Corn Tortillas (Perfect Puff, Masa Harina Brands, Skillet types)

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  • Опубликовано: 4 июн 2024
  • Corn Tortillas (Perfect Puff, Masa Harina Brands, Skillet types)
    00:00 Intro
    00:52 Masa Harina Brands
    02:49 Making the Dough with Maseca (and the basic recipe)
    05:42 Making the Dough with Bob’s Red Mill
    06:33 Pressing Tortillas
    08:01 Troubleshooting the Pressing step
    08:54 Cooking Tortillas
    13:02 Pan Materials
    14:17 Low to High Flip Variation
    14:39 Troubleshooting the Puff
    15:35 How to Prevent Sogginess and Storage Instructions
    16:44 Toasting Tortillas to Serve
    17:36 Practice Suggestion and Scaling the Recipe
    Affiliate Links (commission earned):
    Tortilla Press amzn.to/3M53SO9 (mine is 8 inches in diameter)
    Bob’s Red Mill Masa Harina amzn.to/3SmIzvB
    The tortilla press is generally cheaper to buy online, but masa harina is cheaper to buy in your local store.
    For about 16 tortillas:
    200g masa harina
    2.8g salt (1 tsp Diamond Crystal Kosher or 1/2 tsp Table salt)
    300g water for Maseca and White Masienda / 275g water for Bob’s Red Mill
    In a medium bowl, mix masa harina and salt with a big spoon or spatula. Heat the water to 140F (60C) and add to the bowl. Mix with a spoon until all the water is absorbed. Knead by hand for 2 minutes and check the texture. When you press a clean, dry finger into the dough, the finger should come away with only a faint residue. Add more water or masa harina as necessary.
    Rest the dough for 30 minutes covered with a damp, and thoroughly wrung out paper towel. Resting longer is fine as long as you use it the same day and keep the paper towel damp at all times. Divide into 28 gram portions and roll into balls. Portioning into balls and resting can be done in any order.
    Set a small teflon pan on medium-low heat and another pan on medium-high heat (this pan can be made out of any material, but ideally not teflon. Cast iron or carbon steel are the best.) Prepare a small bowl or pot with a lid and two pieces of paper towels to steam the tortillas after cooking. Cut 2 rectangular pieces of plastic from a gallon zip lock bag to fit your press. Work with 1 ball of dough at a time.
    1) press the ball of dough to the thickness of a quarter
    2) cook for 20 seconds on each side in the low heat pan (no color should develop)
    3) flip the tortilla into the high heat pan for 30-60 seconds on each side or just until it puffs and starts to color
    4) put it in a pot between towels and cover with a lid leaving a bit of a crack
    Let the tortillas rest in the covered pot for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, but keep them covered with paper towels. Crisp up in some fat (ideally lard) before serving. Use the same day and if storing for many hours, wrap them up after they cool completely.
    Support my channel
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Комментарии • 461

  • @ctsilva45
    @ctsilva45 7 месяцев назад +348

    Mexican home cook here. Your video is excellent and explains everything very well. Rick Bayless is the best English speaking resource for this. Here are some tips I have gathered in my tortilla making practice that hopefully are helpful
    1. I highly recommend resting the dough first and then portioning. That allows you to make any adjustments to water to the whole batch after resting. I always end up having to add at least some after the rest. It also allows me to test one tortilla in my press to ensure it doesn't stick to the plastic. Once I know the dough is good, I can portion the rest while the pan/grill is preheating.
    2. It is easier to leave the plastic as one sheet connected at one end like a book. That way you can peel one end off, lift everything up off of the press, invert the tortilla onto the palm of your other hand, and then peel the plastic off of the tortilla leaving it in your open palm. Plastic grocery bags also work great. You may have to test a few different kinds before you find the right one that won't stick
    3. Traditionally, a cast iron pan called a comal is used for tortillas. They have always produced superior tortillas for me but that may be all in my head as no one in my family would think of using anything else.
    4. Another Rick Bayless corn tortilla video skips the step where you flip the tortilla and cook the second side on the low heat pan - you simply lift the tortilla off of the low heat pan and flip it raw side down onto the hot pan. This technique works just as well in my opinion and saves time.
    5. You can simply press the entire tortilla flat with the bottom of the spatula once to get the puff. If you follow my step 4, you only need to press when flipping the low-heat cooked side of the tortilla (the side that was up as the raw side was cooking on the hot pan) over. (This technique is also from Rick Bayless)
    6. You will typically find two different grinds of masa harina: one that is for tamales which is labelled as such and one for tortillas which often isn't labelled as anything but "masa harina." The only difference is the coarseness of the grind. If you like your tortillas to be smoother, use the masa for tortillas. If you like them with a little more grit, use masa for tamales. They will taste the same. The difference will be in mouthfeel
    7. Most tortillas I have had do not have salt in them. The dough doesn't need it really. I sometimes make it with salt and sometimes without and I have a hard time telling the difference. The filling for the tortilla is often plenty salted enough that you don't notice anyway
    Also, a minor nitpick: the letter 'h' is silent in Spanish so it is pronounced 'ah-REE-na' not "HA-REE-na"
    Again, you do outstanding work. This video is wonderful. I am very happy to see my culture's food getting the analysis and explanation that you so thoughtfully give to every video you make

