How to Make Homemade Flour Tortillas

There's something truly satisfying about crafting your own homemade staples in the kitchen, and when it comes to Mexican cuisine, few things are as essential as fresh, warm homemade flour tortillas. Whether you're planning a delicious taco night, a hearty burrito feast, or simply craving a warm, soft flatbread to accompany your meal, knowing how to make homemade flour tortillas is a rewarding culinary endeavor.

In this article, we'll take you through the step-by-step process of creating these soft, versatile tortillas from scratch. With just a few simple ingredients and a little practice, you'll soon be savoring the authentic taste of homemade tortillas that are far superior to store-bought ones. So, put on your apron and get ready to embark on a journey to master the art of making homemade flour tortillas that will elevate your Mexican-inspired dishes to a whole new level.

What Makes Tortillas So Popular?

Tortillas owe their popularity to their versatility and neutral taste. They can be made of corn, plain flour, spiced flour, or herbs with flour. You can enjoy tortillas as the bread in popular South American dishes like burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or tortilla chips, but you can also experiment with them as your heart desires! Tortillas go well with sweet or savoury stuffings and work well as a vehicle for many different flavours. They are vegan and can be eaten by everyone making them a part of several crowd-pleasing recipes.

Traditional Homemade Flour Tortillas

There is good news if you are fond of tortillas but hesitate to eat store-bought food! Homemade tortillas are easy to make, softer, and tastier than any store-bought pack. You can make them fresh or preserve them in your refrigerator. It takes just a few ingredients, and the technique is super simple.

Ingredients – 

• 3 and 1/2 Cups of Flour All-purpose flour is the best choice for homemade tortillas. 
• 1 Tsp Kosher Salt – Kosher salt is best as it mixes well as you knead the dough, but you can replace it with table salt if you don’t have kosher Salt handy.
• 2 Tsp Baking Powder – Baking powder is a leavening agent that makes the tortillas soft and pillowy.
• 1/3 Cup of Softened Butter, Oil or Lard – Choose any shortening or fat among butter, oil, or lard. Use a neutral-tasting fat for best results.
• 1 and 1/3 Cups of Hot Water – You need hot water to knead the dough. It helps develop the gluten and gives tortillas the desired structure.
• 1 Skillet – Use a non-stick or cast-iron skillet. Ensure that whichever skillet you use distributes the heat evenly when you toast the tortillas.
• 1 Rolling Pin – Will be used to shape the tortillas.

How to Make Easy Flour Tortillas 

Step 1 - Preparing the Dough – Combine the dry ingredients – flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl and whisk them together.

Step 2 - Add the Shortening – Add the shortening and rub it into the dough with your hands. If you are using butter, ensure that it is at room temperature. When you finish this step, the mixture should resemble coarse sand with a few small pebbles of shortening.

Step 3 - Add Water – Slowly add the hot water, mixing it with a dough whisk or your hands. You should have a wet and sticky dough mixture at the end of this step.

Step 4 - Knead the Dough – Scrape the dough from the bowl and plop it on a non-dusted work surface. Then, knead the dough for five minutes or until it comes together. You may need a bench scraper to unstick the dough from the surface initially. 

Step 5 - Rest the Dough – Oil a large bowl and place the dough inside it. Cover it with a piece of plastic and let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Place the dough in the refrigerator if you want to use it the next morning.

Step 6 - Divide the Dough into Balls – Divide the dough into eight portions by pinching it off. Then, roll each portion into a ball shape. You can also make smaller portions if you have a smaller pan. Place the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet or tray and cover them with a damp towel until ready for the next step.

Step 7 - Preheat the Skillet – The temperature of your skillet is essential to cooking your tortillas well. Place the skillet on high heat and let it preheat while you roll your tortillas.

Step 8 - Roll the Tortillas – Use a rolling pin to shape the dough ball into a circle on a clean surface. The tortilla must be rolled thin until you can see through the dough. Dust your work surface to make it easier to roll the dough, and turn the tortilla 90 degrees several times to get the perfect circular shape. Repeat with all the dough balls.

Step 9 - Cook – Place the rolled tortilla on the pan and let it cook undisturbed for a minute or until you see bubbles appearing on the surface. Then, flip the tortilla and cook for a minute on the other side. They should be golden brown when cooked.

Tips for the Best Homemade Tortillas

Step 1 - Rest the Dough – Don’t skip this step! Resting the dough is essential for making soft and fluffy tortillas. It helps the gluten develop, which allows the tortillas to hold their structure when rolled out.

