Flour Tortillas

What Are Flour Tortillas?

Flour tortillas are thin, round flatbreads made primarily from wheat flour. The dough usually contains water, salt, and a type of fat, such as vegetable oil, butter, or shortening.

Their soft and flexible texture makes them easy to fold and roll around a wide variety of fillings. Flour tortillas are available in several sizes, from small taco tortillas to large tortillas designed for burritos and wraps.

Flour Tortillas vs. Corn Tortillas

Flour tortillas have a mild flavor and soft, stretchy texture. They are commonly used for burritos, wraps, quesadillas, fajitas, and soft tacos.

Corn tortillas are traditionally made with masa harina and have a more noticeable corn flavor. They are typically smaller and are popular for tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, and tortilla chips.

Flour tortillas usually contain gluten, while many traditional corn tortillas do not. Always check the package label when cooking for specific dietary needs.

How to Warm Flour Tortillas

Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and warm each tortilla briefly on both sides until soft and flexible. Avoid cooking it for too long, as it may become dry or crisp.

You can also wrap several tortillas in a slightly damp paper towel and microwave them for a short time. To use an oven, wrap the tortillas in foil and heat them until warm.

Keep warmed tortillas covered with a clean kitchen towel until serving so they stay soft.

How to Use Flour Tortillas in Recipes

Fill flour tortillas with chicken, beef, pork, eggs, beans, rice, cheese, vegetables, salsa, or avocado. Fold them into tacos, roll them into burritos, or cook them with cheese to make quesadillas.

Flour tortillas can also be used for breakfast wraps, pinwheels, enchiladas, tortilla pizzas, baked chips, dessert rolls, and layered casseroles.

How to Make Homemade Flour Tortillas

Homemade flour tortillas are prepared by mixing flour, salt, fat, and warm water into a soft dough. The dough is kneaded until smooth and then allowed to rest before being divided into portions.

Roll each portion into a thin circle and cook it briefly in a hot, dry skillet. Stack the cooked tortillas under a clean towel to keep them warm, soft, and flexible.

What Flavors Go Well With Flour Tortillas?

Flour tortillas pair well with chicken, beef, pork, eggs, beans, rice, cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers, avocado, and fresh herbs.

Seasonings such as cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic, oregano, and black pepper work especially well in savory tortilla recipes. For sweet dishes, combine flour tortillas with cinnamon, fruit, chocolate, cream cheese, or brown sugar.

Tips for Cooking With Flour Tortillas

• Warm tortillas before folding or rolling to help prevent tearing.
• Select smaller tortillas for tacos and larger tortillas for burritos or wraps.
• Avoid adding too much filling, which can make tortillas difficult to close.
• Place burritos and enchiladas seam-side down to help them remain rolled.
• Brush tortillas lightly with oil before baking them into chips.
• Keep warmed tortillas covered until ready to serve.

Easy Flour Tortilla Recipe Ideas

• Quesadillas: Fill tortillas with cheese, chicken, beans, or vegetables and cook until crisp.
• Burritos: Roll tortillas around rice, beans, protein, cheese, and salsa.
• Breakfast wraps: Add scrambled eggs, cheese, potatoes, and vegetables.
• Pinwheels: Spread tortillas with a creamy filling, roll them, and slice into rounds.
• Tortilla pizza: Add sauce, cheese, and toppings before baking until crisp.
• Sweet rolls: Fill tortillas with fruit, cinnamon sugar, chocolate, or cream cheese.

How to Store Flour Tortillas

Keep packaged flour tortillas tightly sealed and follow the storage directions on the label. After opening, refrigeration may help them remain fresh longer.

For longer storage, place parchment paper between the tortillas and transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. Thaw them in the refrigerator or warm them gently from frozen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can flour tortillas be frozen?

Yes. Separate the tortillas with parchment paper, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and remove as much excess air as possible before freezing.

How do you keep flour tortillas from cracking?

Warm them briefly before folding or rolling. Heating softens the tortillas and makes them more flexible.

Are flour tortillas gluten-free?

Traditional flour tortillas are made with wheat flour and contain gluten. For a gluten-free option, select tortillas specifically labeled or certified gluten-free.