    • @helenrennie
      @helenrennie  7 месяцев назад +75

      Wow! This is the most helpful comment I've gotten in a long time. I love your idea of resting the dough and then making adjustments before portioning. I think I was making SO many tortillas while practicing that I got used to the exact amount of water that worked well for me, so there was no risk in portioning right away, but that's probably a risky thing to do.

    • @ctsilva45
      @ctsilva45 7 месяцев назад +34

      @@helenrennie I am honored that my comment has been deemed helpful enough to be pinned.

    • @GrantStreetGarden
      @GrantStreetGarden 7 месяцев назад +8

      Great video, it is so helpful, I have been making my own tortillas just recently, but they are inconsistent. ctsliva45, thank you for those details. I look forward to making my next batch of homemade tortillas!!

    • @julietuttle1608
      @julietuttle1608 7 месяцев назад +3

      Thank you for your helpful,info, too!

    • @iridescentdragonfly1839
      @iridescentdragonfly1839 7 месяцев назад +3

      Thank you for sharing all your wisdom.

  • @paulalarsen7697
    @paulalarsen7697 7 месяцев назад +48

    I grew up on the Mexican border and i still didn't know any of this. I always thought i was just no good at making tortillas. You've both inspired and motivated me to try again-- the right way.

    • @marlengood1972
      @marlengood1972 6 месяцев назад +1

      Well, she might be more lost than you.

    • @TheMarcopix
      @TheMarcopix 12 дней назад

      Same here. Just tried again yesterday and they came out pretty well this time. My big issue was not getting the dough moist enough. I watched another video yesterday and realized that the steam was making the dough puff and my dough was way too dry. Better results yesterday but I'll be trying these tips next time. Even if not 'perfect', they're much better than store bought.

  • @TheCatWitch63
    @TheCatWitch63 7 месяцев назад +26

    Don’t worry if you made too many tortillas. You can use the leftovers to make totopos for nachos, or strips for a sopa de tortilla, where you also need some stale tortillas for the soup, too. You can also make chilaquiles or pastel azteca with your leftover tortillas, or even use some to make tostadas or as one of your ingredients for a delicious mole.

    • @naughtyorgneiss
      @naughtyorgneiss 5 месяцев назад +1

      Any recipes for the nachos? That sounds amazing...

  • @darwinkius
    @darwinkius 7 месяцев назад +38

    I really appreciate the level of detail Helen provides in all her videos and this one is no exception

  • @WildWildPigeon
    @WildWildPigeon 7 месяцев назад +89

    I'm Polish and I have recently discovered a good old slavic flatbread called 'podpłomyk'. I prepare it a few times a week and it takes less than 10 minutes to make in total. To think that people used to eat that even a thousand years ago and the recipe still stands is incredible. I'd like to try the corn version too.

  • @addammadd
    @addammadd 7 месяцев назад +10

    I feel so lucky to live in the timeline where this lady is doing her thing.

  • @noelvelasco5223
    @noelvelasco5223 7 месяцев назад +8

    This is the most comprehensive tutorial I have seen on RUclips. I have spent a lot of time looking for techniques and instructions and this is the best one so far. This video addresses a lot of the issues I suspected I was running into but didn't understand why I was messing it up.

  • @gleann_cuilinn
    @gleann_cuilinn 7 месяцев назад +6

    Sometimes we also put lard in tortillas, when I used lard I just use a little bit less water to make up for it. You put it in at room temperature, soft but not melted.

