How to Defrost Tortillas - The Best Ways

Tortillas, a type of thin flat bread, are a staple in Mexican cuisine for foods like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and enchiladas.

Made with basic ingredients like flour, water, salt, and oil, you can easily make fresh tortillas at home or buy them ready-made at the grocery store.

While it’s true that tortillas taste best warm and fresh, sometimes you have to freeze them, like when you have leftovers and want to save them for later use.

Freezing the tortillas is not a problem. Thinking about it, freezing any type of food is quite easy and simple. It’s the defrosting part that you have to master to “revive” the food to its former glory.

So how do you defrost tortillas?  You can defrost tortillas in several ways: letting them sit and thaw in the fridge for at least 12 hours or overnight, putting them in the microwave, in the oven, or reheating them on the stove.

Read on for step-by-step instructions for defrosting tortillas, including corn, flour, and wheat, and much more!

What are the most common types of tortillas?

There are 3 main types of tortillas: corn, flour, and wheat. They are all prepared using the same method, but the type of flour used in each is what sets them apart.

Corn tortillas

Corn tortillas are a very thin type of unleavened flatbread made from corn or masa (a type of cornmeal).

They come in different colors and flavors depending on the type of corn used (white, yellow, or blue) and are usually smaller and firmer than the other varieties, contain no lard, and break more easily.

flour tortillas

Flour tortillas, or white flour tortillas, are made with plain white flour, water, salt, and butter. Some commercially produced varieties also include leavening agents, such as bicarbonate, and preservatives.

They have a neutral flavor and can easily be used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Often used to wrap and contain ingredients, such as in burritos and quesadillas, flour tortillas can handle a large amount of filling without breaking.

wheat tortillas

Wheat tortillas are the same as flour tortillas, except that they are made with whole wheat flour instead of white flour.

Considered the healthier version of flour tortillas, wheat tortillas are high in fiber and have a slightly darker appearance.

How to defrost tortillas

There are several ways to defrost the 3 types of tortillas (corn, flour and wheat), depending on the time you have and the method you prefer.

The following are the best methods for thawing frozen tortillas so they don’t lose their flavor, texture, and appearance:

in the fridge

It is one of the safest and simplest methods, although it requires a lot of time, to defrost tortillas; Here are the step-by-step instructions for you to follow:

• Place the frozen tortillas on the refrigerator shelf so they don’t stick together.
• Let them rest for 12 hours, preferably overnight.
• Once thawed, reheat or cook them on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave, as they will still be cold.

In the microwave

Defrosting tortillas in the microwave is the fastest method, taking barely a minute to do. Here are the step-by-step instructions for you to follow:

• Place 1 frozen tortilla in the microwave, wrapped in a damp towel to retain moisture. 
• Do not thaw them in a stack, as they will become soft and sticky, and the ones in the middle and bottom could absorb water from the ones on top.
• Turn the microwave to the “defrost” position and allow the tortilla to thaw for 30 seconds.
• Flip it halfway to make sure it’s hot on both sides.
• Check if it’s done. If not, microwave it for another 30 seconds.
• Do not microwave tortillas for more than 60 seconds, as they can easily become taffy.

In the oven

Although not the most common option, you can easily defrost tortillas in the oven. If you think about it, we cook a lot of frozen foods in the oven, so why not use it to defrost some corn, flour, and wheat tortillas?

Here are the step-by-step instructions for you to follow:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Arrange the tortillas on a foil-lined cookie sheet, making sure not to stack or overlap them.
• Let them heat up for about 15-20 minutes, or until they soften.
• You can leave them a little longer if you want them to be crunchy and break them into tortilla chip shapes.

in the stove

If you make tortillas at home, you will most likely cook them on the stove. Thawing them from frozen can take longer than cooking them fresh, but it works and is a great option.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for you to follow:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat. No need for oil.
• Place the tortilla in the pan, heating it for 20-30 seconds on each side.
• For corn tortillas, which tend to be stiffer and need drier heat, you can heat them over an open flame with tongs for a more authentic experience.
• Once done, set them aside to cool slightly and serve immediately.

What is the best method to defrost tortillas?

With so many options available, it all comes down to the method you prefer and the amount of time you have.

Tortillas are quite resistant foods by nature that do not alter too much with excess heat. In any case, some methods work better than others to provide you with higher quality thawed tortillas that are just as freshly cooked as, if not better.

If you have time, we recommend that you start by thawing the tortillas in the fridge overnight and then reheat them in the oven or on the stove.

However, if you’re short on time and can’t wait for the tortillas to thaw in the fridge, you can also reheat them from frozen. While this may not give you the best results, it is a quick fix.

Opt for the stovetop or oven; however, if time is a serious concern, we recommend using the microwave.

Microwaving would always be our last option though, as it’s so unforgiving and a few seconds too long can turn your tortillas from soft to rubbery.

Related questions

Now that you know the best ways to defrost different types of tortillas, here are some additional questions we thought you might have!

How long do the tortillas last?

Store-bought tortillas, if left in their unopened container, will last in the pantry at room temperature for a week after their expiration date. Once open, they will last less time.

Homemade tortillas, on the other hand, will only last 2-3 days in the kitchen cupboard, so it is advisable to store them in the fridge to prevent mold growth.

They can last about 10 days in the fridge if stored correctly. If they stay longer, they’ll start to degenerate and won’t taste as good.

To make them last longer, you can wrap and seal them properly and freeze them for around 6-8 months, although we recommend using them within 2 months for optimal quality.

What is the best way to freeze tortillas?

If you have flour or corn tortillas that you want to keep longer, it is best to freeze them. If done correctly, their texture and flavor will remain unaltered and you won’t even notice that they’ve been in the freezer for weeks.

It is important to make sure that the tortillas are well wrapped and sealed so that they are not exposed to air or moisture.

If you’re working with hot, freshly made tortillas, make sure they’ve cooled completely, either in the fridge or on the kitchen counter, before putting them in the freezer.

The reason this is so important is that the freezing process draws moisture out of hot tortillas, creating crystals and drying them out, resulting in dry tortillas with an unpleasant taste and texture.

Next, layer the tortillas, sandwiching a piece of aluminum foil, waxed paper, or plastic wrap.

This will prevent them from sticking together and will allow you to defrost them easily, removing only the ones you need at any given time.

The layers also help reduce frost that hardens the dough, making the tortillas chewy and rubbery.

Once the layers are laid out correctly, move on to wrapping them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.

Make sure the wrap is tight, leaving no gaps for air to enter. Next, place the wrapped tortillas in a freezer-safe bag, pressing to remove excess air before sealing.

Place the freezer-safe bag with the layered tortillas in the freezer , where they will crisp up when frozen. Be sure to freeze them flat so they retain their shape.