Where Can I Buy Instant Corn Masa
Instant corn masa can be purchased from commonly known grocery stores like Walmart or Aldis. The only problem is that its hard to find an organic instant corn masa, so I now purchase mine from Azure Standard where I purchase most all of my bulk food items. Azure Standard is a co-op that delivers groceries at a drop point every month. My towns drop point is very close to my house and I enjoy purchasing organic instant corn masa this way.
Can You Freeze Homemade Corn Tortillas
Yes! Our corn tortilla recipe is perfect for freezing. Press your tortillas, lightly cook them, then store them in a suitable freezer container.
We recommend using a ziplock, freezer bag, to keep in the most taste and flavor. You can freeze corn tortillas for up to 8 months if you have to, although they will start to lose their freshness by this point.
Corn tortillas thaw quickly, just by leaving them on the side. Once they have defrosted, you can reheat them in a pan or in the oven.
You May Like: Gluten Free At Jersey Mikeâs
The Real Coconut: Coconut Flour Tortillas
As I mentioned earlier, some of the Paleo tortillas that I tried were nearly inedible. The Real Coconut brand coconut flour tortillas are excellent. They do taste like coconut, so if you dont care for coconut at all, youll want to avoid these.
But somehow this brand is able to do with a tortilla what Siete havent done: make a flexible, good-tasting wrap out of coconut flour. The price is actually quite good but is likely higher if you buy it at Whole Foods since, well, its Whole Foods.
Here are the other details:
- Size of package: 7.6 ounces
- Price you should expect to pay: $4.99
- Fresh or frozen: Frozen
- Availability: Fair. Amazon.com doesnt carry these tortillas, but Netrition.com does and Ive found them in Whole Foods markets
- Ingredients: coconut flour, cassava starch, water, contains 2% or less of: sea salt, coconut oil, xanthan gum
- Shelf life/storage: The package recommends keeping the tortillas refrigerated, and says theyre suitable for freezing.
Also Check: What Crackers Are Gluten Free
How To Make Homemade Corn Tortillas
Making corn tortillas is as easy as playing with play dough, thats the consistency you want your dough to be. My husband is the pro tortilla maker in our family because he really enjoys making them.
Simply add 2 cups of corn masa to a mixing bowl, the chile lime seasoning if youd like, and roughly 1 cup warm water. Use a spoon or your hands to mix the ingredients together. If your dough is a little dry, add 1-2 Tablespoons of water at a time, until you get that play dough consistency. If youre dough is too watery, add a little more instant corn masa to the bowl. Its very hard to mess this recipe up because it can generally always be fixed.
Let the dough rest for at least 10 minutes, then you can start making tortillas. To make the tortillas, we need to have a tortilla press. Tortilla presses come in a range of sizes and prices. We started out with a small inexpensive one from , but as we developed our love for making tortillas we bought the creme de la creme of all tortillas presses! Its a beauty and something that we love using because we can make any size tortillas that we want.
Mission Gluten Free Flour Tortillas
Overall, these Mission brand are the best gluten free tortillas and my overall favorite for a number of reasons. Theyre relatively well-priced , are very flexible, widely available and have a mostly neutral flavor.
They do taste like potato , so my youngest child does not care for these tortillas. But all three of my children are snobbish about packaged foods. Theyd prefer that I make my own gluten free tortillas every. single. time.
Here are the other details:
- Size of package: 10.5 ounces
- Price you should expect to pay: About $5
- Fresh or frozen: Fresh
- Availability: Very good. My local grocery store , Target stores, Walmart stores
- Other common allergens: soy
- Ingredients: tortilla blend , water, vegetable shortening , pea protein, resistant corn starch, contains 2% or less of: sugar, inulin, baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monoglycerides, fumaric acid, enzymes, and calcium propionate, sorbic acid and citric acid
- Shelf life/storage: The package recommends refrigerating after opening, and the package has a stamped freshness date. Theyre not refrigerated in store. I refrigerate them immediately and find that they are still good at least a few days after the freshness date.
