Imagine that you have a curled burrito filled with juicy meat, stuffed with mouthwatering fajitas and spicy grilled chicken, and garnished with fresh vegetables. Doesn’t it look so glorious? By just the thought of it, you can’t help your jaw to drop and saliva to crave for this perfect creation.
But this outstanding food porn wouldn’t be possible without the flat, thin, rounded slices of bread called tortillas. With it, you can take your food trip experience to cloud nine madness by maintaining its freshness when served.
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How To Store Tortillas
A Mexican Favorite
Made from flour or cornmeal, this Mexican favorite is not your ordinary thin flat rounded pieces of bread. They, which were regarded as little cakes, are so versatile that you can actually set them to different ways of cooking such as baked, grilled, and fried.
Or, if your hungry level reached its peak, you can actually eat them out immediately out of its pack. Tortilla sizes may range from small 6-inch across up to larger burrito of 14-inch in diameter!
How Long Do They Last?
Technically, they can last long for a week after their marked expiration date and for a month when you store them in the fridge. However, your ultimate Mexican favorite’s expiration is not just based on the date marked on its packages, but also on what they are made up of and how they are stored and processed.
Below are the weeks that an unopened tortilla can last after its printed expiration date:
Corn Tortilla
Via: yes-moreplease.com
What makes this type special is the huge amount of corn that it contains. Corn basically is considered as a whole grain. It is rich in fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals. This type is smaller compared to its flour counterpart due to the lesser calories that it contains.
So if you want to trim your unwanted calories down but you can’t resist on eating a burrito, then corn tortilla wrappers are best for you. In terms of the consumption duration, it can last long for 7-10 days in the pantry, 6-8 weeks in the fridge, and 6-8 months in the freezer.
Flour Tortilla
Via: thepioneerwoman.com
Though this type wins in terms of fat and protein content, it tends to add up on the fats that the meat and chicken provide in a burrito. Though most people think that flour tortillas are better with burritos, the health-conscious people prefer corn for balance. This type lasts for a week in the pantry, 3-4 weeks in the fridge, and 6-8 months in the freezer.
This is the most natural of all types because you are confident there were no preservatives added. And because no preservatives were incorporated in order for it to last long, this is the type that quickly spoils if you left it in the pantry. It only lasts for 2-3 days, whereas, 5-7 days if you put it in the fridge, and 6-8 months in the freezer.
Homemade Tortilla
Via: cdkitchen.com
This is the most natural type because no preservatives have been added.
As a result, it only lasts for 2-3 days if it left in the pantry, whereas, 5-7 days if you put it in the fridge, and 6-8 months in the freezer.
Spinach Tortilla
Via: forkandbeans.com
Rich in iron and vitamins A, C, and K, this tortilla definitely deserves the healthiest tortilla award. Because of its green-like color when prepared, it adds beauty to the entire appearance of the dish.
It may be called as spinach tortilla, but it never fully resembled its taste. However, it actually tastes bitter. But despite that, it still complements the rich taste of bread. It lasts for a week in the pantry, 3-4 weeks in the fridge, and 6-8 months in the freezer.
Whole Wheat Tortilla
Like corn, whole wheat is rich in fiber which is good for your gut. It lasts for a week in the pantry, 3-4 weeks in the fridge, and 6-8 months in the freezer.
How To Store Tortillas?
Because you can’t get enough of the tortilla’s tastiness, you tend to buy lots of it for extra supplies whenever you feel like your tummy is rumbling again. And because of these unused extras, you can just store them in your pantry. However, the storage process is quite tricky; you need to know the proper ways because chances are, your fresh tortilla will end up limp and stale immediately.
Due to the fact that you do not want to end your cloud nine experience, you should know how to properly store it. Hence, regardless of what type they belong to, here are ways on how to store tortillas:
Cool Dry Environment
Store the pack in a cool dry place that is not vulnerable to temperature changes. Cool to warm air changes may affect the moisture of the tortillas, allowing the air to condensate in the package. When moisture builds up, molds grow, thus spoiling your precious tortillas. Therefore, it is actually more advisable to refrigerate or freeze them instead of leaving them in the pantry.
Secure the following during refrigeration or freezing methods:
- Plastic storage bags.
- Freezer bags.
- Parchment paper/waxed paper (original).
- Cardboard rounds from cereal boxes.
Refrigeration
- Put the tortillas inside the storage bags and seal them tightly.
- Refrigerate depending on the kind of tortilla.
- Check the surface of the tortilla for any signs of spoilage.
Freezer
- Cut the cardboards with the size of the tortillas.
- Put the tortilla on top of a cardboard. You can use a parchment or waxed paper to separate the tortillas individually.
- Note: The cardboards maintain the shape of the tortillas during freezing, whereas, the parchment or waxed papers provide ease on removing the tortillas without breaking them.
- Seal in a freezer bag.
- Freeze them depending on the tortilla type.
Why Should You Store The Tortilla Properly?
Proper food storage does not just prevent you from acquiring foodborne diseases, but it also helps you to save money and eat healthier.
How To Tell If They Are Rotten Or Spoiled Already?
Food safety helps in preventing foodborne illnesses. Check whether your stored food is still good to be consumed.
Because you already know that you can consume the tortilla beyond its expiration date, it is best to know whether it is still safe for your gut.
- Use Your Senses. Even though your senses, especially your sense of smell, is not that reliable, you can still differentiate the smell of fresh tortillas from the spoiled ones. Basically, they don’t smell good.
- Not-so-good tortillas become stiffer through time. They become too pliable to eat.
- Molds are your major red flags. Throw your unused tortillas right away once you see molds on the surface.
Knowing how to properly store food will help you save money, conserve more food, and at the same time, prevent yourself from any foodborne illnesses. Tortillas are one of the greatest foods that the Mexicans have ever created. So to further enjoy such wonderful delicacy, better know how to make their consumption date last long.
Hopefully, you became more knowledgeable on how to store your tortillas and up to when do you need to throw them away. If you have any questions or suggestions on how to store tortillas, you can comment it here! We are willing to hear your thoughts!
