How Long Do Tortillas Last? Can They Go Bad?

You bought some tortillas then discover that they are more than what is needed. All you use is about one or two each time, and you find yourself wondering; do tortillas go bad? You can also find yourself in a situation where you bought some tortillas to make some homemade burritos, tacos, enchiladas or other Mexican cuisine that require the flat bread.

Although that recipe you used turned out very delicious, but you don’t eat tortillas every other day. Since these kinds of dishes need a lot of preparation time, you only prepare them during the weekend. As a result, you need to find the best way to store your tortillas for a long time.

You can continue reading this article to get more information on tortillas, their shelf life, storage and going bad.

How To Store Tortillas

Although majority of baked products such as baguettes and bread can simply be stored at room temperature, but tortillas are a little different.

Usually, unsealed tortillas have to be stored in the same conditions that they were being stored at while in the supermarket. If you got them from the refrigeration section, ensure that they are put in the fridge when you get home. If they were not refrigerated, then you can store them in a cool and dry area. The pantry or kitchen cabinet will work perfectly.

There are different kinds of tortillas that are produced in unique ways. Some produces include preservatives that make their produce shelf-stable. While others prefer to not use any preservatives where most of them are organic, but these products require refrigeration so that they can last longer. Due to this, its best that you follow the instructions given on the label.

Also, once the pack is unsealed, they should be stored in the same manner. Begin by wrapping the leftover tortillas tightly before storing them in the fridge. If their original pack is resealable, it okay to use it. If not, you can either wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic or transfer them to freezer bags.

Let’s now look on where leftover tortillas have to be stored. If you bought the refrigerated kind, they obviously need to be kept in the fridge. If you bought the unrefrigerated ones, then you’ll determine the storage method you want to use.

There are producers who recommend that you to refrigerate your tortillas once they are opened, while others don’t. Just like any other unopened package, it best to go with what the label recommends. When you’re not sure about the storage method, refrigerate your flatbread for a longer shelf life.

If you’re dealing with homemade tortillas, wrap them well before storing them in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Tortillas?

According to the general consensus at large, tortillas can be frozen. The exception only comes when the producer advises against it, then you don’t really need to do so. Though after freezing there might be a slight change in texture, but it normally isn’t a big deal.

When you want to freeze this Mexican delicacy, the most vital thing is to protect them from coming to contact with cold air in the fridge. This means that you have to wrap them properly. In most cases, the original packaging won’t do a good enough job, so you can use freezer bags or wrap them using aluminum foil.

Don’t forget to place a divider between every tortilla so they don’t get frozen together. Since they tend to freeze in huge clumps, separating them (even after they have thawed) becomes difficult.

How Long Do Tortillas Last?

Unrefrigerated tortillas normally come inclusive of a best-by date. This date is just an estimate of the length of time at which they can retain their quality. Of course, the quality will still be okay past the given date, but when they stay for longer, things become bad.

Once the package is unsealed and the leftovers are stored well, the tortillas should retain their fresh until the date provided om the label, or for a slightly longer time. If you unseal the pack after the best-by date has passed, either use all of them or freeze whatever remains if they are still good.

If the manufacturer doesn’t state that they need refrigeration after being opened, it’s still okay to store them in the fridge which will add for you at least 4 more weeks of shelf life.

Tortillas bought from the refrigeration section the storage method should remain the same. There’s normally a best-by date on the label and the product can remain fresh for up to a week after the date. The conditions remain the same after the package is opened.

If you want your tortillas to last for longer than just one week past the sell-by date, freeze them. Also, the sooner they are frozen, the better. If you want to achieve the best result, follow the guide on freezing we mentioned earlier.

Finally, homemade tortillas can retain their fresh state for at least one week when kept in the fridge. Though it all depends on the recipe you used, but one week is a good estimate. If you’re making your tortillas in bulk, put as much as you’ll need for the week in the fridge and freeze whatever remains.

Note that the periods given above are only estimated and they are meant to ensure best quality.

How to Tell If Tortillas Have Gone Bad

First begin by looking for all the typical signs that indicate spoilage like mold, discoloration, off smell or dark flecks on the surface. If you see any of them, throw the tortillas out. Chances are that you didn’t store them well and moisture got in them, or you stored them for longer than they needed to.

If neither of these signs are there and the tortillas haven’t been storage for very long, then they are safe for use. You can just warm them up first before eating them.

If you don’t know whether they are safe enough to be eaten, you can taste a very small piece before adding toppings on the tortillas. You wouldn’t want to end up with a curry wrap or burrito that was made with spoiled tortilla, making the entire thing inedible.

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