Store-bought tortillas typically come in bags containing way more than you actually need for a few tacos, so it’s easy to end up in a situation where you’re not able to eat all of them before they go bad.
Thankfully, both corn and flour tortillas freeze well, and when stored correctly they come out tasting fresh. Check out these tips for how to freeze tortillas, whether they’re store-bought or made from scratch.
How to Freeze Tortillas
If you have an unopened pack of tortillas you know you won’t use for a while, you can place it in the freezer straight from your grocery bag, no repackaging necessary. If you’ve already opened the packaging (or if you have a stack of homemade tortillas), move the tortillas to a freezer bag and make sure to press out as much air as possible before sealing it.
If you’re storing an already-opened package of corn tortillas, it’s worth noting that they might stick together once frozen. To avoid this, separate each tortilla with a stack of parchment paper before placing it in your freezer bag.
Flour tortillas, whether opened or not, don’t tend to have this same problem. You can add the parchment between each layer if you want to be extra cautious, but because they’re thicker than corn tortillas they can be pulled apart easier once they’re frozen.
Another thing to keep in mind is that homemade tortillas have to cool to room temperature before being placed in the freezer. If you store them right after they’re cooked, the steam will get trapped in the freezer bag and alter the texture and flavor of your tortillas once they’re thawed.
How Long Do Frozen Tortillas Last?
Corn and flour tortillas both last six to eight months in the freezer, regardless of whether they’re store-bought or homemade. Left frozen longer than this, they’ll likely develop freezer burn and lose their texture after being thawed.
Unstored tortillas typically last around a week left uncovered on the counter and a few weeks in the fridge, at which point they’ll become stale and lose their flavor.
How to Thaw and Reheat Frozen Tortillas
Since tortillas are notoriously thin, it doesn’t take long to bring them back to room temperature. You can leave them out on the counter for a few hours or move them to the fridge if you’re not in a rush.
Unlike most foods, you don’t actually need to wait for them to be fully thawed to start reheating them. As long as they’re thawed enough that they can be easily separated from one another, they can go directly into a hot skillet or griddle to finish warming all the way through.
Flour tortillas tend to reheat best on a dry skillet set to medium heat, flipping once until warm and lightly toasted. Corn tortillas dry out faster than flour tortillas, so to avoid this you can lightly moisten a couple of paper towels, wrap them around your tortillas, and microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds.
The steam from the water keeps them fresh instead of drying them out. If you’re reheating a large bath of homemade tortillas, it’s worth taking a bit more time to reheat them. Set your oven to 200°F, wrap the tortillas in foil, and let them be for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Then you can add your favorite fillings, such as black beans, meat queso, or salsa.