Can You Freeze Tortillas?

Wondering if you can freeze tortillas? Here’s how to preserve tortillas so you can enjoy them for months to come!

Got a bunch of tortillas and not sure you have time to use them? Storebought tortillas last about 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator. But if you’re like us, sometimes you’ll over-purchase and end up with a load that you don’t need. Does freezing these flatbreads work, or will they come out soggy and cracked? Here’s what to know.

Can you freeze tortillas?

Freezing tortillas works effectively to extend their life. In fact, tortillas hold up very well in the freezer and after thawing. You can freeze tortillas in their original packaging or place them in a freezer safe plastic bag. Tortillas can be frozen for up to 6 months, though like any frozen ingredients: the fresher the better.

Purchased tortillas last about 3 to 4 weeks refrigerated, and homemade tortillas last about 1 week refrigerated. If you don’t think you can use them in this timeframe, the freezer is a great option.

We weren’t sure if tortillas would work well frozen, especially since they can become soggy or cracked easily. But our stack worked like a charm! We froze it in the original packaging, covered in plastic wrap.

How to freeze tortillas

This method for how to freeze tortillas should work for both flour and corn tortillas. However, we find the corn tortillas can be brittle and crack easily, so we recommend only freezing flour tortillas. Here’s how to freeze tortillas:

1. Keep the tortillas in their original packaging, then wrap the package in foil or plastic wrap. Or, place the tortillas in a stack in a freezer safe plastic bag.
2. If using a plastic bag, remove extra air by sucking it out with a straw, then immediately seal the bag.
3. Label the bag with a “Use By” date 6 months in the future.
4. Freeze for up to 6 months.

Tips for thawing

Thaw tortillas by placing the package in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. You can also place the package out at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours, then place it in the refrigerator for storage.

Our biggest concern when we tested freezing tortillas: will they all stick together when they’re thawed? Luckily, this was not an issue. We placed the tortillas in the refrigerator overnight and they were thawed and ready to go when we checked them the next morning: no sticking or sogginess at all!

Ways to use tortillas

Want to use up stale tortillas in other ways? This is an age-old problem that’s spawned some delicious recipes. Here are a few other ways to use up tortillas that are starting to become hard and crusty:

• Tortilla chips: Bake them into tortilla chips (works best with corn tortillas)
• Tortilla strips: Make crispy tortilla strips for garnishing soups and salads
• Tortilla soup: Use them as a crunchy topping for black bean tortilla soup
• Enchiladas: Make a big pan of vegetarian enchiladas or sweet potato enchiladas (with large tortillas)
• Migas: Tex Mex migas are a great way to revive old tortillas

More freezing methods

And that’s it! Freezing tortillas is quick and simple, and works like a charm! All ingredients hold up differently in the freezer. Here are a few more methods to try:

• Freeze fruits and vegetables like broccoli, onions, carrots, celery, cabbage, green beans, eggplant, zucchini, corn, potatoes, avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, peaches, blueberries, pumpkin or bananas
• Learn how to freeze dairy products, like cheese, milk, sour cream, ricotta, yogurt, butter, cream cheese, cottage cheese and mozzarella
• Try freezing rice, guacamole or hummus

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