Can you freeze tortillas? The short answer is yes. But we’ll show you how to properly freeze them to prolong shelf life and to maintain quality.
Maybe you’re like us and you like a good quality tortilla, but you don’t use them too often. Having leftover tortillas from your Mexican dinner can leave you wondering what to do with them. But there are options for storing them for later that won’t compromise quality, including freezing them.
How Do You Freeze Tortillas?
Here are some helpful tips that we’ve compiled to help give you the best results for freezing tortillas.
Store bought unopened in freezer. If you’re freezing store bought tortillas, you can leave them unopened in their original store packaging. The only exception to this would be if you’re concerned about them sticking together, you should place parchment paper between the layers.
Homemade allow them to cool. When freezing homemade tortillas, you’ll want to let them cool completely before putting them in the freezer.
Use parchment paper or waxed paper. Parchment paper or waxed paper placed between the layers helps to keep them from sticking together when they freeze.
Wrap in foil. To add an extra layer of protection from freezer burn, you can wrap your bundle of tortillas in foil before placing them in the freezer bag.
Use freezer safe sealable bag. For the best results, use a freezer safe sealable bag and remove all the air. If you have access to a vacuum sealer, those can come in handy.
Cool in fridge first. Allow the tortillas to fully cool in the refrigerator first before transferring them to the freezer. This will help to eliminate moisture which creates ice crystals when frozen. Allowing your tortillas to cool first is especially helpful if you’re making homemade tortillas.
How to Freeze Tortillas
Here are our step-by-step instructions for how to successfully freeze tortillas. This assumes that your tortillas are already cooled.
Step 1: Separation
The first step in freezing tortillas is to separate them so they won’t stick together. You can cut sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper to place between each of the stacked tortillas.
Step 2: Arrangement
After you’ve separated the tortillas, you can arrange them by wrapping the whole stack in a layer of aluminum foil. And then place them inside a zipped freezer bag, removing the air from the bag.
Step 3: Label
Use a sharpie marker to date a label the freezer packaging.
Step 4: Freeze!
Find a flat spot in your freezer to place the freezer ready tortillas. They will take on the shape of wherever they’re laid. Frozen tortillas will last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How do you thaw frozen tortillas?
Now that you know how to freeze tortillas, how do you thaw them when you’re ready to use them?
How to thaw frozen tortillas or how to defrost frozen tortillas is really quite simple. If you have time to plan ahead, you can thaw them is in the refrigerator, but if you don’t you can simply thaw them at room temperature. Here’s how.
Overnight in refrigerator. Transfer your packaged tortillas from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before. Leave them sealed airtight to keep them from drying out.
Room temperature. Unpackage and unstack your tortillas and place them on the counter at room temperature and they will thaw in about 5 minutes.
How long do tortillas last in the fridge and freezer?
Following are the average amounts of time that tortillas last in the refrigerator and freezer.
Fridge. Tortillas can last in the refrigerator about 10 days if sealed in store packaging or an airtight container.
Freezer. Tortillas can last in the freezer for up to 6 months without compromising quality, if packaged properly.
Can you freeze flour tortillas?
Yes, flour tortillas can be frozen. Just follow our instructions above for freezing flour tortillas.
Can you freeze corn tortillas?
Yes, corn tortillas can be frozen. Just follow our instructions above for how to freeze tortillas.
How long do tortillas last?
The length of time that tortillas last depend how they’re stored. If frozen, tortillas can last up to 6 months, and if refrigerated tortillas can last about 10 days.
How long can you freeze tortillas?
Tortillas can be frozen for up to 6 months if packaged properly, without compromising quality. See our instructions above for how to freeze tortillas.
Reheating Tortillas
For how to reheat tortillas, there are 4 main ways that we recommend. They are as follows:
Tortilla press. If you have access to a tortilla press, this is a great way to reheat a tortilla. Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the time and temperature at which to reheat the tortilla.
Griddle on stovetop. Place a little oil in the bottom of your favorite griddle to keep the tortilla from sticking to it. Then turn the heat on to medium. Add the tortilla and heat until desired. This provides a nice, browned tortilla that’s crispy if you cook it long enough.
Oven. For softer tortillas, wrap them in foil and place them in a 350F degree oven for 10 minutes to reheat them and freshen them up.
Microwave. If you’re in a hurry to reheat your tortillas, you can microwave them for 20 seconds to make them soft.
Tips and Tricks
Following are our helpful tips and tricks for how to freeze tortillas to give you the best success.
Only freeze and thaw once. We recommend that when freezing tortillas, you should only freeze and thaw them once. Otherwise, they will lose their quality.
Keep flat. When freezing corn or flour tortillas they will take on the shape that they obtain in the freezer. So, if they’re bent or all crumpled up, that’s what they’ll be like when you pull them out. To avoid this, just lay them flat in the freezer for the best results.
Place parchment paper between. Tortillas tend to want to bind together when they’re frozen. To avoid this, use sheets of parchment paper or wax paper to place in between the layers. This will keep them nice and separated when you want to peel them apart from one another to use them.
