Tortillas are one of the pantry staples that most people have in their homes. It forms part of very many recipes and dishes. Unfortunately, Tortillas are perishable. It will last only a few days to months, depending on the preservation and storage methods.
Tortillas can be bought from the store or made at home. Regardless of the source, storing it for a long time is a great challenge. You might think of buying them in bulk to reduce the number of trips to the store. For them to serve you longer, freeze them. In this article, we will discuss can you freeze tortillas, how to freeze and defrost tortillas. Keep reading for more!
Recipe with Tortillas
Tortillas form part of many recipes. It is an endless list that we cannot mention here. But we will present some of the most common tortillas recipes. These are easy to make, and the ingredients are available. Check them out!
Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe
Ingredients
| Material | Quantity |
| All-purpose flour | 4 cups |
| Salt | 1 ½ tablespoonful |
| Hot water | 1 2/3 cups |
| Vegetable oil | ¼ cup |
Method
Whisk the salt and flour in a large bowl
Add water and vegetable oil and mix together until it forms a dough. If you end up with a sticky dough, add more flour as necessary.
Put the dough onto the kitchen table or countertop and knead for about 10 minutes or until it is uniformly smooth.
Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and flatten each piece to form a hockey puck shape. Sprinkle flour on both sides, cover with a clean kitchen towel.
Preheat a large saucepan over medium to high heat.
Roll all the pieces, one at a time, into an 8-inch diameter circle and put them into the hot saucepan. Cook for about one minute and flip the other side. Cook it for another 30 seconds or until golden brown.
Remove the tortilla from the pan and put it into another container, and cover. Cook the rest in the same way.
Double Decker Taco Recipe
Ingredients
| Material | Quantity |
| Lean ground beef | 2 lbs |
| Taco seasoning | 2 Packages |
| Flour Tortillas | 16 cups |
| Refried beans | 1 16-ounce can |
| 16 Stand ‘N Stuff Taco Shells | 16 |
| Shredded lettuce | 4 cups |
| Diced Roma tomato | 2 |
| Diced Onion | 1 |
| Shredded Mexican Cheese | 2 cups |
| Sliced Jalapenos | 2 |
Method
Put a large skillet over medium heat and brown the ground beef in it. Remove the excess grease from the skillet and add taco seasoning and water as stated in the package label.
Stir and cook for about 5 minutes or until the seasonings are visibly cooked.
Heat the refried beans in a microwave three times, with each cycle taking one minute and a few seconds in between.
Spread about two tablespoonfuls of the heated beans onto each flour Tortilla and put the taco shells at the center of the tortilla. Wrap it against the crunchy shells.
Put the seasoned ground beef in the middle of the crunchy shells and top it up with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, shredded cheese, and sliced jalapeños.
Serve when hot.
Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
| Material | Quantity |
| Ground beef | 1 pound |
| Taco seasoning | 1 tablespoonful |
| Water | ½ cup |
| Vegetable oil | 1 cup |
| Taco size flour Tortillas | 8 |
| Refried beans | 1 16-ounce can |
Method
Preheat oven to a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Brown beef in a large skillet and drain excess grease from the pan.
Stir the taco seasoning in ad water and simmer for about 5 minutes or until it is cooked with a uniform texture and flavor.
Heat the vegetable oil in another large skillet over medium heat.
Cook the tortillas in the oil for about 3 minutes, putting each piece at a time. Flip the tortillas regularly as they cook.
Use a microwave to heat the refried beans.
Put four tortillas on a baking sheet and top with a layer of fried beans, followed by the ground beef.
Cover with the remaining tortillas and spread the red enchilada sauce on top. Add the shredded cheese on top to complete the pizza assembly.
Bake for about 9 minutes or until they are heated. You know they are cooked when the cheese on top melts.
To with the sour cream, tomatoes, green onions, and black olives and serve when hot.
Do Tortillas Go Bad?
Yes. Tortillas can spoil, just like all other food products made of flour. But you can make them last longer through proper storage. The shelf life of tortillas depends on the flour used and preservatives added when making them. But how do you know if they have spoiled and are not fit for human consumption?
Use your senses to tell a spoiled tortilla from a fresh one. You may not always be correct, but it can help you to avoid possible food poisoning. Use the following signs to avoid eating spoiled tortillas:
Smell
Spoiled tortillas emit an unusual odor when the package is opened. If you frequently use tortillas, then you should be familiar with their usual fresh smell. Any discrepancies are a sign of spoilage, and the product is no longer edible.
Color
Any unusual color changes or spots on tortillas warn you of its toxicity. In many cases, mold grows on the surface of spoiled tortillas. They may also turn yellow, brown, or have a different color from the one you are used to. Avoid eating or using such tortillas.
Texture
Tortillas will start degrading as soon as you open the package. They will stiffen, dry, and stale. These conditions can worsen to a point when the tortillas will no longer be usable.