  • @selewachm
    @selewachm 11 дней назад +1

    Excellent tutorial. I love making corn tortillas and watching them puff up. Way better than storebought ones imho. At first, I had concerns about Teflon outgassing then I found an article saying "Until 2013, Teflon was made with perfluorooctanoic acid (or PFOA), which was a cause for concern. Today’s Teflon coatings are free of PFOA. "

  • @mishikirita
    @mishikirita 7 месяцев назад +50

    Awww thank you Helen for saying hello!!! I’m honored! I’ve never used the two pan method, but I will definitely try it!! As always, your explanation was thorough and clear. It’s amazing to see indigenous women in Guatemala making tortillas by clapping their hands and cooking them in a big comal, but, for the rest of us, we need a little bit of help with the methods you take the time to research and practice!
    I don’t know if you tried freezing them but, after they’re cooled down, I put them in a freezer bag. They don’t stick to each other and we can get as many as we need out of the bag when we want. We warm them up a little bit in the microwave and finish them in a toaster over.
    Thank you for making this wonderful video (in time for Hispanic Heritage Month!)
    I can’t wait for the carnitas video! I’m sure they will be deliciosas!!!!

    • @samuraibat1916
      @samuraibat1916 7 месяцев назад +3

      You're the goat for getting Helen into doing this. Helen never fails to have useful information. LFG

    • @trackie1957
      @trackie1957 7 месяцев назад +4

      I learned how to make tortillas by slapping back and forth between my hands when I was twelve years old. I got fairly consistent puffing, too. Now that I’m in my late sixties, I can’t do it so I use the underside of a dinner plate to press them, followed with a rolling pin.
      As always, I learned something useful from Helen!

  • @rohanlg790
    @rohanlg790 7 месяцев назад +7

    I’m sure every single person who follows Helen and closely knows this is exactly why we all love you so much, your attention to detail surpasses pretty much any other RUclips channel in terms of cooking. I learned so much as you explain why and not just how.

  • @zachpw
    @zachpw 7 месяцев назад +25

    Nixtamalized corn is made with lime, not limestone. Limestone is made of calcium carbonate, and if you burn it above 900°C you get a very caustic “unslaked lime” (calcium oxide), and if you add that to water you get a less caustic “slaked lime” (calcium hydroxide), which is what you use to make masa.
    So it’s sort of made with limestone, but not really. It would be like saying soap is made with wood when it’s really made with ashes. It’s a chemically different material.

    • @gorhilda3516
      @gorhilda3516 7 месяцев назад +3

      Who invited the geek into the channel! 🫣🤣🤓🤓🤓🤓 Awesome! My Dad was a chemist (PharmD). Blew up the lab coat many times with his “experiments” while in college. I was just little but I remember him walking into the house exuberant and a bit crispy around the edges, as he shared the full details of his “test”. Sounded a lot like your explanation. 😆 Thanks for the memory.

    • @fennecbesixdouze1794
      @fennecbesixdouze1794 6 месяцев назад +1

      You don't have to use limestone at all to nixtamalize corn, boiling in any sufficiently alkaline solution will do. The native Americans mostly used wood ash (high in calcium carbonate).

    • @austinowens2061
      @austinowens2061 5 месяцев назад +5

      Having had the conversation about nixtamalized corn with many non-food-geeks, I can say with certainty that she said “limestone” to avoid listeners thinking she meant “lime” the fruit. I have to explain every time and have ended up saying something similar to what she did. The distinction between the fruit and the mineral is much more meaningful for most people than the distinction between two different but related minerals. Helpful for a comment, yes! So thanks for clarifying. But probably not going to be a part of your dinner table conversation when you tell someone you are serving them homemade tortillas.

    • @Leadership_matters
      @Leadership_matters 5 месяцев назад +3

      But if you go to the Mexican market, you need to ask for cal. Or else you might leave with green citrus.

  • @TheSuzberry
    @TheSuzberry 7 месяцев назад +9

    Tortillas are the best part of any meal. Fill with eggs and bacon for breakfast, chicken and your favorite style coleslaw for lunch.

  • @lbrowning2543
    @lbrowning2543 7 месяцев назад +4

    I love that you show how to make an assembly line!

  • @ghw7192
    @ghw7192 7 месяцев назад +7

    I mostly use tortillas, both flour and corn, instead of bread and have been using Bob's for years. A Mexican friend's grandmother swears that I am part Mexican. There are several very helpful hints in this video, but I really like the idea of using two pans! I have been using a very well seasoned cast iron skillet, but I also have carbon steel
    Thank you for this video and I will not tell my Mexican friend that my best hints came from my favorite Russian cook!

  • @lihchong2267
    @lihchong2267 7 месяцев назад +5

    I use waxed baking paper for the film. I used to get tearing when peeling. My workaround was to remove one paper, throw the tortilla onto the pan (like a pie to the face), then remove the second paper after a few seconds.

