5 Tortilla Presses That’ll Make Your Tacos Perfect

Mexico’s tortillas hold as much food in a pantry as sliced bread…

…whether they are tacos, quesadillas, burritos, or wraps.

Corn, white flour, wheat flour, or a variety of alternative flours…

…can be used to make them. 

If you’ve ever eaten tacos with freshly made tortillas…

…you understand why you might want a tortilla press.

As opposed to the dry, easily broken packaged tortillas…

…you find at the supermarket, fresh tortillas are pliable…

…fragrant, and much more delicious.

“Fresh tortillas hold food so much better. They’re typically thicker and more fluffy, almost like a fresh flatbread versus something packaged”

Jocelyn Ramirez, owner of the Los Angeles-based catering business, Todo Verde

Pressing your own tortillas has benefits beyond flavor:

…You can decide how thick or thin they are. 

With your own press, you can also make flour tortillas for burritos…

and homemade flatbreads, such as chapati or roti.

Here’s Raj’s story as we move into the next section….

I never expected to use a tortilla press very often,

but now I’m hooked on these crazy tortillas!

In the past, I’ve used the bottom of a heavy pie plate,

which worked quite well but wasn’t great.

After contemplating getting a press for awhile, I finally bought one.

It is well worth the money, I would recommend it to my friends and family.

So here we go… 

How to Select the Right Tortilla Press

A tortilla press can elevate your cooking by giving you control…

…over how your tortillas are prepared, feel, and taste.

They can, however, differ widely in terms of construction quality…

…features, and overall value.

To find the right tortilla press, you need to know what features to look for.

The following factors should be taken into consideration. 

Key Features

A tortilla press has a simple yet effective design.

That’s why it’s remained the same for so long.

Despite having a simple design, each tortilla press has certain features…

…that make it stand out from others.

Each taco press has its own set of unique features that make it unique.  

Construction Material

Tortilla presses are usually made of hard, heat-resistant materials.

Hence, hot tortilla mix can be handled safely by the press…

…not cracking or breaking under pressure.

Making tortillas properly depends on what the press is made of. 

Tortilla presses are generally made of wood, cast iron, or cast aluminum.

Wood 

Wooden tortilla presses are usually larger…

…and lighter than their metal counterparts. 

When forming tortillas, a wood tortilla press is more sensitive…

…to temperature and pressure. Over time, wooden tortilla makers…

…are also likely to develop problems like warping or rusting joints.

Cast Aluminum 

Cast aluminum presses provide the strength…

…and durability of cast iron with a weight more like a wood press.

Cast aluminum is light and resistant to rusting.

Due to the lighter weight of aluminum presses…

…you will need to exert a little more effort when pressing tortillas.

Cast Iron 

Cast iron tortilla presses are heavier than wooden ones, but smaller.

A cast iron press can handle heat and pressure exceptionally well…

…making it a very reliable option.

It also requires less strength to press tortillas due to its added weight.

There are specific care instructions for cast iron, however.

The metal is also prone to rust, which can ruin a press if not handled properly.

Although cast iron presses seem difficult to maintain, they are actually easy to do.

Read on…

Weight

The weight of a tortilla press depends on its size…

…construction material, and design. 

Generally, cast iron presses are the heaviest…

…while wood and aluminum presses are much lighter, depending on their design.

As the heavier lid puts more pressure on the dough…

…heavy presses make pressing tortillas easier.

However, they can be difficult to move and store.

Size/Shape

To close a tortilla press, a lever is used to press the closing section…

…closed around the press area. In general, tortillas are round…

…but some have a square body that creates round tortillas.

The size of the pressing area determines the size of your tortillas. 

Also, the size of the press determines how much storage space you need.

Here’s the main thing… 

Our Top Picks for Tortilla Press

Here are some of the best tortilla presses available right now.

Let’s go through them one by one…

ARC USA 8-Inch Cast Iron Tortilla Press

Cast iron tortilla presses are popular, and for good reason.

Our recommendation is cast iron for the majority of home cooks.

Its heavyweight makes life easier.

It has a slightly larger plate than many other models…

…allowing you to make a bigger tortilla when your cravings are more burrito than taco.

To prevent rust and minimize food sticking to the surface…

…cast-iron cookware needs to be seasoned…

…and this one is pre-seasoned with organic flax oil…

…(one of the best oils for seasoning cast iron).

This makes cleaning and maintenance a breeze.

