Homemade tortillas

SGH

EzraBrooks said:

I want to start making tortillas from scratch, anybody got a recommendation on a decent and inexpensive cast iron tortilla press?  

I have 2 very large and heavy cast iron presses. However they are not inexpensive. But to be honest, unless you are going to be cranking out a ton of tortillas they are not necessary. 

I also have a cheap cast aluminum press that I paid 3 American bucks for when I was working in Mexico. It does a fantastic job and is not near as difficult to move around and clean. I recommend something like it. Does not cost much and extremely easy to handle. I have had mine for the better part of 3 years and had no problems. At that price you ain’t out nothing if you have to buy one every month. Just some food for thought my friend. 

paqman

SGH said:

I also have a cheap cast aluminum press that I paid 3 American bucks for when I was working in Mexico.

@SGH You were stealing Mexican jobs? 😂🤣

SGH

paqman said:

SGH said:

I also have a cheap cast aluminum press that I paid 3 American bucks for when I was working in Mexico.

@SGH You were stealing Mexican jobs? 😂🤣

Actually I was stealing Canadian jobs. At the time I was a client/rep for TransCanada. 

On a separate note, I like the anus shout out 👍

SGH

Botch said:

 (the bag, and the videos I watched, all called for water, not fat), 

Brother Botch, the above is akin to a cake mix or cornbread mix you buy. Most will say use water. However when making a cake from a box it’s best to substitute milk in place of the recommended water. For cornbread use  milk or even better, use buttermilk instead of water as stated in the directions. 

My point is directions are not always the soundest source of info. It’s a general guide that usually can be improved on greatly. 

If you are buying masa harina to make corn tortillas, I highly recommend you cut in some lard. It’s a night and day difference in my opinion. 

Botch

SGH said:

Botch said:

 (the bag, and the videos I watched, all called for water, not fat), 

Brother Botch, the above is akin to a cake mix or cornbread mix you buy. Most will say use water. However when making a cake from a box it’s best to substitute milk in place of the recommended water. For cornbread use  milk or even better, use buttermilk instead of water as stated in the directions. 

My point is directions are not always the soundest source of info. It’s a general guide that usually can be improved on greatly. 

If you are buying masa harina to make corn tortillas, I highly recommend you cut in some lard. It’s a night and day difference in my opinion. 

Thanks for the info.  I have 3 dough balls left from the first batch; need to solve my pan temperature issue first (I think it just wasn't hot enough) before I start adjusting things.
I usually have bacon every morning, and pour the grease into a 28-oz can, so I have a supply at all times.  And I've always fried the store-bought corn tortillas in that same bacon fat; next-level enchiladas and huevos rancheros!  

RRP

I know…I SAID I KNOW…
probably 40+ years ago we were gifted an electric upside down thing for making crepes. You dip the hot side in some batter and then flip it back up and it cooks/bakes/whatever that stuff that got coated on the Teflon top. Seeing (and this is no lie):we have never even plugged it in! 

Now I wonder…could it be used to make these? 

See…I never throw out something that I just might be able to use later,   

SGH

RRP said:

Now I wonder…could it be used to make these? 

I’m not sure what the machine you have is. But they can be made on about anything that gets hot. I use a Lodge cast iron comal that I picked up on the cheap. I have also used an electric griddle with good results.
Give it a try and see how they turn out. I’m curious to see if that 40 year old apparatus still works 👍 

RRP

SGH said:

RRP said:

Now I wonder…could it be used to make these? 

I’m not sure what the machine you have is. But they can be made on about anything that gets hot. I use a Lodge cast iron comal that I picked up on the cheap. I have also used an electric griddle with good results.
Give it a try and see how they turn out. I’m curious to see if that 40 year old apparatus still works 👍 

Scottie…this thing is like having a very smooth dome bottomed pan so that it can be dipped after heating into a shallow dish with whatever batter.

now just why it wouldn’t work after all these years still being brand spanking new I wouldn’t know why not! 

NOW just to just find it! LOL

2BAMBAM4

Lots of great info on making tortillas.   Rather than the pan with sides you want to find a flat skillet.  This will allow you to give even pressure and when you flip to get your spatula all the way beneath the tortillas.