  • @dmitrireavis1729
    @dmitrireavis1729 7 месяцев назад +15

    I didn't want to cut up a plastic bag, so I used parchment paper. It worked great

    • @johnb2649
      @johnb2649 7 месяцев назад +1

      Agreed: I purchased 8 inch parchment rounds. They will hold together allowing me to prepare up to 18 tortillas. =Peace=

    • @kilroyscarnivalfl
      @kilroyscarnivalfl 7 месяцев назад +4

      I find that the tortillas stick to the plastic too much, but not parchment! Also I can put them on the parchment right in the skillet if they don’t want to separate, and let cook for a few seconds. The steam makes it easy to pull the parchment off.

    • @annchovy6
      @annchovy6 7 месяцев назад +4

      I like wax paper

    • @laurelwyckoff4111
      @laurelwyckoff4111 27 дней назад +1

      You can buy 8 inch parchment rounds. They fit perfectly in the press.

    • @TheMarcopix
      @TheMarcopix 12 дней назад

      Yes...parchment paper here too. Much easier to peel.

  • @dmar16
    @dmar16 7 месяцев назад +10

    Great video. One huge trick to help take tortilla out of plastic after pressing: 1. While still on the press, slowly pull top plastic off and then put plastic layer back on loosely; 2. Flip tortilla still with plastic on both sides and remove the second layer of plastic "slowly"; 3. Place tortilla (plastic free side) in hand and remove already loosened plastic side. Also another tip: I like plastic with print on it because it is a little firmer - the writing side is usually the last side I take off in this process.

    • @txgirla
      @txgirla 5 месяцев назад +1

      the plastic bags from inside cereal boxes are the best for this. They are also great for tenderizing meats with a meat hammer & dont tear.

  • @the_rzh
    @the_rzh 7 месяцев назад +6

    I've found that Bob's coarser grind requires a longer rest to fully hydrate. Getting the ratio right makes it the trickiest to get a good puff. Masienda is available at whole foods and Amazon now and is worth a try.
    The traditional method only involves two flips, side-A 20-30 seconds, Side-B 30-60 seconds, back to side-A for 30ish seconds. It's worth it to try and cook two or three simultaneously. If you're feeding a family and need 20-30 tortillas, it will take an hour to do it one at a time.

  • @11kwright
    @11kwright 7 месяцев назад +12

    This must be one of the most comprehensive guides on making tortillas. Showing the making of tortillas and illustrating very clearly with the different types of corn flours and trouble shooting help. It also shows how to well maintain the finish tortillas. It’s a treasure video on tortillas. This is very helpful indeed. Thank you 😊❤

  • @cepaasch
    @cepaasch 26 дней назад

    Helen, thank you for showing this segment on homemade tortillas!!! I make tacos pretty much every week and about once a month I make my own corn tortillas. Your video is a game changer!!! I did not know there was so much that could be done to a tortilla!!! I will be referencing your video for a long time. Mahalo!!!

  • @noeguacamole784
    @noeguacamole784 7 дней назад

    This was so well thought out and put together. You really broke the process down in a way that I feel like I really understand how to make better tortillas. For starters, mine always came out too dry, I never thought to let my dough rest and didn’t think to try cooking them on different heat settings and could never get mine to puff up. Thank you so much, I’m definitely gonna try this next time.

  • @buscandoando8843
    @buscandoando8843 6 дней назад

    I'm assuming you did not grow up eating or making tortillas, but the technicality of your video it's spot on, very good job!

  • @theguiltyone
    @theguiltyone 7 месяцев назад +2

    just like mom and grandma used to make... tip for for those of you with young kids, or kids at heart. take a soft cooked tortilla rub some butter (or your favorite fat) on one side, then sprinkle some salt, then roll the tortilla squeezing it tight in your hand so the tortilla shows your finger marks, then promptly give to your kid nice and warm. they will love it.
    !!

  • @cindyvibbert2078
    @cindyvibbert2078 7 месяцев назад +12

    ❤I can't believe how well this method works. I have tried and tried to make tortillas time after time with nothing but failure! It was very easy, and I had them all cooked in no time. Every single one puffed up like a pillow. THERE WASN'T EVEN ONE TORTILLA LEFT!
    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!❤

    • @helenrennie
      @helenrennie  7 месяцев назад +1

      great job :)

    • @cindyvibbert2078
      @cindyvibbert2078 6 месяцев назад

      I can now do everything in one pan 🎉
      AMAZING

  • @davidb5785
    @davidb5785 2 месяца назад +1

    Guided by Huntley Dent’s seminal cookbook, I’ve been making my own corn tortillas for over 35 years, but Helen’s two pan approach is new to me, and the two temperature pans will greatly speed up my process while enhancing the quality of the final product. I won’t be quite as fast as Helen because I like the rustic quality found in rolled tortillas and avoid using a tortilla press.

