Tortillas have been around for several centuries.
They’re made from corn or wheat flour, cooked on a griddle, and used as wraps or snacks.
If you’ve never tried them before, you may be wondering what the best way to steam tortillas is.
We can help with that, because we want you to know all about how to steam tortillas properly.
This guide will explain everything you need to know about how to steam tortillas, including whether you should buy a steamer, what equipment you’ll need, and how to steam tortillas at home with nothing but a pot of boiling water.
What is the best way to steam tortillas?
You don’t really need any special tools to steam tortillas, as long as you have enough space in your kitchen for a large pan (and maybe a little room in your oven).
A regular pan works just fine, but if you have one handy, why not go ahead and use it?
The easiest way to steam tortillas is to use a skillet.
Fill the skillet with boiling water and place a stack of tortillas in the pan.
Cover the pan with a lid and let sit for 10 minutes or so.
Remove the cover, flip over the tortillas, cover again, and cook another 5-10 minutes until the tortilla is done.
When ready, carefully remove the tortillas and serve hot.
How do you steam tortillas without a steamer?
If you don’t have a steamer, you can still make good tortillas by using a cast iron skillet.
It might take longer than a simple skillet, but it won’t take much time.
Place your tortillas in the skillet, add boiling water, then cover and let sit for ten minutes.
Flip over the tortilla, cover, and cook another five minutes or so until the tortilla is warmed through.
Remove the tortilla when it’s ready and serve warm.
How do you steam tortillas so they are soft?
Since tortillas are typically very thin, they tend to dry out quickly.
If you want them to be soft, you have two options.
First, you could try steaming them in the microwave, which is probably quickest.
Alternatively, you could steam tortillas in an oven.
Either option works well, but steaming tortillas in the microwave is generally more convenient, especially when you’re making a lot of tortillas at once.
What is the best temperature to steam tortillas?
To avoid drying out your tortillas, you want to keep their temperature below 140 F.
That means that if you’re cooking tortillas in the microwave, you’ll want to set the timer for no more than 10 minutes.
If you’re cooking tortillas in a skillet, however, you can set the timer for as long as you like.
How long do you steam tortillas for?
Depending on which type of tortillas you’re working with, you may need anywhere from three to ten minutes to finish them off.
The thinner the tortilla, the faster it will cook.
For example, you can steam small flour tortillas for 3 minutes and they’ll be soft.
You can also steam larger corn tortillas for a bit longer, say 7-10 minutes, because they’re thicker and require more heat.
How do you steam tortillas in the microwave?
You can easily cook tortillas in the microwave.
All you have to do is fill a large bowl with boiling water, add the tortillas, and let them sit for 10 minutes.
Then, drain the water and flip the tortillas over.
Cook them for another 2-5 minutes until they’re heated through.
What is the difference between steamed and unsteamed tortillas?
Some people choose to steam tortillas instead of frying them, since it takes less time.
However, there are benefits to steaming tortillas, too.
One benefit is that steamed tortillas hold up better than fried ones, which makes them great for tacos and burritos.
Another advantage is that they’re much healthier, as they contain fewer calories and saturated fat than fried tortillas.
Another thing to consider is that steaming tortillas has the added benefit of being healthier than frying them, regardless of the fact that they’re fried in oil.
Steaming is a natural process, while frying involves adding lots of unhealthy oils.
Can you freeze steamed tortillas?
Yes, you can freeze steamed tortillas just as you would frozen doughnuts or any other food item.
Simply wrap them individually in plastic wrap, put them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and freeze them for up to three months.
Keep in mind that freezing them will change their texture slightly.
Softer tortillas will become stiffer when defrosted, so you may want to thaw them first before eating them.
How do you reheat steamed tortillas?
You can reheat steamed tortillas like any other dish.
If you’d like to eat them cold, you can store them in the fridge.
Otherwise, you can pop them in the microwave or a toaster oven to reheat them.
Tortillas recipe
Equipment
- 1 bowl
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons lard
- 1 ½ cups water
Instructions
- In a mixing basin, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. With your fingertips, combine the fat into the flour until it resembles cornmeal. When the dough has come together after you’ve added the water, set it on a lightly dusted surface and knead for a few minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Each of the 24 equal pieces of dough should be formed into a ball.
- Set a sizable skillet to medium-high heat to pre-heat. Roll a dough ball into a thin, spherical tortilla using a well-floured rolling pin. Place the food onto the heated skillet and cook until bubbling and golden; then, flip it over and cook until the other side is golden. Roll and cook the remaining dough while storing the cooked tortilla in a tortilla warmer.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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