Use for enchiladas if ripped. If you happen to tear your tortilla wrap when unpackaging it from the freezer, they can be used perfectly for enchiladas anyway because they’ll be covered up with sauce.
Why should you freeze tortillas/wraps?
There are three main reasons that you might like to freeze tortillas. We’ve outlined those below.
Save money. Freezing leftover or extra tortillas will save you money. Though tortillas and wraps aren’t typically too expensive, you can save money by lengthening the shelf life of your tortillas and freezing them to use later. Then you won’t have to buy new ones every time you need a tortilla or two.
Save time. By freezing tortillas, you can save time from having to make them every time you want them or from having to run out to the store. Tortillas, whether corn or flour, typically freeze well when using the proper method.
Not waste food. Let’s say you’ve planned a Mexican fiesta dinner, but you have leftover tortillas or wraps, and the tortillas are not something that you use very often. Freezing them will allow you to come back to them at a later time and use them when convenient.
How to Store Tortillas
To store tortillas you might choose to either refrigerate them or freeze them based on the timeframe you intend to use them next.
Refrigerator. If you plan to use tortillas within 7-10 days, you can store them in the refrigerator. After they cool, you can place them in a sealed plastic bag removing the air, or in an airtight storage container.
Store bought tortillas can be sealed unopened in the store packaging or resealed shut, with the air removed and placed directly in the refrigerator.
Freezer. If you’d prefer a longer shelf life for your tortillas, you can place them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just follow our instructions and method for how to freeze tortillas that we’ve outlined above.
Some basic instructions for how to store tortillas are as follows:
Allow to cool completely. If you’re making homemade tortillas, you’ll want to let them cool completely before freezing them or putting them in the refrigerator. This will allow the moisture to leave them which will improve their quality whether you’re refrigerating them or freezing them.
Reheat. After storing your tortillas, you might like to freshen them up a bit by reheating them for a few minutes. This will help to soften them up and make them nice and pliable.
Freeze uncooked tortillas. If you’ve already baked your tortilla or fried it as a burrito, taco, or other dish, chances are it won’t freeze well. Either you’ll need to eat it or throw it away. The best tortillas to freeze are ones that haven’t been cooked, fried, or baked as a part of a dish.
Frequently Asked Questions and Expert Tips
Following are frequently asked questions for can you freeze tortillas. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to answer it.
How long can you freeze tortillas?
Corn or flour tortillas can be frozen for up to 6 months if packaged properly and without compromising quality.
Do flour tortillas go bad?
Yes, flour tortillas can go bad, if they show signs of mold, turn hard, smell or taste bad, or show discoloration then your tortillas have likely gone bad and should be thrown away. Do not risk eating them.
Can you freeze whole wheat tortillas?
Yes, whole wheat tortillas can be frozen. Just follow our step-by-step instructions above for success.
Can you freeze store bought wraps?
Yes, store bought wraps can be frozen. You can keep them in the freezer for up to 6 months if stored properly. Follow our instructions outlined above for how to freeze tortilla wraps.
Can you freeze homemade tortillas?
Yes, homemade tortillas can be frozen to lengthen their shelf life. Just allow them to fully cool and wrap them properly before placing them in the freezer. We tell you how in our step-by-step instructions above.
What can I use defrosted tortillas for?
Defrosted tortillas can be used just as you would a fresh tortilla. You can use them for wraps, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, sandwiches, and more.
Can you freeze Mission flour tortillas?
Yes, Mission flour tortillas can be frozen using our step-by-step instructions outlined above for the best way to freeze flour tortillas. They will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months when using our method.
Can you freeze wraps?
Yes, flour or corn wraps can both be frozen for up to 6 months without. Compromising quality when they’re packaged properly.
Recipes to Use Up Your Frozen Tortillas
Amy’s Bean & Cheese Burrito Copycat Recipe
The Best Grilled Cheese Burrito Recipe
Taco Bell Cheese Roll-up Recipe
Easy Rolled Chicken Taco Recipe
Azteca Taco Salad Shell Recipe
Grilled Stuffed Nacho Taco Bell Copycat Recipe
Canned Tuna Fish Taco Recipe
Pollo Loco Tostada Salad Copycat Recipe
Slow Cooker Easy Chicken Fiesta Recipe
How to Freeze Tortillas
Equipment
- 1 gallon zipped freezer bag
- 1 parchment paper
- 1 aluminum foil
Ingredients
- flour or corn tortilla shells
Instructions
Step 1: Separation
- The first step in freezing tortillas is to separate them so they won’t stick together. You can cut sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper to place between each of the stacked tortillas.
Step 2: Arrangement
- After you’ve separated the tortillas, you can arrange them by wrapping the whole stack in a layer of aluminum foil. And then place them inside a zipped freezer bag, removing the air from the bag.
Step 3: Label
- Use a sharpie marker to date a label the freezer packaging.
Step 4: Freeze!
- Find a flat spot in your freezer to place the freezer ready tortillas. They will take on the shape of wherever they’re laid. Frozen tortillas will last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Notes
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