  • @billclancy4913
    @billclancy4913 19 часов назад

    Best corn tortilla making video ever!

  • @yomi001
    @yomi001 7 месяцев назад +3

    Awesome video, Helen! I love these in-depth guides with lots of troubleshooting information for every step.

  • @Intense_Realism
    @Intense_Realism 7 месяцев назад +3

    Thank you so much Helen for your detailed and simple tutorials ❤

  • @PhysicsGamer
    @PhysicsGamer 7 месяцев назад +3

    What a helpful video! I especially appreciate the troubleshooting segments covering common pitfalls.

  • @k3nn3h
    @k3nn3h 7 месяцев назад +1

    I've just started making my own tortillas, so this couldn't have come at a better time! Some great tips here; especially like the idea of the double-pan setup. Thanks for the video.

  • @majesea
    @majesea 7 месяцев назад +3

    The h is silent in Spanish … arina … great video

  • @jimseviltwin1
    @jimseviltwin1 7 месяцев назад +2

    A trick that I learned was to give the surface of each of the plastic sheets that the masa contacts a light spray of vegetable e.g. Pam . The flattened tortilla peals off easily.

  • @robertpierce8567
    @robertpierce8567 Месяц назад +1

    For over 30 yrs. I've been using 2 pans for making tortillas.
    I have 2 old cast iron tortilla presses,
    and sometimes I add cumin or chile powder to my masa mix BEFORE I add the water.😉😁🌮🌮🌮
    I too prefer the yellow masa over the white ......
    WAY more flavor!
    When they were little, my G-daughters called corn tortillas 'Little Pillows'.

  • @melodioushaste
    @melodioushaste 7 месяцев назад +1

    This is great. Thanks for the clear instructions. I've never done the low heat/high heat, but that's a great idea.

  • @rumbleinthekitchen_Amy
    @rumbleinthekitchen_Amy 7 месяцев назад +2

    Yes, a big thank you to n Carol. My kids just got me a tortilla press for my birthday. I haven't used it yet because I didn't know what recipe to try. Now I do!

  • @sallyjohnson2633
    @sallyjohnson2633 7 месяцев назад +1

    Thank you!!!! I’ve been searching for a really good corn tortilla recipe/tutorial for a long time. NOW I will make them! I am an accomplished and adventurous home cook and I love learning more from your excellent videos.

  • @hambone150
    @hambone150 7 месяцев назад +1

    Thank you so much for this video! I have been struggling forever to make good tortillas and this video was the trick. From the measurements to the methods everything in this video helped me make great tortillas and I can’t wait to make them again!

  • @sandraroberts1234
    @sandraroberts1234 4 месяца назад +1

    Delicious. Thank you. The Bob's Red Mill was really delicious. I used a different flour before.

  • @jayoftheabyss3197
    @jayoftheabyss3197 7 месяцев назад +1

    The way I steam my tortillas is to just wrap them up in clean kitchen towels in stacks of 15 or so, and just wait until the whole stack is about room temp (or still comfortably warm, if serving immediately). It traps in the steam but the capillary action of the fabric of the towels means no dealing with excess moisture. To counteract how the freshest tortillas will be on the top of the stack and will mostly be steaming directly into the towel... once I've got a stack done I just flip it upside down in the towel. It's very easy!
    I make some deadly carnitas, too, coincidentally! I use an immersion circulator and more or less just follow Kenji Lopez-Alt's directions, usually with just salt and pork shoulder. Then I crisp it under the oven's broiler on High. It's unbelievably delicious.

  • @DrValerie800
    @DrValerie800 7 месяцев назад +1

    Wow, great instructions; thank you! I've been holding off making tortillas because I really felt like I needed better instructions. Now, I'm ready...as soon as I get some masa harina.

  • @julietuttle1608
    @julietuttle1608 7 месяцев назад +3

    You are so easy to listen to and are the perfect speaker! So pleasant! I make corn tortillas as well, and you are giving me much more helpful info than I imagined! This is genius! I r3 entry tried the new King Arthur masa Harina and really love it, but I’m buying Bob’s next time because I love yellow corn and yiur look great! Thank you!
    You need your own cooking show!

  • @jonathangreen6163
    @jonathangreen6163 7 месяцев назад +1

    What a talent! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!