Taste
Apart from the odd smell and appearance, you can still confirm your suspicion through the flavor. Cut a small piece and taste it before making a final decision. Tasting does not mean swallowing. So, just spit it out when you are satisfied with the test.
How Long Does Tortillas Last?
Tortillas will last for about 5-7 days after the sell-by date printed on the package. But as mentioned, their shelf life depends on the manufacturing process and the flour used. Storage can also influence how long the tortillas can last.
The shortest life is realized when tortillas are stored in the pantry. Corn tortillas have a longer shelf life on the pantry than other types, lasting for up to 10 days. They can last for up to 8 months when stored in a freezer. The table below has more information.
| Tortilla type | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
| Corn tortillas | 7 to 10 days | Up to 2 months | 6 to 8 months |
| Flour tortillas | A week | Up to 1 month | 6 to 8 months |
| Whole wheat tortillas | A week | Up to 1 month | 6 to 8 months |
| Spinach tortillas | A week | Up to 1 month | 6 to 8 months |
| Homemade tortillas | 2 to 3 days | Up to one week | 6 to 8 months |
Can You Freeze Tortillas?
Yes, both corn and flour tortillas can be frozen. Flour tortillas freeze really well and maintain texture and consistency over a long time. If you have store-bought tortillas in a closed packet, freeze them without opening the package. You can also unpack them and place a wax paper or slip parchment between each one of them before freezing. To make them even last longer, you can consider putting them in airtight freezing bags.
Corn tortillas are also as freezer-friendly as flour tortillas. The method of freezing does not change. You can freeze them in their original packaging or unpack and slide a wax paper between them before putting the tortillas in a freezer. In fact, the same method applies to all other tortillas you will find regardless of the type of flour used.
How To Freeze Tortillas?
To freeze tortillas, you need the tortillas themselves, freezer bags, and optional parchment paper. And, of course, a freezer where they will be stored under freezing temperatures.
Remove the tortillas from their original packaging and place them in the freezer bag. Vacuum as much air from the bags as possible and then seal or make them airtight. Put the newly packaged tortillas in a freezer, and you are done.
The last approach requires parchment paper, and it is appropriate if you will be using each tortilla piece at a time. Unpack the tortillas and put the parchment paper in between the individual pieces before sealing in a freezer bag. That makes them be easily removed when needed for the intended use.
If you lack the freezer bags, you can wrap the tortillas in cling film or tin foil and then put them in a freezer. You should only freeze cold tortillas. If yours are warm, let them cool first.
The quality of frozen tortillas depends on the method and how the process was done. To maintain texture and consistency, do not stack more than 10 tortillas together. A parchment paper or foil inserted in between the pieces will also help in maintaining the quality. Also, you need appropriate freezer bags or containers.
Freezing Tortillas Tips
- Whether freezing or storing tortillas in a fridge, always put them in an airtight container. Better still, use freezer bags and drive out as much air from them as possible.
- Insert parchment papers between the tortilla pieces before putting them in the freezer bag. That makes it easier to use one at a time.
- When storing homemade tortillas, separate the pieces with a cloth and use them within a week after preparation.
- Use your frozen tortillas as soon as possible because they degrade with time.
How To Defrost Tortillas?
Frozen tortillas need to be defrosted before use. You can do that by placing them in the refrigerator overnight or placing them in the pantry at room temperature. The defrosting time depends on the temperature and thickness or quantity of the tortillas. It can take about 10 minutes for a single piece of tortilla or about an hour for a whole package of closed tortillas.
You can also defrost tortillas in a microwave in just a few seconds. That is the quickest method you can think of if running out of time. However, this method is likely to make the tortillas dry. So, the top and bottom layers might not be usable when defrosting is done.
Tips for Using Frozen and Thawed Tortillas
Thawed tortillas are just as good as tortillas before freezing if the storage time is not overly long. They can be used the same way as fresh tortillas with not much difference in taste or texture.
FAQs
Signs That Tortillas Have Gone Bad?
Mold growth is the most visible sign of spoiled tortillas, but you can also observe the color, smell, and taste. A bad one will turn yellow, emit an unusual odor, and taste differently. These signs warn you that you should not use tortillas in your recipe.
How to Eat Tortillas?
Tortillas can be eaten the way they are or used in recipes. They are buttered, folded, or rolled, and eaten with fingers. Some people eat tortillas with forks and knives. For recipes with tortillas, refer to the ones described in this article.
Summary
How to store tortillas? Can you freeze tortillas? Tortillas have a shelf life of up to 10 days when stored in the pantry. Keeping them in a freezer will extend that to 8 months, but you need to follow the freezing procedure, as outlined in this article. Frozen tortillas can be defrosted overnight in the fridge or in the pantry at room temperature. But if you run out of time, you can thaw them in a microwave.
Tortillas can also spoil and become harmful for human consumption. You can tell if your tortillas are bad through their smell, color, taste, and texture. Mold growth is also a pertinent sign that you should not ignore.
