- What are tortillas made of?
- Are tortillas vegan?
- Are tortillas gluten-free?
- Are tortillas healthy?
- How many tortillas can a diabetic eat?
- When do tortillas go bad?
- How to choose the right tortilla
- Which tortillas are best for tacos?
- Which tortillas are best for quesadillas?
- Which tortillas are best for burritos
- Wrap up (no pun intended)
Tortillas are important in any Mexican dish (at least mine anyway). From tacos to burritos, from enchiladas to chips, tortillas are a must!
The two most used tortillas are corn and flour tortillas. How do these two differ?
Well, that’s why I’m here! Corn tortillas are made with maseca which is a special type of corn flour treated with lime while flour tortillas are made from wheat flour, water, and other ingredients.
Both types of tortilla have different flavors and texture as well as different nutritional value. Check out everything you need to know about tortillas!
What Are Tortillas Made Of?
Ever wondered, ‘What are tortillas made of?’
Corn tortillas can be made traditionally with ground dried corn kernels or with maseca. On the other hand, flour tortillas typically contain wheat based dough.
The dough can be mixed with lard or vegetable oil for extra flavor. This gives both types of tortillas very different textures and tastes.
So when it comes time to decide which type of tortilla will suit your needs best – consider the flavors, texture, and use of the tortilla. Corn tortillas tend to be thinner while flour-based tortillas are thicker and more flexible.
Are Tortillas Vegan?
Well, it depends on the tortilla. Corn and flour tortillas can both be made in a vegan way, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind:
Let’s start with corn tortillas.
Remember that corn tortillas can be made with ground corn or Maseca? Well, both are naturally vegan, so if your corn tortilla is made like this then it’ll be perfectly fine with vegans.
However, many modern recipes add lard or other animal fats as an ingredient which would make them non-vegan friendly. So always check the ingredients list before buying!
Flour tortillas also come with their own set of considerations when it comes to veganism. Many commercial brands use animal fat instead of vegetable oil when making these wraps, so again make sure you look out for any animal products listed on the packaging.
At La Luz Tortilla Factory, we found that using animal fat gives the best flavor to our flour tortillas. So if you’re vegan, please ask for our corn tortillas!
So here’s what to watch out for:
- Check the ingredients list carefully before buying pre-made tortillas
- Look out for added animal fats in traditional recipes
- Use plant-based oils and flours when preparing your own at home
With those tips in mind, you should have no problem finding delicious vegan options that suit your taste buds perfectly!
Are Tortillas Gluten Free?
One of the first questions people ask about our tortillas is whether or not they’re gluten free. It’s a fair question considering many of us are either trying to avoid or limit our intake of gluten in order to stay healthy and fit.
Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free since they aren’t made with wheat flour. On the flip side, flour tortillas will almost always include some sort of wheat flour and therefore should be avoided by those looking for a completely gluten-free option.
Good news, La Luz corn tortillas are always gluten-free! Whereas our flour tortillas contain gluten. So if you’re on the lookout, please ask for corn!
TIP: You might also want to consider making your own homemade tortillas using only certified gluten-free flours – this way you can ensure there won’t be any traces of wheat hiding in your delicious meal!
Are Tortillas Healthy?
Let’s talk about the health benefits of eating tortillas! Everyone loves a good taco night!
Corn tortillas are low fat and have no cholesterol. They also have a decent amount of protein – up to six grams in every serving – which makes for a great post-workout meal. Plus, they contain essential vitamins like magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and B-vitamins too. Sounds healthy right?
But don’t forget that the type of tortilla makes all the difference. Flour tortillas are higher in calories because they use vegetable oils or animal fat for cooking them. They also contain higher protein, carb, and calcium than corn tortillas! So if you want a more fulfilling tortilla, flour will satisfy your hunger.
How Many Tortillas Can A Diabetic Eat?
Ah yes, the age-old question: how many tortillas can a diabetic eat? Well, it all depends on the individual’s specific dietary needs. But don’t worry – I’m here to help!
First of all, let’s look at what goes into making a tortilla. You’ve got your two main choices – corn and flour. Corn is generally lower in carbs than the flour variety, so if you’re looking for something with fewer calories and carbohydrates, then that might be a good option for you. On the other hand, if you want more flavor or texture from your meal, then go with flour!
However, when it comes to diabetes management, there are some things to keep in mind no matter which type of tortilla you choose. For starters, portion size matters – try not to overdo it! And secondly, watch out for added ingredients like cheese and butter – these tend to have higher amounts of fat and sodium which could potentially cause blood sugar spikes. So make sure you check labels before digging in!