  • @esperanzacorona1977
    @esperanzacorona1977 7 месяцев назад +3

    Hello Helen, if using a dish towel to cover the already made tortillas be aware of the soap you used to wash those dish towels, since the perfumes can transfer to the tortilla itself....
    It is been said that if you make a tortilla and it puffs you are ready to marry lol... Mexican saying... bty eating a tortilla recently made with a piece of queso fresco and salsa on top makes the best experience while seating in front of a comal waiting for your taco... my grandmother used to give us the first tortillas of the batch just with salt and rollled up like a thin taco... best memories of abuela...
    Glad you did a video on tortillas, best regards Helen

  • @sylviacarlson3561
    @sylviacarlson3561 7 месяцев назад

    Helen, your video is the best on tortilla making I have every heard! Thank you thank you thank you!

  • @quintongpereira
    @quintongpereira 7 месяцев назад +6

    Fantastic video! Your level of detail is truly unmatched :)
    Small suggestion, a very light sprinkle of flour to the tortilla press or on the plastic helps prevents sticking and they come off easier.

  • @ig7157
    @ig7157 6 месяцев назад

    Thank you so much!!! I grew up eating home tortillas and was never figured out what I was doing wrong. This video did a great job at explaining it.

  • @myownspiritlevel
    @myownspiritlevel 5 месяцев назад +1

    We made these last night to go with Mexican pulled pork. OMG! They’re so much better than store bought tortillas! After my wife got the pressing right, they all puffed up like yours did. Thank you!

  • @HyperactiveNeuron
    @HyperactiveNeuron 7 месяцев назад +2

    Rick Bayless is definitely the man. His recipes and videos are fantastic.
    I love how you referenced Playdough consistency 😊

  • @laskatz3626
    @laskatz3626 7 месяцев назад +1

    Thanks for this corn tortilla video. I love making them. I’ll try your tips for better outcomes. ❤

  • @CelDez1
    @CelDez1 7 месяцев назад

    Thank you very much, Helen for a very comprehensive teaching. It will greatly improve my corn tortilla making and cooking.

  • @ClayThrower
    @ClayThrower 7 месяцев назад +3

    I've done this for years and just dealt with occasional "pancake" non-puffers and soggy steamed ones. Then, I didn't realize they need fried again to boost flavor, they were fine as they were. But yours look delicious so I'll try that! Love the slow and detailed approach to your cooking vids.

  • @Banannna228
    @Banannna228 6 месяцев назад

    Thank you for all the tips! My tortillas came out great! Im sold on the 2 pan method. And i LOVE Rick Bayless!

  • @Hugh_Hunt
    @Hugh_Hunt 3 месяца назад +1

    This is a great system and works great! You really get into a flow when using this method. I have now down this for two different sized tortillas (30g and 42g) and had to just adjust the temps of the pans. Noting that the smaller tortillas were more sensitive to temperature so to stop the pans eventually getting too hot and burning the tortillas, I would add in a tortilla skip to allow the pans to regain some heat again. Worked wonders!
    Also, I make my tortillas 2/3 corn and 1/3 flour. You get the corn taste with a bit of the flour chew!

  • @karilynn3535
    @karilynn3535 4 месяца назад

    EXCELLENT!!! Thank you! I've been making my own tortillas for years but never flawless. My aim now is to make them flawless with your help. Again, thank you.

  • @mjp8494
    @mjp8494 4 месяца назад

    Best instructions on corn tortillas. I've just recently started making them and have watched Rick Bayless. Not having a grill like his I used cast iron one at a time. I don't have a tortilla press but use my cast iron griddle to press them😊. They are starting to taste better with practice 😊

  • @JAAnastasi
    @JAAnastasi 6 месяцев назад +2

    Thank you for this excellent video! The two pan method helped me achieve the puff for the first time! For people who don’t have a tortilla press, pushing down on a Pyrex pie pan works and you get to see the tortilla form as the dough gets smushed (very satisfying). I really appreciated your quarter tip for determining the correct thickness. Thanks again for this awesome video!!

  • @gakker
    @gakker 7 месяцев назад +2

    Great video as always, Helen. Can't wait for the carnitas video! My thought on why pressing the spatula edge in the center can help them puff is that one side of the tortilla is generating steam more so than the other, but the pressure from that minimal amount of steam isn't enough to fully puff the whole tortilla. When you press the edge of the spatula in the center, you are "segmenting" the interior airspace from one large area into two separate areas. This means the steam that is being generated now has less area to expand, creating more pressure in that smaller space. It's that pressure which starts the puff and "breaks" through to the other side, filling the entire tortilla.

  • @virginiasimer4171
    @virginiasimer4171 7 месяцев назад

    You have a wonderful and gentle way of teaching. Thank you so much.

  • @nikiTricoteuse
    @nikiTricoteuse 7 месяцев назад +1

    What a fantastic tutorial. Thank you so much.

