Looking to take your homemade Mexican dinners to the next level? It's time to invest in a tortilla press. According to Mexican-American chef and creator of the blog Lola's Cocina, Lola Wiarco Dweck, it's the key to getting flat, even tortillas at home. "I use a tortilla press quite often," she says. "It allows me to make perfectly round corn tortillas as well as some of the sweet toppings for some of my Mexican baked breads. A tortilla press offers precision in terms of shape and thickness that I have yet to perfect with a rolling pin."
Tortilla presses are wireless and heatless, and usually made from cast iron or wood. Check out Lola's favorite tortilla press, plus a few more that the internet loves. And while you're at it, take a peek at our recipes for homemade tortillas, quesadillas, empanadas, burritos, and all of the other fun foods you can make with your new tortilla press.
Lola's favorite press came from a market in Tlacolula, Oaxaca, Mexico—this the closet thing you can find in the United States to it. For a long time, Doña Rosa only sold these heavy-duty presses in Oaxaca's Central de Abastos. Now, luckily, Masienda sells these authentic, handcrafted tortilla presses online.
If you're new to making your tortillas, this simple-to-use (and easy-to-clean) tortilla press is a good place to start. Try following Lola's simple recipe. "Typically I cut two pieces of a plastic produce bag," the chef explains. "I place my dough ball on one, which is on the bottom part of the tortilla press, then I cover it with the other piece of plastic. This prevents the tortilla from sticking to the actual press. Then after pressing the ball into a flat, round tortilla, I carefully peel off my tortilla from the plastic before cooking it on a comal."
This tortilla press comes from the makers behind one of our favorite cast iron cookware sets. The reinforced hinges will avoid pinching, and the cast iron material means this press will last forever. Still not sure? Check out one of the thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon—people love this press.
It may not have the durability of cast iron, but these aluminum presses are light, easy to use, and even easier to store. Reviewers love how versatile this press is for it's price—one commenter says it makes great pita bread, too.
It's not uncommon to see wooden tortilla presses in Mexico—they work as great as they look. The sturdy oak and walnut will give you nice, flat tortillas, just like the popular metal version. This California-based woodshop specializes in creating tortilla presses; check out the collection on Etsy.
You can't forget about adding a barrier between the press and your tortilla, as Lola notes, otherwise the dough is prone to sticking. This Uno Casa press takes one step out of the equation for you: It comes with 100 pieces of parchment paper which will cover you for plenty of delicious meals.
If you're cooking for one, you probably don't need an electric tortilla maker. However, if you're feeding a crowd or you're a die-hard meal prepper, this electric press will definitely speed things up since it parcooks as it presses.
This heavy-duty cast iron press may seem like the other cast iron versions on the list, but if you're looking for a perfect option to make traditional corn tortillas, this is your choice. There are four options to choose from ranging from 6.5-inches to 10.4 inches and based off of the more than 2,500 ratings, it's a steal for the price.
You may not think of a tortilla press being lightweight, but if you've been dreaming of finding one that is, look no further. Not to mention, it's super affordable, too.
Trying to make a flour tortilla? Or testing out some keto friendly versions with cassava or coconut flour? This cast-iron beauty is just what you need. The heavier handle makes the tougher dough easier to press out and the size, 7.3 inches, is perfect for all your meal prepping needs.
If you are planning on pressing out a lot of tortillas in your free time, invest in a press that can sit on your counter, i.e. something that can get the job done and be a beautiful addition to your kitchen. This red cast iron selection does just that.
Katie BourqueAs an Editorial Fellow for Good Housekeeping, Katie covers health, beauty, home, and pop culture.
Ni'Kesia PannellContributing WriterNi'Kesia Pannell is an entrepreneur, multi-hyphenate freelance writer, and self-proclaimed Slurpee connoisseur that covers news and culture for The Kitchn.
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