Can You Freeze Corn Tortillas? (How To Freeze Them Properly?)

When you can’t get through a whole pack of corn tortillas, you may like to freeze the leftovers. Or, you may want to stock up on them for when you crave Mexican food. But, can you freeze corn tortillas?

Yes, you can freeze corn tortillas. They stay fine for several months in the freezer. You can either store them separately or as a pack, depending on how you wish to use them later. Frozen tortillas will thaw in a few minutes when left on the countertop. You can also defrost them in the microwave.

Let’s talk about this in more detail now.

How To Keep Corn Tortillas Without Spoiling?

It’s always good to have corn tortillas at home.

You can use these versatile ingredients in wraps, enchiladas, quesadillas, and various Mexican-inspired dishes.

Buying and storing them in bulk will save you the trouble of going shopping for last-minute burritos or quesadillas.

The good thing is that store-bought corn tortillas keep well when stored properly.

They come with an expiry date on the packaging.

If you keep them at room temperature, you should use them by this date.

However, you can use your tortillas even after this date if you keep them in the refrigerator or freezer.

Refrigerated tortillas are safe for consumption for six to eight weeks.

They last even longer in the freezer.

Most corn tortillas can be used for six to eight months when stored in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Homemade Corn Tortillas?

If you make corn tortillas in bulk at home, you can store them for later use in the freezer.

Just like store-bought corn tortillas, homemade tortillas also hold up well if stored properly.

Fresh corn tortillas off the stove will be warm.

Wait till they cool down to transfer them into an airtight bag or container for freezing.

The rest of the freezing process remains the same, whether it’s store-bought or homemade corn tortillas.

Let’s find out how to do this.

How To Freeze Corn Tortillas?

Tortillas should be at room temperature before you put them in the freezer.

An additional requirement is to store them in an airtight freezer-safe bag to extend their life.

If your tortillas come in airtight bags and you haven’t opened them, you can directly put them in the freezer.

However, if the packaging isn’t airtight or freezer-safe, you should transfer them into suitable packaging to prevent freezer burn.

You should also use airtight freezer bags for homemade tortillas.

Depending on how you want to use them later, there are two ways to go about it.

1. Store them together.

If you intend to use the entire pack of tortillas, you can directly freeze it.

But, check if the packaging is freezer-safe. If it is, you can directly put it in the freezer.

However, if the packaging isn’t freezer-safe, you shouldn’t store it as such.

Moisture may enter the packaging and spoil the tortillas.

The cold freezer environment can also make the tortillas hard and spoil their texture.

The best way to store tortillas in the fridge is to place the entire tortilla packet inside a zip-top freezer-safe bag.

Remove any excess air from the packaging by pressing it down on all sides.

Then, lay the bag flat inside the freezer, and it will keep for months.

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2. Store each tortilla separately.

If you will not use all the tortillas at once, you can wrap them separately and store them.

This will make it easier to remove just as many as you need, without disturbing the rest.

To store them separately, remove all the corn tortillas from their packaging.

Use strips of parchment or wax paper between the tortillas to separate them.

Stack them back up and place them inside an airtight freezer bag.

Before sealing the bag, remove any excess air from the bag by pressing it on all sides.

Now, place the package flat inside the freezer.

Be very careful to lay the tortillas flat inside the freezer.

If they bunch up and stick together, it will be difficult to separate them later.

How Long Can You Freeze Corn Tortillas?

Store-bought corn tortillas will hold up for six to eight months in the freezer.

Homemade corn tortillas will also hold up for several months when stored properly.

Nevertheless, the lifespan of tortillas will depend on the preservatives in them and storage conditions.

Store-bought tortillas have preservatives that make them last.

So they will hold up longer than homemade tortillas.

However, you should use them up within six to eight months.

They will also become brittle and dry if left in the freezer for too long.

How To Defrost Corn Tortillas?

Individual corn tortillas will defrost within minutes when you take them out of the freezer and leave them on the countertop.

They will be ready to use by the time you assemble the rest of the ingredients for your Mexican wraps or enchiladas.

If you’re defrosting a whole stack, it may take longer to thaw.

It’s a good idea to allow one hour for the corn tortillas to thaw completely.