  • @violetavenue8990
    @violetavenue8990 7 месяцев назад +1

    Helen, this was an excellent tutorial. The ready made corn tortillas you buy at the market are very disappointing and I've tried just about every brand. Also, the least amount you can buy is 30 tortillas. I've been wanting to make my own tortillas for a long time and this tutorial did the trick; the fact that I can quarter the recipe sealed the deal. Great job.

  • @joennepease3655
    @joennepease3655 7 месяцев назад +1

    YES thank you 🙋🏽 I'm so happy for your sharing 🌺

  • @Aylover
    @Aylover 7 месяцев назад +2

    The H is silent. & it’s said like Arena but Ah instead of Uh. ❤️ u so cute! Don’t mean to be rude just happy to share knowledge with you like you share so much good stuff with us.

  • @carinrichardson
    @carinrichardson 7 месяцев назад

    This is a wonderfully made video with great tips and explanations. I am latina, and just haven't mastered this but with your tips I think I can. Thank you!

  • @swc2019
    @swc2019 7 месяцев назад +1

    Such an excellent explanation! Thank you so much!

  • @qualityassurance9523
    @qualityassurance9523 4 месяца назад

    your video is articulate your elocution is awesome and the video itself is absolutely a professional gem!
    I am grateful for the simple instructions with tips and techniques and no obnoxious music
    this post was a joy to watch
    Thank you so much for posting

  • @patrice1624
    @patrice1624 2 месяца назад

    Finally!!!! Found the right recipe. These turned out perfect. Thank you

  • @russmelgar5353
    @russmelgar5353 5 месяцев назад

    Helen thanks so much for all your instructions. Helped me to avoid tortilla disaster!

  • @Bevieevans8
    @Bevieevans8 5 месяцев назад

    What a brilliant, comprehensive video. Thank you 🙏🏻

  • @braddixon3338
    @braddixon3338 7 месяцев назад +1

    Thank you so much for your detailed notes and eval of various masa flours. Bob's is a local supplier for me, so maybe I'll try their stuff too. Right now I just have MaSeCa. I'll put your notes to a test and see what results I get.

  • @cindystrother7710
    @cindystrother7710 7 месяцев назад

    Thank YOU so much for putting your awesome recipe and directions in the description box so we can have it with your video

  • @Tom-kl9jf
    @Tom-kl9jf 7 месяцев назад +1

    I've been doing it slightly different to this, but I'm looking forward to trying your method. Thanks - it looks like a step up!
    I tend to use leftover tortillas the next day to make quesadillas, where I don't think that fresh texture matters so much.

  • @user-kc2yw4ti2y
    @user-kc2yw4ti2y 6 месяцев назад

    I’m very impressed, this was a comprehensive video. I’m fairly new to making corn tortillas at home but have it mastered pretty well and I still learned several things today. I can’t wait to try the two pan method to see if they turn out as tender as mine since I heard they become tougher with additional turning.

  • @shockalockabocka
    @shockalockabocka 7 месяцев назад +6

    Maseca makes “Maseca Antojitos” which is ground finer than the regular Maseca, and it’s supposed to be used for diff corn dough applications like sopes and empanadas, but I LOVE it for tortillas. The finer ground absorbs the water faster so you don’t have to do as much kneading and resting and they always puff.

  • @tonywilson1078
    @tonywilson1078 7 месяцев назад

    Thank you for this great video. I made tortillas last night, using King Arthur masa harina. I wasn’t happy with them, so I went looking for answers. I found your video, and I love how you go through the process step-by-step. I going to try it again tonight. Thanks again 😊

  • @chevypreps6417
    @chevypreps6417 Месяц назад

    Your videos are always very detailed leaving nothing out. Thank you.

  • @bigswangingballs23
    @bigswangingballs23 5 месяцев назад +1

    Great video. I got a tortilla press for xmas and after 3 failed batches, I found this video and the 4th batch was downright edible and the 5th batch was terrific.

  • @MR-sq2ut
    @MR-sq2ut 7 месяцев назад +1

    Amazing and detailed, as always. Thanks!

  • @homesteadonmain
    @homesteadonmain 5 месяцев назад

    Helen, thank you! My very favorite tortilla is corn, and I've been hesitant in trying to make my own. I will try them now, thank you!!!

  • @joelshaw5686
    @joelshaw5686 7 месяцев назад +1

    Keep going girl! You’re doing a great job. I love your commentary. Excellent show production too. 👍

  • @marioszlatinis7520
    @marioszlatinis7520 4 месяца назад

    Thank you for this incredible video, best I’ve seen on tortilla making so far!