Read Also: Pure Encapsulations Gluten Dairy Digest
Are Corn Tortilla Chips Gluten
Since tortilla chips are made from corn tortillas, and these are most always gluten-free, we can confidently say that most tortilla chips are gluten-free.
Depending on what other flavorings are added or other ingredients are added to the chips, they may not be gluten-free.
Youll want to look for a gluten-free label, which indicates there is less than 20ppm of gluten in the product as required by the FDA, before purchasing.
Unfortunately, some tortilla chips do contain gluten, meaning you cant just grab a bag of chips off the shelf of the grocery store and assume they are gluten-free.
For example, the corn chips themselves in Doritos are gluten-free, but not all flavors of Doritos are safe for a gluten-free diet.
Some brands use both corn and wheat flour in their tortilla chip recipes, meaning they arent safe for a gluten-free diet.
Read on: Gluten-free chips
Rudis Gluten Free Tortillas
Rudis has two certified gluten-free tortillas: plain and spinach. Both of these tortillas are not only gluten-free but also dairy-free and nut-free!
You can usually find Rudis GF tortillas at health food stores like Sprouts Farmers Market. But by using Rudis product locator, you can also find these tortillas at select stores like Kroger & affiliates and Piggly Wiggly!
You May Like: Tgi Fridays Gluten Free Menu
Types Of Packaged Corn Tortillas
There are essentially two types of packaged corn tortillas. One is thin and flexible right out of the package. They’re relatively well-priced, widely available and have a mostly neutral flavor. The Guerrero, Chi-Chis, Mission, and La Banderita tortillas on this list fall into that category.
The other main category is thicker, tastes and smells more strongly of corn , and isn’t flexible until heated. The tortillas on this list that fall into this second category are Mi Rancho, La Tortilla Factory, Masienda Bodega, and Del Campo.
Del Campo has some unusual characteristics, though, which we will discuss below. This category of tortillas tends to be more expensive, however, as they’re less likely to be mass-produced and are typically made with fewer perservatives. Del Campo brand is super expensive, to be honest, but I really love them.
I’ve included 4 corn tortilla brands in each category. Each category of tortillas serves a different purpose, and I use them each regularly in my home.
La Tortilla Factory Organic Yellow Corn Tortillas
With La Tortilla Factory corn tortillas, we begin talking about our category. Like most of the others in this category, these are thicker, and not flexible until heated.
They do smell and taste heavenly, just like masa. In fact, La Tortilla Factory does have the most flavor of all of them. Theyre expensive, though, and not widely available.
I do think that these corn tortillas are truly the best substitute for freshly homemade corn tortillas. So theyre kind of hard to resist.
Here are the other details:
- Size of tortilla and package: 5-inch diameter tortillas, 8 tortillas per package
- Price you should expect to pay: $17.95 for 16 on Amazon .
- Shelf-stable, but refrigerate once opened.
- Availability: Poor. I can only seem to find them on Amazon.com, and the price is not good.
- Ingredients: water, stoneground organic yellow corn masa flour, organic guar gum, lime.
- Heating instructions: Microwave one at a time for 20 to 25 seconds or until warm. Heat one at a time in a medium-hot, ungreased skillet for 10 to 15 seconds per side until warm and soft.
Recommended Reading: Edible Fruit Arrangements Chicago
Don’t Miss: Are Ruffles Cheddar And Sour Cream Gluten Free
Are Corn Tortillas Healthy
Corn tortillas are generally considered to be healthier than flour tortillas. This is because theyre made with whole grains and dont contain any gluten. Whole grains are high in fiber, which is good for your heart and digestive health. They also tend to be lower in calories and fat than their refined counterparts.