Step 2 - Roll Correctly – Ensure you roll the tortillas thin until they look translucent when held up to light. If they are thick, they won’t be soft and tender.

Step 3 - Use the Right Pan – To cook it well, your pan must distribute heat evenly throughout the tortilla. You can use cast iron or non-stick as you please.

Step 4 - Wait for the Bubbles – Be patient when cooking the tortillas; let them cook undisturbed, and wait for the bubbles to appear before you flip the tortilla to cook the other side.

Step 5 - Get the Temperature Right – If your pan is too hot, your tortillas will turn out hard with black spots. If your pan is cool, the tortilla will remain uncooked and chewy. 

Easy Flour Tortillas Recipe with Rotimatic

Rotimatic is a revolutionary kitchen appliance that enables you to make several kinds of delicious flatbreads with minimum effort. Enjoy fresh, homemade flatbreads like roti, paratha, tortillas, and naan at home with the Rotimatic. Here’s a look at the Rotimatic flour tortilla recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups of All-Purpose Flour

• 1Tsp Baking Powder

• 1Tsp Salt
  
  
• Olive Oil

• Water

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1- Mix all-purpose flour with baking powder and salt in a bowl. Then, transfer it to the flour container of the Rotimatic machine.

Step 2 - Add Olive oil to the Rotimatic oil container.

Step 3 - Fill the Rotimatic Water container with normal water.

Step 4 - Choose the flour brand, minimum thickness level, and number of tortillas you want to make. Then, click Play.

Various Ways to Use Homemade Flour Tortillas

• Burritos – Add a delicious filling of beans, rice, veggies, and meat to make a satisfying burrito. 

• Quesadillas – Add eggs, cheese, and flavorful seasonings to the tortilla and fold it into a semi-circle. Then, toast the tortilla on a cast-iron skillet with some butter to make delicious quesadillas.

• Tacos – Fry the tortilla in hot oil to make crispy taco shells. Fill the taco with nutritious and tasty stuffings using a combination of vegetables, meat, salsa, and sauces.

• Wraps – Make your flavor combination using vegetables and meat for delicious wraps. Don’t forget to add lettuce for a lovely crunch.

• Pizza – These tortillas can also make delicious thin-crust pizzas. Top them with your favorite toppings.

Can You Freeze Homemade Tortillas?

Yes. You can freeze homemade tortillas and use them for about two months. Line the tortillas with parchment paper or wax paper while stacking to prevent them from sticking together. It will help keep them separate. Or, you could flash-freeze them before storing them in the freezer.

How to Preserve or Store Homemade Tortillas?

Tortillas keep well at room temperature for up to twelve hours. After that, you must store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. If left outside for too long, tortillas may begin to get mouldy.

How to Reheat Flour Tortillas?

If you have frozen homemade flour tortillas, remove them from the freezer and thaw them for at least half an hour before reheating. Then, place a damp paper towel on a microwave-safe plate and the tortillas on the towel. Microwave the tortillas uncovered for 15 to 30 seconds, then transfer them to a covered container or casserole to trap the steam and keep them soft until serving.

How Long do Homemade Tortillas Last?

Cupboard	Refrigerator	Freezer
Flour tortilla	7 days	3-4 weeks	6-8 months
Whole Wheat Tortilla	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

Nutritional Information about Flour Tortillas

Nutrient	Quantity
Calories	138
Carbs	22.2 grams
Protein	3.69 grams
Fat	3.6 grams
Fiber	1.58 grams
Calcium	65.7 mg
Iron	1.63 mg
Magnesium	9.9 mg
Sodium	331 mg

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you store tortillas in the fridge?
   

   Yes. You can store them in a resealable food storage bag in the fridge. Consume within five days. For longer storage, please keep them in the freezer.
   
   

2. Why don’t my flour tortillas puff up when cooked?
   

   Tortillas don’t puff up when rolled too thick or if the pan is not hot enough. Try to roll out very thin tortillas such that you can see through the dough. Make circles of 7-inch diameter or the required size to fit the pan. Preheat the pan and cook over medium heat.
   
   

3. Do flour tortillas have gluten? How can we make gluten-free tortillas?
   

   Yes, flour tortillas have gluten. If you want gluten-free tortillas, use corn flour or any other gluten-free flour. 
   
   

4. Do flour tortillas go bad?
   

   Yes. When flour tortillas are left out at room temperature for more than twelve hours, in the fridge for more than one week, or in the freezer for more than two months – they are unfit for consumption.