  • @blockchainfork
    @blockchainfork 5 месяцев назад

    Your style of teaching is AWESOME!

  • @fostermoody
    @fostermoody 7 месяцев назад +2

    I found a good tip by accident a few months back: if your masa is old, your tortillas will be absolutely painful to make. Make sure you buy a bag of masa small enough that you'll use it up within a few months.

    • @kathleenstoin671
      @kathleenstoin671 7 месяцев назад

      You can also freeze it if you can't find small bags.

  • @melastrope598
    @melastrope598 3 месяца назад

    This video is so thorough and so much appreciated. I worked all day making tacos for the first time a while ago and my tortillas were such a disappointment. I spent so much time and effort on amazing fillings for them to be dragged down by my lack of tortilla technique. They didn't puff and were too thick and not pliable. I have put off trying again because I wanted to be sure I wouldn't screw up again. I definitely now know a lot more than I did before about making corn tortillas, and specifically why mine turned out less than stellar. On top of that you have a lovely speaking voice and you are delightful to learn from ❤

  • @margaretluna5285
    @margaretluna5285 6 месяцев назад +1

    It was already around 8 and I hadn't eaten dinner. I was very hungry and didn't want to make a full recipe of tortillas. I remembered your recipe and weighed out 20 g of Masa Harina (BTW in Spanish the "h" is silent) and 30 g of water to make one tortilla. Since I was so hyngry, I didn't let the dough rest, so it was too moist and tore when I took it off the plastic. It still puffed a little with your spatula pressing technique. Had a delicious meal of avocado, mashed beans, hydrated and sauteed TVP with a vegan butternut based cheese sauce. It was so yummy! Will make this small portion again since I live alone and prefer freshly made tortillas.

  • @pamw8102
    @pamw8102 7 месяцев назад +2

    Just made these from your recipe and they are perfect! I have made flour tortillas for ages, but never tried corn. Thank you so much!

    • @helenrennie
      @helenrennie  7 месяцев назад +1

      so glad you enjoyed them :)

  • @lucylight9463
    @lucylight9463 3 месяца назад

    Dear Helen, You are very thorough and definitely not boring. Very educational, totally enjoyed your video. I am really impressed. You are a natural.

  • @kathytegreene1562
    @kathytegreene1562 7 месяцев назад +1

    Thank you. You are an amazing teacher!

  • @cheryllamoureux4996
    @cheryllamoureux4996 5 месяцев назад

    What an awesome video! Thanks for such great instructions!

  • @noblemantis2494
    @noblemantis2494 6 месяцев назад

    I am so happy I found this video and this channel! I love you Helen Rennie!! I love you!

  • @helenjohnson7583
    @helenjohnson7583 7 месяцев назад +1

    Masienda also sells an heirloom red corn (for nixtamal) when they can stock it as well as the masa harina made from it. So they usually have the white and yellow but sometimes the blue and the red corn products.

  • @louieortega3378
    @louieortega3378 7 месяцев назад

    Thank you so much for your dedicated tortilla tutorial. This is perfect for me since I love great tasty homemade tortillas with all my home cooked meals. No more buying sitting random tortilla brands for me. 🤗❤️

  • @owencousins8271
    @owencousins8271 7 месяцев назад +1

    Amazingly detailed as always

  • @PCHERE
    @PCHERE 3 месяца назад

    Thank you so much for this video. So easy to follow and hit ALL the steps.

  • @tgchism
    @tgchism 7 месяцев назад

    Well done video! I can't wait to try it out! I also love that you used a scale!! Tried them and they were great!

  • @windflower5010
    @windflower5010 7 месяцев назад +1

    Excellent lesson. Thanks!

  • @AkashPatel-lo4cu
    @AkashPatel-lo4cu 7 месяцев назад +4

    My initial theory as to why pressing in the middle makes it puff in the middle. Pressing the middle down actually causes the side to go up. There is likely some cohesion in some parts of the tortilla, so when you press in the middle, it applies just enough effort for the air to win out nearer the sides. When that wins out, the momentum makes the whole thing puff up

  • @BrendanMcGinley
    @BrendanMcGinley 7 месяцев назад +1

    If you have a small silicone lid or baking mat, I've used this in lieu of plastic bags to great effect. It's nonstick and has a little more structure to peel away easier.

  • @MichiHenning
    @MichiHenning 7 месяцев назад +1

    Superb video and superb explanations, thank you!

  • @mrs.growdaddy4937
    @mrs.growdaddy4937 3 месяца назад

    Absolutely perfect video! I love how it's organized and answered ALL my questions! My next batch of tortillas are going to be sooooo much better! Liked and subscribed!