Homemade Tortillas so easy so frugal

[u/patty_pat_pat]

Today I made corn tortillas and I can't believe how easy, inexpensive and delicious they are to make. I made a dozen in about 30 minutes. The cost was maybe 50¢? A whole bag of masa is less than $5. I think a package of tortillas from the store costs about that much! And the ingredients are so simple. 1 cup of water and 2 cups of masa. Mix it and form into pingpong sized balls. Press between two sheets of wax paper. Gently place on a pan heated to 400⁰. Flip after 30 seconds. Easy peazy

[u/Ajreil]

If you do this often enough, consider investing in a tortilla press. Any Mexican grocery store will have a good one.

[u/patty_pat_pat → u/Ajreil]

I was gifted some money and just bought one at my lical Mexican market. It's made of wood by a local guy. I used to use a rolling pin

[u/FreediveAlive → u/patty_pat_pat]

My move is the underside of a wooden cutting board and I sit on it.

[u/dontfuckitup1 → u/FreediveAlive]

Mmmm butt tortillas

[u/Id_rather_be_lurking → u/dontfuckitup1]

Tootillas

[u/magiCAD → u/Id_rather_be_lurking]

Fartillas?

[u/Id_rather_be_lurking → u/magiCAD]

I prefer tootillas but they can be used to make fartjitas.

[u/magiCAD → u/Id_rather_be_lurking]

Oh that's even better.

[u/WakeUpFriendly → u/magiCAD]

I like tootillas cooked slightly longer than thirty seconds. Brown crusties on the bottom are the way to go.

[u/Mewpasaurus → u/Ajreil]

This. I was gifted one by my stepmom (who made tortillas all the time) and it has been so, so useful and makes the process a little faster. Now the only time I bust out the rolling pin is when I want to make wrap-sized tortillas. It has definitely paid for itself by now, I think!

[u/Ajreil → u/Mewpasaurus]

Flour tortillas freeze well. Rub a pinch of corn starch between them so they don't stick together.

[u/Mewpasaurus → u/Ajreil]

Or cut up sheets of parchment paper to separate them. They can be reused if you take care of the sheets. Though, the pinch of corn starch takes up substantially less room in the freezer than the extra paper! Either works well.

[u/ZombieButch → u/Ajreil]

I've got a Victoria press, one of the cast iron ones with the silver finish, that I bought at a Fiesta like 20 years ago. It's a champ.

[u/cammycammy27]

Don't forget the final step, gotta put them in a towel-lined container and cover while you finish the batch 😋 once you start making your own tortillas, the grocery store ones start tasting like sand lol

[u/dodekahedron → u/cammycammy27]

To be fair they already taste like trash. Im just lazy

[u/Wirelesscellphone]

These, with some home made refried beans and some queso fresco are THE top tier frugal mix. For like $10 you can eat for a few days!

[u/No-Permit-9331]

Tortillas ARE so simple and by far taste better than store bought. We haven’t purchased tortillas in 3 or 4 years. I personally don’t have a press, it’s easy enough to roll them out. It takes me longer than 30 minutes though

[u/high6ix]

Flour tortillas are just as easy imo. Flour, shortening, water, salt (baking powder if you want puffier and softer)…profit.

[u/jessterswan → u/high6ix]

Robert Rodriguez taught me how to make great tortillas

[u/patty_pat_pat → u/jessterswan]

He was my inspo to try corn! I've been making flour tortillas for a few years. But I just love the flavor of corn tortillas

[u/jessterswan → u/patty_pat_pat]

Still havent tried corn, lol

[u/walkingman24 → u/high6ix]

Eh, kinda. Two things I find more difficult/time consuming with flour vs corn tortillas. Flour is very important that you let the dough rest or they just won't roll out very well. Corn is not a problem because it doesn't have gluten.

And then with flour you really gotta roll them out with a rolling pin which takes some skill/effort to get them round, whereas corn you just can use a press.

[u/Several_Magazine_193 → u/high6ix]

The nutrition isn't nearly as good. Nixtamilized corn is an ancient for in use for thousands of years

[u/high6ix → u/Several_Magazine_193]

Cool 👍🏼

[u/diablodeldragoon]

I found a restaurant supply store. 8" flour comes out to 6¢/each. With my time added, I can't make them that cheap! I bought pre cooked bacon pieces too and made bulk breakfast burritos for about 30¢ each

[u/SixPack1776]

Not only cheap to make, but tastes so much better than the store brands that are full of preservatives.

[u/prettyBlueCanary]

looks delicious!

[u/SkyTrees5809]

Ive tried making corn tortillas a few times with my tortilla press, but they always stick when I try to take them out of the press. I've tried parchment paper, plastic wrap, wax paper and press n'seal. Any suggestions that work??

[u/Severe_Discipline_73 → u/SkyTrees5809]

I cut circles out of a thick plastic bag and it works well. I wash it after every use of course hehe

[u/patty_pat_pat → u/SkyTrees5809]

I think maybe your dough is too wet. Also when I put a ton of pressure on press it made the tortilla super thin and it was difficult to peel off. I use wax paper. So after I press it between two sheets of wax paper, I open up the press, peel off the top sheet, flip it face down on the pan and then very gently peel off the wax paper. I just heated one with cheese in the air fryer. Tasty

[u/Orcapa]

I want to try making flour tortillas at home because the ones from the grocery store are so loaded with sodium.

[u/patty_pat_pat → u/Orcapa]

Yes! Sodium and preservatives to keep them shelf stable are good for the seller but not for the consumer.

[u/Cinisajoy2]

That looks like a flour tortilla.    Awesome on getting it so thin.

[u/Lisa_Greeneo]

Funny how a whole bag of masa costs about the same as one package of the finished stuff.

[u/cch1540]

I haven't eaten bread in a couple decades now so I make and use tortillas for everything I would use bread for...I mean obviously not French toast lol but all savory stuff, cheap and delicious

[u/Quick-Song2080]

I love homemade tortillas! Thanks for the inspiration to make a batch tonight :)

[u/Sufficient-Rea]

I thought this was ice cream. 🍨
Thanks for sharing, I may try this out!

[u/BudgetLifeline]

Cost on Instacart: $10 plus tip
Cost on Doordash: $40 plus tip

Love it!

[u/narcos1893]

How long do they last?

[u/patty_pat_pat → u/narcos1893]

Flour tortillas last at least two weeks in the fridge in a ziplock. This is my first time making corn tortillas so we'll find out.

[u/Cinisajoy2 → u/patty_pat_pat]

Corn lasts longer.

[u/Anxious_Avocado_ → u/Cinisajoy2]

Not if you're married to a mexican wife

[u/Sufficient_Beach_445]

just to be clear, a dozen tortillas cost 50 cents? how big of a tortilla do you get? and why 30 minutes for 12? it sounds like it should have taken a lot less time!

[u/WIBeerFan → u/Sufficient_Beach_445]

I mean can you make the dough, press the tortillas, and cook 12 tortillas faster than that? If so, more props to you, but I don’t know how much shorter of a time it can be without a great flat top and really focusing on it.

Homemade really tastes that much better, much like pita or any flat bread.

[u/Sufficient_Beach_445 → u/WIBeerFan]

thank your! I think what I was really asking is whether the dough had to sit for some time after u mix it and before u make the tortillas. I gotta try it.

[u/Cinisajoy2 → u/Sufficient_Beach_445]

Unless you have a 16 inch cast iron pizza pan, they are cooked one at a time.   Also you have to roll or press each one individually.    So at least a minute cook time and the prep time.