While all tortillas are relatively low in calories, corn tortillas are typically lower in fat than flour tortillas. This is because the masa harina used to make them doesnt contain any additional fat, unlike wheat flour which often has added fats such as lard.
Corn tortillas also have a lower glycemic index than flour tortillas, meaning theyre less likely to cause spikes in blood sugar levels. So, if youre looking for a healthy option, corn tortillas are the way to go!
Just be sure to check the ingredient list on store-bought varieties, as some may contain unhealthy additives such as preservatives or added sugars.
What Isnt Included On The List
There were a few brands of tortillas that I purchased after reading very good online reviews, served to my children for taste-testing purposes and even ate multiple times myself. And they were absolutely awful. I just could not recommend them at all.
Those brands were mostly of the alternative variety, include Mikeys Paleo tortillas, Nuco Paleo coconut wraps, Wrawp organic veggie wraps. I will eat nearly anything, and I literally could not choke these down. All three of these brands smelled strange, and one had a very disturbing aftertaste that burned our mouths.
Food For Life brand brown rice wraps arent included in this list because theyre absolutely fine, but the Trader Joes brown rice tortillas seem to be largely the sameand for a lower price. Both are kind of an old-school gluten free tortilla/wrap since theyre relatively stiff and chewy, but serviceable.
I also didnt include Udis gluten free flour tortillas. I tried them years ago and they were terrible. I was going to give them another try, but cant find them anywhere. I wonder if they were discontinued?
Don’t Miss: Easy Gluten Free Dinners For Family
Rudis Gluten Free Bakery Plain Tortillas
Rudis gluten free flour tortillas are really good and dont have that potato taste like Mission. Theyre a bit more expensive than the Mission brand, though. Plus theyre harder to find, and only seem to be available frozen.
They keep for quite a while as frozen, though, are flexible and taste very neutral. They probably have the most conventional flour tortilla taste of all of the brands on this list.
Here are the other details:
- Size of package: 9 ounces
- Price you should expect to pay: about $6.00
- Fresh or frozen: Frozen
- Availability: Fair. My local grocery store , my local natural foods store. They used to be more widely available.
- Other common allergens: none
- Ingredients: whole grain flours , corn starch, tapioca flour, rice flour, water, canola oil, xanthan gum, cane sugar, organic maltodextrin and organic cultured dextrose, organic apple cider vinegar, guar gum, sea salt, baking powder , malic acid, yeast
- Shelf life/storage: The package recommends storing the tortillas in the freezer or refrigerator, and indicates that the package can be stored on the counter for up to 10 days. The package does have a freshness date, though, so Im not sure if that 10-day rule is always applicable.
Difference Between Corn Meal And Corn Masa
The difference between corn meal and instant corn masa is very great. You can not use corn meal to make tortillas. Corn meal is a coarse cut of corn, where instant corn masa actually takes the corn kernels and soaks, cooks, cools, then grinds into a fine flour consistency. Its a heavy process, but one we are thankful for because these corn tortillas are just delicious!
Read Also: How To Live Gluten Free
Whats The Difference Between Corn And Flour Tortillas
The main difference between corn and flour tortillas is the type of flour used. Flour tortillas are made from wheat flour, whereas corn tortillas are made of corn flour and masa harina.
Corn tortillas are typically smaller and thicker than flour tortillas, as well as being more fragile. They have a sweeter, more corn-like flavor, whereas flour tortillas are milder and more neutral in taste.
Corn tortillas are also more traditionally used in Mexican cuisine, while flour tortillas are more commonly associated with Tex-Mex dishes. However, both types of tortillas can be used in a variety of different ways.
What Isn’t Included In This List
Unlike when I reviewed the best packaged gluten free flour tortillas, none of the brands of corn tortillas that I tried in preparation of this best-of list were truly awful. Corn tortillas have been around for a long, long time, and have been perfected by many major brands. Many of those brands were likely always gluten free, and are just now advertising their product as gluten free to capture our attention.