Pros:

• Durable
• Easy to use
• Comes in multiple sizes

Cons:

• Hand wash only
• Must be seasoned to prevent rust

Keep reading…

Victoria 6.5-inch Cast Iron Tortilla Press

The press is a bit smaller than some tortilla presses out there…

…but if you’re looking for smaller corn tortillas traditionally used in Mexico for tacos…

…that can work in your favor. As it comes seasoned with flax oil…

…it is ready-to-use, easy to clean, and generally low maintenance.

Victoria’s plates are specially designed to prevent dough…

…or stray fingers from being pinched, and an extra screw is included…

…in case the first one goes missing.

For those with a smaller kitchen, its slightly more compact size…

…makes it easier to store.

Pros:

• Perfect for tacos
• Easy to store
• Low maintenance
• Comes with an extra screw

Cons:

• Smaller than other models

Eleganceinlife 7.3-Inch Cast Iron Tortilla Press

Making cornbread from flour usually results in a softer dough…

…that is easier to shape. Because of its heavy cast-iron handle…

…this 7.3-inch press is good for making flour tortillas primarily.

You can get an even thickness with the design…

…especially when using flour dough, as it is well balanced.

Alternative flours can be even stiffer, but this press can handle them as well.

Making low-carb or paleo-compliant tortillas using coconut, almond, cassava…

…and other flours will find this model to be the right tool for the job. 

Pros:

• Easy to press
• Works with all flours
• Produces even thickness

Cons:

• Can be flimsy

Go on…

Central Coast Woodworks Hardwood Tortilla Press

Whether you’re making corn or flour tortillas…

…this press will have you rolling them up in no time.

Wooden presses are more traditional because in rural Mexico…

…it was easier to make a wooden press than one made from cast iron.

Handmade from solid red oak instead of the walnut…

…and red oak striped design pictured, this handmade press…

…comes from a shop in Santa Maria, California…

…and is treated with food-grade mineral oils and beeswax.

The long arm provides for the necessary leverage…

…to easily press even-thickness tortillas with a perfect roundness.

It looks quite different from the usual cast iron or aluminum models…

…due to its wooden construction.

This makes it a good candidate for countertop storage.

This is as much a sculptural decor item as it is a tortilla tool.

Pros:

• Attractive design
• High-quality build
• Works for flour and corn tortillas

Cons:

• Expensive

Verve Culture Tortilla Press

This eye-catching, fire engine red design may be the right choice…

…if you want great style and utility.

The powder-coated finish is durable and easy to clean.

The heavy cast iron press makes pressing tortillas easy.

As a tortilleria kit, this set includes a decorative napkin…

…for keeping tortillas warm until served…

…as well as a booklet with helpful tips and recipes.

This is a good reminder to use tortillas for more than tacos…

…including another Mexican classic, enchiladas.

Pros:

• Easy to clean
• Beautifully designed
• Produces tortillas easily

Cons:

• Paint can chip

Using a Tortilla Press

You’ll need to make a protective layer to keep the dough from adhering…

…to your tortilla press. This can be accomplished with parchment or waxed paper.

Cut a piece large enough to be folded in half on the opening press to create…

…the correct size protective layer. This is far easier to manage than two pieces…

…that may move around while you work. Place a golf ball-sized piece of dough…

…in the center of the press once your protecting covering is in place.

Make an indentation in the middle of the dough with your thumb….

This aids in spreading the dough out so that the center does not get thicker…

…than the edges. To flatten the tortilla, place the top of the press down…

…and fold the lever over. Unfold one side of the covering layer and turn out…

…the tortilla onto your hand once it has been pressed.

Cook according to your preferences…

If you’re concerned that your tortilla press isn’t getting enough usage…

…keep in mind that it can flatten anything. It comes in handy…

…when creating pita bread, individual pizzas, homemade dumplings…

…and a variety of other dishes. You may also fry your corn or flour tortillas…

…and make homemade tortilla chips once they’ve been made.

More tortilla chips in your life can’t be a bad thing!

Sum Up!

You can use tortilla presses for home cooking…

…if you like to make a variety of wrapped foods.

You have many options that can give you a high-quality experience. 

Each of the presses on our list offers something unique.

Making tortillas and other foods with them can be a fun and enjoyable experience.

Conclusion

The 8-inch ARC USA Tortilla Press is the best option for most home cooks…

…as it is durable and heavy enough to do a lot of the work for you.

For smaller corn tortillas, check out the 6.5-inch Victoria Tortilla Press…

…which is also easy to store due to its compact size. 

You should have all the information you need to select the perfect tortilla press…

…for your kitchen after reading our detailed reviews and comprehensive buying guide.  

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