Tortillas are soft and thin sheets generally prepared with wheat or corn flour. Traditionally, only corn was used; in fact, their origin dates back to thousands of years ago, at the time of the Maya and the Aztecs. Nowadays they are a staple of cooking in many Latin American countries and are used to prepare dishes such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas and many others. When dry, cold, or stale, tortillas tend to harden and break, making them difficult to roll and fold properly. Heating tortillas before using them to make your favorite dishes allows you to make them fluffy and flexible again. For this operation, you can use the oven, hob, microwave or steamer without distinction.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Heat the Tortillas in the Oven
Step 1. Add some moisture
Arrange them individually on the countertop, then spray or brush them with a little water on both sides to moisten them slightly. Over time, tortillas tend to dry out because they lose moisture; restoring it to the right level allows you to make them soft again.
Step 2. Preheat the oven to 190 ° C
If you prefer, you can use a slightly lower temperature (180 ° C) and heat them a little longer.
Step 3. Stack the tortillas
Lay them on top of each other, five to eight, then wrap them in aluminum foil. If you want to heat more, create several groups.
Step 4. Warm them up
Bake them for about 10-15 minutes. If you have chosen to use a lower temperature, it is best to heat them for 15-20 minutes.
Part 2 of 6: in the pan
Step 1. First, moisten them
Alternatively, if you want them to lightly fry and become crisp, grease them on both sides with a small amount of oil or butter.
Step 2. Heat the pan
The ideal is to use a cast iron, non-stick one or a griddle. In any case, heat it using medium heat.
Step 3. Heat one tortilla at a time
Place one in the pan, then wait about 30 seconds. Now, turn it over using a spatula or a pair of kitchen tongs, then heat it on the second side for another 30 seconds or so. Repeat with each tortilla until all the ones you need are heated.
Part 3 of 6: Directly on the hob
Step 1. Wet the tortillas with a little water
This measure serves to keep them soft and moist, also preventing them from burning.
Step 2. Turn on the hob
This method works with both electric and gas hobs. In the first case, let the plate warm up for a minute or two.
Step 3. Heat one tortilla at a time
Place the first one directly on the stove or griddle, then let it heat up for 5-10 seconds before turning it over to the other side. Also heat the second side for another 5-10 seconds. Continue heating and turning the tortilla like this until it starts to swell or scorch slightly.
Part 4 of 6: in the Microwave
Step 1. Stack the tortillas
If you have decided to use the microwave, remember not to stack more than five tortillas at a time.
Step 2. Wrap them in a damp kitchen towel
You can use a clean cloth or, alternatively, some paper towels. Now transfer the wrapper to a dish suitable for use in the microwave.
Step 3. Warm them up
Turn the microwave on to maximum power, then heat the tortillas every 30 seconds each. After the first 30 seconds have passed, check to see if they are ready. If they need to be heated longer, turn them over and set another 30 second interval. Repeat until they are perfectly hot.
Part 5 of 6: with the Steam
Step 1. Prepare the steamer
Pour just over an inch of water into the bottom of the pot. If you have an electric steamer, pour in enough to reach the minimum level.
Step 2. Stack the tortillas
This method allows you to heat several at once. You can also place twelve tortillas on top of each other and then wrap them in a clean, thick napkin.
Step 3. Put them in the steamer
Heat them on high heat for a minute or two. When steam begins to escape from the bottom of the pot, remove it from the stove. If you are using an electric steamer, turn it off as soon as steam begins to escape from under the lid.
Step 4. Let them rest for 15 minutes before serving
Part 6 of 6: Keeping them warm
Step 1. Wrap them first in foil and then in a clean cloth
If you don't have a tortilla holder, you can manage to keep them warm for about fifteen minutes by wrapping them first in aluminum foil and then in a dish towel or napkin. If you didn't stack them before heating, do so now - you can stack up to eight on top of each other. If you stacked them without wrapping them, wrap them in foil, then wrap them in a kitchen towel.
Step 2. Place them in a tortilla holder
A tortilla holder is a container, generally in terracotta, with a round shape and a lid; serves to keep them warm for a long time. Some tortilla holders can be reheated in the traditional oven, in the microwave or in both.
You can also find plastic or ceramic tortilla holders. Some have lids decorated with Aztec designs. If you want to heat the tortillas directly in the container, chances are you will need to put a damp cloth on the bottom. Generally, you can stack about eight of them. Follow the instructions in the instruction manual carefully
Step 3. Use a fabric tortilla warmer
If you have a cloth tortilla warmer, you can put the tortillas in it and heat it directly in the microwave. Acting as a protective shell, it will keep the heat inside and absorb excess moisture keeping the tortillas warm and fluffy, but not mushy, even for over an hour.