In short: just because one type of tortilla may work better for someone else doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily work well for everyone – especially those living with diabetes. That being said, as long as you stay mindful of portion sizes and pay attention to nutrition labels while picking up different types of tortillas (corn or flour!), there should be plenty of delicious meals ahead without having to worry about blood sugar levels going haywire!
When Do Tortillas Go Bad?
We’ve all been there – you’re in the middle of making your burrito and suddenly realize that the tortilla has seen better days. So how can we tell if a tortilla is still good to use or not?
Luckily it’s pretty easy to spot! Generally speaking, corn tortillas last a lot longer than flour. At room temperature, corn tortillas won’t go bad until a week or two. However, depending how flour tortillas are made, they can range from three days to weeks.
La Luz flour tortillas are made fresh with no preservatives so they only have a shelf life of three days.
You can elongate the life of your tortillas if you place them in the refrigerator. Corn tortillas can last up to a month or even longer while our flour tortillas may last up to two weeks.
So before you chow down on some delicious homemade tacos, check on your tortillas first. If they look discolored, hard as a rock or have an unpleasant smell…it may be time for a trip to La Luz. No one wants old tortillas when you can get them fresh!
How To Choose The Right Tortilla
Choosing the right tortilla can be tricky, especially when there are so many different ways to use them! Let’s take a look at the texture of the tortillas:
Corn tortillas tend to have a slightly more earthy flavor and a firmer texture than their flour counterparts. They’re also smaller in size, making them ideal for tacos. Plus, let’s not forget that they’re gluten-free and vegan too!
On the other hand, flour tortillas offer an even softer texture with a flavorful taste. And if you like big things (don’t be nasty), then this tortilla is perfect!
Flour tortillas compliment many dishes, we believe it’s one of the best sides to serve with tamales!
So when should you pick one over the other? Well, it really just comes down to what you’re eating. Are you making something light? Are you making loaded tacos? What about quesadillas? Let’s take a look:
Which Tortillas Are Best For Tacos
Who doesn’t love tacos? But which tortilla is best for your tacos?
Corn tortillas run smaller and have a slightly sweet flavor. They tend to be more pliable so they’re great for rolling up your favorite filling in a tight package. Plus, if you want to go all-natural with your ingredients, corn tortillas are definitely the way to go!
Personally, I love using corn tortillas for barbacoa!
Flour tortillas also have their own benefits when it comes to making tacos. Although they may not be quite as tight as corn tortillas, they hold together better and stronger once filled with juicy ingredients like beans or salsa.
Flour tortillas can also come in jumbo sizes if you’re looking for a bigger bite or smaller sizes if you’re feeding a larger crowd.
At La Luz, we offer many sizes in our flour tortillas ranging from 4 inches to 7 inches!
Which Tortillas Are Best For Quesadillas
Alright, let’s get down to business: which tortillas are best for quesadillas?
If you’re looking to make the ultimate cheesy-filled delight then you’ll want something that holds up against all those melty deliciousness.
Let’s start with corn tortillas. Obviously, they’re smaller than flour. So you have two ways of making quesadillas:
First, you can fold the corn tortilla with cheese and heat up both sides but you run the risk of the tortilla breaking.
Alternatively, you can use two corn tortillas and put some cheese in the middle. Then toast both sides so you can avoid the breaking.
Flour tortillas on the other hand are much heartier. These bad boys will stand up against whatever filling you decide to stuff them with no problem at all. If you’re like me, I stuff my quesadillas with cheese, chicken, tomato, onion, jalapeno, and salsa!
You can check out my shredded chicken taco recipe which is basically a quesadilla, I don’t know why I called a taco… anyway!
So depending on what kind of quesadilla you’re going for, either one works out fine!
Which Tortillas Are Best For Burritos
When it comes to burritos, there’s no question: the best tortilla is flour.
First off, corn tortillas normally don’t come in anything bigger than 6 inches without adding some type of flour. Second of all, corn tortillas don’t hold up well when they’re stuffed with the goods. And finally, corn tortillas tend to burn easily when heated up. It’s a lot harder to wrap a burrito that’s crispy!
It’s best to use a tortilla that’s at least 10 inches, stays soft when heated, and can load up on a lot of food.
This is why flour tortillas are the best for burritos.
Over at La Luz, we have two sizes of burrito: 10-inches and 12-inches. Check out our full list of tortilla sizes!
Some of our clients use the 10-inch burrito for quesadillas and burritos. So it’s up to you to decide which size is best for burritos.
Wrap Up (No Pun Intended)
After weighing in all the pros and cons of each type of tortilla, it really comes down to your diet, personal preference, and the size of tortilla needed. Whether you go big and fluffy with flour or small and crispy with corn, you can get the best tortillas in San Antonio at La Luz Tortilla Factory!
We’ll be waiting for you!