One glaring omission from this list is Vista Hermosa brand corn tortillas. I have heard how great they are but had the hardest time locating them.
The Vista Hermosa website isn’t very helpful in locating individual products as opposed to stores that simply carry their brand . I finally contacted them through their website after searching at the two Whole Foods stores within driving distance.
Vista Hermosa was able to explain that their corn tortilla wrap products at Whole Foods are usually displayed separately, next to the avocados in the produce section. They even emailed me a photo of the display, so I know they’re there. If I purchase and try them, I will update this post with my review.
Read Also: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Bread
The Best Tortilla Press
This tortilla press has a story behind it. Debbie and I were in a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and we saw a woman making tortillas in a big huge wooden press. They came out perfect!
We searched high and low for a wooden tortilla press in Puerto Vallarta and eventually on the last day, Debbie and Mark found one! We were pretty surprised how hard it was to find.
I have tried those aluminum tortilla presses that are easy to find and for some reason they just dont work. Maybe I havent tried the right one, but anyways
This tortilla press rocks!
We realize that it might be tough for you to get to Mexico to get one for yourself, but we found a very similar wooden tortilla press on Amazon and it looks like it works just the same. We recommend getting one if you like to make homemade tortillas in your house.
How To Make Corn Tortillas
Corn is naturally a gluten free product. Gluten is only found in wheat products, not in corn. Thankfully, corn is a safe ingredient to use for those with gluten sensitivities. When my husband and I went gluten free we were very thankful to learn how easy it was to make our own homemade corn tortillas.
When you look at store bought corn tortillas there are so many ingredients listed on the package. Homemade tortillas only require 2 ingredients. Many people, however, add flour to their corn tortilla dough mixture to keep the tortillas from splitting after they have cooked. The gluten in the flour keeps the corn tortillas from splitting when you fold them. This is not a key ingredient though and 100% not necessary when making corn tortillas gluten free.
Recommended Reading: Gluten And Dairy Free Diet Shopping List
Is Corn Tortilla Gluten Free
Corn tortillas are a healthier alternative to flour. They provide more whole grains and have built-in portion control, as theyre typically smaller than the larger counterparts of this type which means you can enjoy them guilt free! With their gluten-free nature also comes many health benefits for those who cannot tolerate wheat or other allergens found in traditional flat breads such tacos .
Are Corn Tortilla Gluten Free
You may be surprised to learn that not all whole grains contain gluten. In fact, corn is a whole grain that is always naturally gluten-free. This means that corn tortillas are a great option for those following a gluten-free diet.
So, yes, corn tortillas are gluten free. You can enjoy them safe in the knowledge that they wont trigger any adverse reactions if youre celiac or have a gluten intolerance.
Just be careful to check the ingredients list on store-bought varieties, as some may contain gluten due to other added ingredients or cross contamination. If you want to be 100% sure, opt for fresh corn tortillas or make your own at home using masa harina, water, and salt. Enjoy!
Don’t Miss: Gluten Free And Keto Diet
Who Is This List For
I find that online reviews of gluten free packaged products are often written from the perspective of good, for gluten free. Theyre not comparing the product to its conventional counterpart, but rather to previous experiences with gluten free products.
This list is for anyone who eats gluten free and wants to avoid wasting money on products that arent simply good, for gluten free . Since I live and work in New York, in the U.S., the product availability that I discuss is from that perspective. If you live in a different part of this country or a different part of the world, please comment below and tell us your favorite brand of gluten free tortillas, and where you are able to purchase them for a reasonable price.
I purchased all of these tortillas with my own money. Nothing in this post is sponsored, these reviews are honest and forthright .
All of the products listed are gluten free, dairy free and egg free. Some contain soy, and one contains almonds. Two are Paleo, which means that theyre also gluten free, dairy free and soy free by definition. One is kind of strange, but its truly my favorite and I hope youll consider giving it a try. Youll know it when you see it!
