How Long Do Tortillas Last: 8 Awesome Tips And Exciting Recipes

Have you ever wondered why some brands say the you need to store the tortillas in the fridge immediately after purchase, when in fact, it was just sitting on a regular shelf at the grocery store when you bought it? Weird, huh? If you love making burritos and other delicious Mexican dishes like I do, then I am pretty sure that you have also been wondering, how long do tortillas last? Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s find out!

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The Different Types Of Tortillas And Their Expiration Dates

There are four common variations of tortillas: flour, corn, spinach, and whole wheat. Here’s a quick rundown of how long you can keep it unopened in the pantry, freezer, or refrigerator way past its printed ‘best before’ date.

Flour Tortilla

Flour tortilla is the most common one you’ll find in the market. It is usually safe to eat even a week past its expiration date if you kept it in the pantry and about 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator, but if you stored it in the freezer, it can last up to 6-8 months.

Corn Tortilla

Other people prefer corn tortilla over a flour-based because of its flavor and shelf-life. You can leave it unopen in the pantry for up to 10 days and refrigerator for 6 to 8 weeks. If you want to preserve it longer, say 6 to 8 months, keep it in a freezer.

Spinach Tortilla

Spinach tortilla can be stored in the cupboard for about a week more past its expiration date and 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge. But if you kept it in a freezer, it is still safe to eat for another 6 to 8 months.

Whole Wheat Tortilla

Conscious about your health? Try whole wheat tortilla. It can last up to a week in the pantry, 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator, and 6 to 8 months in the freezer.

But if you make your own tortilla, it won’t last as much as a store-bought one: 2-3 days in the pantry, 5-7 days in the refrigerator, and 1-2 months in the freezer.

How Can You Tell If Your Tortillas Have Gone Bad?

Your senses are your best shot at knowing whether your tortilla has gone bad or not…yet.The very first thing to do is to look for molds – olive green spots, all over the tortilla just like these sample photos below. When you see even a tiny bit, then it means that it is no longer safe for consumption. Discard it right away!

Via Bullfax.com

No traces of molds? Good! Next, take a pinch or try to bend and fold it. If it is no longer pliable, then it’s no good. You may have to throw it away.

It may not be safe to take a bite, so if you are still not sure, then try to smell it. Foul or sour odor indicates that you can’t eat it anymore.

How To Properly Store Your Tortillas To Prolong Its Shelf-life?

Before I tell you how you should store your tortillas, you must first know what kills them – air moisture due to temperature changes. Remember that molds love moist areas and they multiply fast.

This means that you should keep it in a clean dry place that will not be affected by sudden temperature fluctuations.When you already opened the plastic packaging, make sure that you seal it tightly or transfer it in an air-tight resealable bag.

Watch this video for additional tips and tricks:

How Long Can A Tortilla Dish Hold Up?

The rule of thumb here is that a tortilla dish can only last as long as the quickest ingredient to spoil. For example, you have tomatoes in it, then it will only probably last for a couple of hours on the counter and a whole day in the fridge.

You may visit the USDS website or download the FDA guidelines for other food safety concerns.

Homemade Tortilla

Yes, you can make your own tortilla at home to ensure its freshness and flavor. Here’s a great recipe for flour tortillas inspired by Allrecipe.com

What You’ll Need:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons lard
  • 1 ½ cups water

What To Do:

  • Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
  • Gradually add the lard into the mixture while continuously whisking it.
  • Once it forms like a cornmeal, gradually pour the water. Keep mixing until everything comes together.
  • Knead the dough until there are no more lumps.
  • Evenly divide it into 24 pieces. Roll each piece on your hands to form a ball.
  • Prepare a large non-stick pan over medium heat.
  • Start rolling out the dough flat until it is a quarter inch thick. Make it as round as possible.
  • Carefully put the flattened dough into the hot pan. Let it cook until you see bubbles forming. Flip and cook for another minute or two.
  • Do the same for the rest of the dough.
  • Let it cool down to room temperature before putting it in a resealable bag. Store it in the fridge for 2-3 days.

If you are interested to make your own corn, spinach, and whole wheat tortillas, then these cooking tutorial videos will surely be of great help.

Wrap It Up…

To wrap this whole thing up, here are some things you must consider to extend the shelf-life of your tortillas. It is undeniably delicious and it would be a waste of time and money, if you don’t know how to store it properly.

  • Before buying tortillas, check the expiration date first. Make sure it is not at least anywhere near a month from the date of your purchase.
  • Store it in a clean dry place where it won’t be affected by sudden drop or rise of temperature.
  • Flour tortillas may still be safe to eat few days beyond its ‘best before’ date as long as it is not as hard as a rock and doesn’t have molds in it.
  • Always remember that moist areas are great breeding grounds for molds so keep your tortillas away from them.
  • Once you have opened the packaging, make sure that you seal it tight after and keep it either in the fridge or freezer so it can last longer. You may also opt to transfer it in a resealable air-tight bag.
  • If you stored your tortillas in the freezer, let it thaw in the refrigerator for a couple of days first before using it in a dish.
  • For homemade tortillas, my tip is to make small batches to avoid waste and spoilage.
  • When you see molds lurking in your tortillas (even a tiny dot), don’t think twice, and just throw it away. Don’t and never compromise your health.

Homemade Tortillas

If you have any comment, question, or suggestion, leave it down below. I would love to hear from you. Hey, by the way, what’s your favorite tortilla dish?

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Sophia Gardner
 

I'm Sophia, food blogger, dog lover, homemade cooking and travel passion. I really hope you enjoy my blog, i'll do my best to share great recipes, healthy living tips and just general 'food' thoughts!

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