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When I lived in Guadalajara, Mexico I could buy freshly made tortillas anytime I wanted. In one of my old neighborhoods, a tortilla vendor drove around a cart throughout the day, with a cooler full of still-warm fresh tortillas. After eating (many!) of those, I knew I was ruined for store-bought tortillas forever. That meant on thing: When I moved back to the United States, I was just going to have to make my own every time I wanted tacos. I bought the best tortilla press I could, a bag of masa harina and I never looked back.
If the idea of incorporating tortilla making into your Taco Tuesday or periodic quesadilla lunch seems excessive, I’m here to say it’s really not such a crazy project. A tortilla recipe from no less an authority that Patti Jinich takes all of 10 of 15 minutes. And if you’re a home cook just getting into making tortillas, worried about ingredients, don’t be. Most grocery stores carry Maseca, probably the most well-known brand of mass-produced, shelf-stable masa harina, but you can also get masa harina made with heirloom corn from online retailers like Masienda (it makes the best version I’ve been able to find in the U.S.), and many local vendors will sell you fresh masa that’s ready to be made into tortillas. With masa or masa harina in hand, all you need is water (if you’re starting with masa harina), a little salt, and a tortilla press. It’s all easy enough—but that last part deserves a little attention.
In terms of tortilla presses themselves they’re made from several materials. Though the majority of them are made from cast iron, there are stainless steel presses, aluminum presses, even wood tortilla presses (these last ones can break the bank, as a custom made wood tortilla press can cost as much as $600).
After making hundreds of tortillas I’ve come to the conclusion that the beautiful, mid-priced press from Masienda and Doña Rosa is the top of the class. You can read the full review here.
But there a few others I’d recommend too, including a budget, pre-seasoned cast iron tortilla press. For more on those, how I judged the tortilla presses, and the presses that struggled scroll further down.
Another great cast iron tortilla press: Victoria Tortilla Press HD 10-Inch
I was intrigued that Victoria offered two cast-iron presses at such different price levels. (This model is close $90 at the time of writing; the budget pick above is just under $20.) This press has a wider surface area, making it a bit more versatile, but at first glance, I couldn’t imagine what would justify it costing 4.5 times more than the standard Victoria tortilla press above. And then I used it.
The lever has a nice curve that fit so nicely in my hand that operating the tool was effortless: I felt like I could make a hundred tortillas before I’d start to feel fatigued. This model also has helper tabs built into the top for lifting the lid after you press the tortilla like the standard version. But this time, those tabs have nice rounded edges that are more pleasant to grip.
The cast iron is overall smoother and much easier to clean than the less expensive Victoria model. It’s also much, much prettier, with a sleeker, more streamlined design (and fewer nooks for masa to get stuck in).
And as mentioned above, the large surface area does indeed mean this press offers more versatility than the smaller models, which is great if you want to make big burrito-size, flour tortillas. It also means that it takes up more space.
Victoria Cast-Iron Tortilla Press HD 10-Inch
Best budget tortilla press: Victoria 8-Inch Cast-Iron Tortilla Press
This was the first tortilla press I ever bought for myself when I was first learning to make tortillas at home—and at under $30 at the time of publishing, I maintain that it’s the perfect budget press, even after stacking it up against a variety of competitors.
The top plate is nice and heavy-duty, turning a ball of masa into a flat tortilla swiftly and without much force. The handle has a smooth finish with just enough texture to allow for a solid grip. The top plate has two square tabs on either side for easy lifting once you’ve pressed your tortilla. (The tabs are large and easy to grip, which is great if you’ve got big hands like mine.) And this press is compact and easy to store—so if you have limited storage space this may actually be a better option than the Doña Rosa.
However, the slight amount of texture on the finish works against this press when it comes to cleaning. Totally dry masa can be wiped away with a cloth or even a pastry brush, but there are lots of nooks and crannies along the top plate, which tortilla dough tends to get stuck in. This means washing and scrubbing with water, drying completely with a cloth, and then rubbing a small amount of flaxseed oil (or other neutral oil) onto the whole thing to season as you would any cast-iron cookware. It comes pre-seasoned, but you’re going to have to keep that seasoning up.
If you take care to keep your workspace and hands clean as you’re making tortillas, this is a good little workhorse—and its utilitarian cast-iron design certainly looks the part.
Victoria 8-inch Cast Iron Tortilla Press
The Best Tortilla Presses
FAQ
Are wood tortilla press good?
How do you care for a wooden tortilla press?
Which is better aluminum or cast iron tortilla press?
Are all tortilla presses the same?
What is the best wood tortilla press?
Central Coast Woodworks Hardwood Tortilla Press is our favorite option because it performed exceptionally during testing with both corn and flour tortillas and is extremely easy to use. Plus, it’s also an aesthetically pleasing, well-designed tool. For a smaller, but incredibly versatile press, check out the Victoria 6.5″ Cast Iron Press.
Can eating tortilla help with weight loss?
Tortilla can be a good option for weight loss as long as it contains whole grains. As compared to white flour, it has way less fat and calories. It is also important which foods are in the inside; you must prefer lean meats, such as poultry or fish, and use many vegetables.
Does a wooden tortilla press come cheap?
While it doesn’t come cheap, it’s also handmade in California and would definitely become a talking piece in your kitchen. If a traditional wooden tortilla press is what you’re after, this is the one to get. This product is handmade and thus has limited stock.
What makes a good tortilla press?
A good tortilla press should be hefty with a sturdy handle. It should feature a wide pressing area (ideally square-shaped), and press even, round tortillas in one smooth, fluid motion. What we liked: This tortilla press had a nice, wide surface area—great for making tortillas of various sizes.