RDI | 5% of the RDI |
| Iron | 3% of the RDI | 9% of the RDI |
| Magnesium | 8% of the RDI | 2% of the RDI |
| Calories | 96 | 138 |
As the table shows, corn tortillas are low in carbs and fats but are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Magnesium supports the function of vital organs like the brain and heart while fiber is crucial to maintain gut-healthy. It improves digestion by regulating bowel movements.
On the other hand, flour tortillas are rich in fiber, protein, iron, and calcium. As compared to corn tortillas, flour tortillas keep you full for longer.
How to use tortillas?
Frozen and reheated tortillas can be used just like fresh ones. This means you can turn them into Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas, Quesadillas, Tortillas roll-ups, Fajitas, Huevos Rancheros, Flautas, Chips, Soups, Cassreole, Taco pockets, Mexican Quiche and Breakafst wraps etc.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “How to make corn tortillas without a press?”, and how to freeze store tortillas?
References
https://foodsguy.com/freeze-tortilla-shells/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/step-by-step-corn-tortillas-by-hand-2343042