If you have trouble separating the tortillas from the stack, wrap the entire bunch in a paper towel and expose it to steam for a few seconds.

They will separate easily.

However, if you need only a few of them, it shouldn’t be a problem if you have separated them with wax or parchment paper.

Remove the required quantity by gently pulling them off the paper.

Leave them to thaw on the counter while you return the rest to the freezer.

Another way to defrost corn tortillas is in the refrigerator.

You can transfer the tortillas from the freezer to the refrigerator and let them thaw overnight.

The main advantage of this method is that the tortillas will thaw slowly and evenly.

Can You Freeze Corn Tortillas After Cooking?

Yes, you can freeze corn tortillas after cooking. However, wait till they cool down to room temperature.

If you pack corn tortillas before they cool down, they will condense inside the cover, and this can prove problematic.

The sudden temperature change and presence of moisture will affect food safety by encouraging the growth of germs.

However, once the tortillas reach room temperature, this ceases to be a problem.

Tightly wrap the tortillas in parchment paper or aluminum foil to retain their texture.

Can You Freeze Corn Tortilla Dough?

Yes, you can freeze corn tortilla dough and use them later to make tortillas.

To freeze the dough properly, prepare the dough and separate it into individual portions.

Roll each portion into a tight ball. Place all the balls on a tray, cover them, and freeze them.

Once the dough balls harden, take them out and individually wrap each of them in cling film.

You can then store all the balls together in an airtight freezer bag.

When it’s time to make the tortillas, remove as many balls as you want.

Allow them to thaw on the counter or in the refrigerator, and roll them out as usual.

You can also press corn tortilla dough into shape and store them between sheets of parchment in a freezer-safe bag for future use.

This will save you the trouble of rolling them out when you need them.

Can You Freeze Corn Tortilla Enchiladas?

Enchiladas are stuffed corn tortillas covered in a savory sauce and topped with grated cheese.

You can freeze both cooked and ready-to-cook enchiladas for future use.

They will keep their flavors and texture for several months when stored properly.

Uncooked enchiladas are a convenient and easy make-ahead meal.

To make it in advance, you can prepare the enchiladas with the filling and sauce in a deep dish.

To keep frozen enchiladas moist and tasting fresh, you may like to use more sauce and cheese than the recipe mentions.

Cover the entire dish tightly with plastic wrap.

Add a layer of aluminum foil on top to seal it well. Then, place it in the freezer.

When you wish to use the enchiladas, remove the dish from the freezer and take the plastic wrap off.

Cover and bake until it is thoroughly cooked.

If you prefer, you can also separate the enchiladas into individual portions and freeze them separately in airtight containers.

You can also freeze cooked enchiladas for later use.

After preparing the enchiladas, allow them to cool down completely.

Once they reach room temperature, transfer the enchiladas to a foil container or freezer-safe plastic container.

Leave enough space on all sides for the enchiladas to expand.

Cover it with an airtight lid, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil before placing it in the freezer.

The best way to defrost cooked enchiladas is to leave them in the refrigerator overnight to allow them to thaw evenly.

You can bake them in a pre-heated oven for at least twenty minutes after defrosting.

Cover the dish with foil paper or a lid while heating to make them moist and soft.

You can remove the covering for the last five minutes of baking to allow the cheese to brown and crisp up.

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Can You Freeze Corn Tortilla Chips?

Chips taste best when they are fresh and crunchy.

So it may not seem like a good idea to freeze corn tortilla chips.

You may imagine that they will turn soggy in the cold and humid environment of the freezer.

Interestingly, this isn’t the case!

Corn tortilla chips hold up well in the freezer. They stay fresh and don’t even lose their crunch when you freeze them.

By storing corn tortilla chips in the freezer, you don’t have to worry about them going stale.

You can use it as a garnish for soups and chilis when required.

To freeze them properly, transfer the chips from their original packaging into an airtight freezer-safe bag.

Remove the excess air by pressing the bag on all sides.

The chips are now ready to go in the freezer. They will keep well for several days.

To defrost the chips, take the bag out of the freezer and leave it on the countertop.

It will thaw in just a few minutes, and your chips will be ready to enjoy.