Can You Freeze Tortillas? Tips and Tricks

Tortillas might taste best when they are warm and fresh, but that doesn't mean you can't freeze those leftovers, or that you can't store stacks of tortillas in the freezer for later use. As long as you know how to store homemade tortillas, or store-bought tortillas in the best way, then you'll be able to keep in as much freshness as you can!

So, what's the best way to store tortillas? Once you've brought them home from the grocery store, is it wise to keep them at room temperature, or to freeze tortillas? And if you do freeze them, what are the best freezer cooking tips?

In this article, we take a look at the best methods for freezing tortillas to keep them fresh and tasty when you thaw them for dinner!

Can tortillas be frozen?

Tortillas can easily be stored in the freezer, and you'll be surprised at how delicious they'll still be when you defrost them later. To keep in the goodness though, you'll need to make sure you freeze those tortillas properly.

To successfully freeze them, you'll need to place your tortillas in a suitable container. This protects them from frost and helps to keep in more nutrients. The easiest way to freeze tortillas is to stack them in freezer bags. The best freezer bags are purpose-designed, often with zip locks that make them reusable, while sealing in the freshness.

If you don't have bags, another great option is to either wrap your stacks of tortillas in clingfilm or tinfoil, before placing them in the freezer. If you are freezing tortillas that you've pressed by hand, wait for them to cool down first before placing them in the freezer.

If you want your tortillas to hold their shape, then you should also be careful about how many tortillas you freeze together. We recommend freezing them in suitable-sized stacks for your meals. Stacks of 5 or 10 tortillas work well. You should also store tortillas with either foil or parchment paper placed between individual tortillas. This helps to separate them when it's time for defrosting.

So, to quickly summarize:

• Wait for tortillas to cool, if warm.
• Place cold separated tortillas in a suitable freezer bag or container.
• Place tortillas in the freezer.
• Leave your tortillas to freeze!

It's really that easy, but the important takeaway to remember is that tortillas should be cold when you freeze them. If you've freshly pressed your tortillas using tortilla press, you can freeze them before you cook them. If you've already cooked the tortillas and have leftovers, we recommend placing them in the fridge to cool down first, then freezing them.

If you place warm tortillas in the freezer, they will degrade quickly, due to the harsh temperature change. You need to keep this process gradual, to keep in the flavor.

Can corn and flour tortillas be frozen?

Yes! Both corn and flour tortillas can be frozen really well.

Can you freeze flour tortillas?

It is so, so easy to freeze flour tortillas, and it doesn't change their quality or compromise their taste at all. If you've still got an unopened pack, you can freeze them as is. You can also take them out of their original packaging and slip parchment or wax paper between each one. Then put them all in a freezer bag, try and press out the air, and freeze.

Can you freeze corn tortillas?

Corn tortillas are freezer-friendly and can be frozen the same way as flour tortillas. Just put them in the freezer in their original packaging or grab that wax paper and separate them, putting them in a freezer bag afterward.

Whether you love a good corn tortilla for your tacos or prefer wheat flour tortillas when you're building burritos, it's easy to freeze either variety. You can use the same method of freezing for both types of tortillas. Freezing corn tortillas or freezing flour tortillas is easy!

How long can frozen tortillas last for?

Frozen tortillas can last up to 8 months if they are frozen correctly. Longer than this and the flavor, taste, and structure of the tortillas start to break down in a freezer, and they won't be quite as good when you thaw them.

We don't recommend leaving them up to 8 months though if you want them to be at their most delicious. We'd recommend two months, for the optimal taste!

Again, though, it depends on how you freeze the tortillas. If you have store-bought tortillas, they will last longer than tortillas you've freshly prepared in your own kitchen. Store-bought tortillas generally have many more preservatives in the recipe and survive better in the freezer, over a longer period of time.

If you freeze your store-bought tortillas in their original packaging, unopened, they will last for longer than an open packet of tortillas.

If you're wondering "how long do opened flour tortillas last in the freezer?", in comparison to unopened flour tortillas, then you'll be surprised at how big the difference can be. For extra freshness, try to freeze them before you open them, but if you can't do that we recommend no longer than 3 months as the quality will start to degrade.

How do you defrost frozen tortillas?

Defrosting tortillas the right way is just as important as freezing them the right way. It's simple enough, though. All you need to do is take the tortillas out of the freezer and let them thaw on the side. It shouldn't take longer than one hour, but it will depend on how thick your tortillas are.

If you're in a hurry, you can microwave them on low power. If you heat them too quickly, though, they can easily become soggy in the microwave. They might also tear or rip easily, and mush together if you defrost them rapidly.

If you've frozen your tortillas with parchment paper or some other covering in between them, you'll find it much easier to defrost them individually. This helps the tortillas to keep their shape, and you can separate them if you don't want to defrost all of them in one go.

If you want more tips on defrosting tortillas, check out our article on how to heat corn tortillas.

How long do tortillas last in the fridge?

Of course, you can also store your leftover tortillas in the fridge, if you know that you are going to eat them again sooner rather than later. Freezing your tortillas is good for the long-term because tortillas keep quite well in the fridge anyway.

If you're already opened your tortilla packet or have just pressed a fresh batch and cooked them in your kitchen, then you can expect your tortillas to keep for up to 10 days in the fridge. Longer than this and they start to degenerate, and they really won't taste as fresh as you want them to. If you live in a warmer climate, you'll want to avoid keeping them at room temperature.

Freezing tortillas takeaway

Freezing tortillas is a great way to save your leftovers for later or to store up stacks of tortillas in your kitchen. When you freeze tortillas you keep in the taste and flavor, and have tortillas on hand for whenever you might need them! Why not bookmark our guide to freezing tortillas, and come back for more information later?