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    You are here: Home / Cooking Techniques / How to Use a Tortilla Press

    How to Use a Tortilla Press

    Douglas Cullen, This blog generates income via ads and affiliate links which earn us a small commission.

    Como Usar la Prensa Para Hacer Tortillas de Maíz

    Nothing beats a homemade corn tortilla. If you have never used a tortilla press (tortilla maker) before they’re simple to use and inexpensive. They are a great addition to your Mexican kitchen.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press

    Get a Tortilla Press

    Time to make some tortillas! Yeah…!

    First, You need some dough

    Obviously, you are going to need some tortilla dough called masa to make tortillas. The first option, make the dough. You can prepare it using corn flour for tortillas which you should be able to get at almost every supermarket. 

    Follow the directions on the package to prepare the dough. The second option, buy the dough. You can buy prepared dough at a local Mexican market. If you are really lucky, you might find masa prepared from ground corn, not corn flour.

    If you do have the opportunity to buy ground corn masa buy it. Your tortillas will have a hearty more traditional taste.

    Now you have some dough, Let’s get started

    Besides the dough and press, you will need 2 squares of waxed paper or plastic to keep your tortillas from sticking to the press.

    Most cooks in Mexico cut up plastic grocery bags for the plastic squares although I generally use waxed paper. 

    Cut 2 squares of waxed paper just large enough to cover the base plate of the press.

    Place 1 square of butcher paper on the base plate. On top of the butcher paper place one ball of dough the size of a golf ball.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 1

    Place the other square of butcher paper over the dough.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 2

    Lower the top plate onto the dough.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 3

    Get a Tortilla Press

    Firmly press down on the handle.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 4

    The tortilla after the first press.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 5

    Grab both sheets of butcher paper with the tortilla in between and flip it over.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 6

    Press the tortilla a second time. Notice how the tortilla has extended and is more evenly shaped.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 8

    Gently peel the tortilla away from the waxed paper. Your tortilla is now ready to cook.

    How to Use a Tortilla Press 9

    Get a Tortilla Press

    Cooking the Tortillas

    heat a comal or griddle to medium-hot. Place a tortilla on it and cook until it starts to lift.

    Corn Tortilla on Comal 1

    Flip the tortilla until it starts to lightly puff which indicates that it is fully cooked.

    Corn Tortilla on Comal 2

    The finished product. Keep fresh tortillas warm by wrapping them in a cloth towel or tortilla warmer.

    Homemade Corn Tortillas

    Provecho!

    More Mexican Cooking Techniques

    • How to Use a Molcajete
    • How to Roast and Clean Poblano Chiles
    • How to Use Mole Paste
    • How to Peel Jicama
    • How to Clean Cactus Fruit

    More Cooking Techniques

    • Peeling Jicama
      How to Peel Jicama
    • Authentic Mole Paste in Bowl
      How to Use Mole Paste
    • Roasting Poblano Chiles on the Stove
      How to Roast and Clean Poblano Chiles
    • Rustic Salsa Made in a Molcajete
      How to Use a Molcajete

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tom says

      September 21, 2023 at 1:58 pm

      Hi again, He didn’t mention, when you make corn tortilla dough, once hydrated, let it rest a minimum of ten minutes before trying to make tortillas. More skilled tortilla makers will make a whole bowl of balls ready to be pressed, and keep a damp cloth over the bowl. Regardless, keep a damp towel over your hydrated dough.
      Correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding is that the best flour is Masa Harina, made from hominy, which is corn treated with Lyme to dissolve the tough exterior husk, then dried, then ground.
      Also, using flour, or using ground corn. Isn’t ground grain called flour? Maybe he means grind your own flour. I don’t know of dried hominy, (the Lyme treated grain of corn), so you can buy cans of hydrated hominy, (available in the Mexican food aisle of any market), which you would dry, and then grind. Or would canned hominy be sub-standard? Maybe you would have to buy corn, treat it with Lyme, dry it, then grind it. I’ll just buy Masa Harina.

      Reply
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    Hola, I am Douglas. Let me share my love of Mexican Cuisine with you that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico.

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