Yahoo LifestyleThe 7 Best Tortilla Warmers, According To The Good Housekeeping Institute
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The 7 Best Tortilla Warmers, According To The Good Housekeeping Institute
There are two cardinal rules that every lover of Mexican cuisine should follow: Classifying Taco Bell or Del Taco as “real” Mexican food is a mortal sin. And you should always use a tortilla warmer, especially if you’re putting in the effort to make your own tortillas. Typically made from masa (a maize dough made from ground corn) or flour, the tortilla traces all the way back to the Aztec Empire and has cemented itself as one of the most popular types of flatbread in the world. Mexican restaurants usually cook their tortillas on a flat griddle called a comal. And after that? They put them right into a tortilla warmer.
Such is the case for Machete Taqueria in Redlands, CA, which is co-owned by Elia Rivera and her husband, Martin Rivera. Offering classic dishes like street tacos and golden-brown empanadas, one thing is for sure: This eatery knows their corn tortillas.
“What we do is we outsource the masa, and we roll it out on a tortilla machine from Mexico,” Rivera said. “There’s different settings on our machine that make different sizes—it kind of acts like a cookie cutter—and it cuts it into a perfect circle or oval. Then we place the cut tortillas on a hot, flat grill so the masa can be cooked through.” Given that Machete Taqueria puts such care into making their tortillas, it’s no surprise that the restaurant had a few tips for keeping them warm and soft until they’re ready to be served.
“We usually make our tortillas in the beginning of the day or the middle of the day, depending on how many customers we have,” explained Rivera. To ensure they stay fresh, “We place our cooked tortillas in a lightly damp, clean towel and we stack them up with each one wrapped in a towel inside of a canister. This keeps them warm and moist so they don’t get dry or cracked after sitting for a long time.”Should you notice your tortillas have cooled before you've gotten a chance to pop them in a warmer, it may be tempting to just nuke them in the microwave, but Rivera strongly advised against it: “Don’t do that—the way we keep them warm here, and how most people do it at home, is to place your tortillas on a hot grill and then you sprinkle water on top.”
“If someone’s really pressed for equipment, you’ll have to get a little creative for them to taste edible,” added Adria Squires, an associate at Machete Taqueria. “You can wrap your tortillas in a damp paper towel and then heat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds, depending on how many you have, but just know they won’t taste as good.”
But if you’d rather reheat your tortillas the proper way (and we strongly suggest you do), Rivera said the key is “Don’t dunk them in water. Just use enough to rehydrate them.” After all, the only thing worse than a dry, stale tortilla is a crumbling, soggy one.
It may be tempting to use a quick fix instead of a tortilla warmer, but the proof is in the pancakes (which can also be stored in a tortilla warmer to stay warm and fluffy). A dedicated warmer works better than just using the foil or hot towel method. And don’t just take our word for it: We turned to Nicole Papantoniou, the Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliances & Culinary Innovation Lab, for guidance on which warmers are the best.
“Foil doesn’t retain heat at all. It’ll stay warm for as long as your tortillas are warm, but it doesn’t offer any insulation to retain heat,” Papantoniou explained. “Hot towels are similar in that again, there isn’t any added insulation to retain that heat.” But don’t dump that roll of foil or throw in those towels just yet—there’s still a place for them!
These versatile and practical containers would benefit any kitchen, but they’re not all created equal. Read on for the best-reviewed and most-raved-about tortilla warmers. And if you want to take things to another level, you can pick up a quality tortilla press to make the best homemade flour tortillas, which you can use for a hearty tortilla omelet, an assortment of cheesy chicken tacos, and more.
Our top picks
- Best Tortilla Warmer: Nordic Ware Microwave Tortilla and Pancake Warmer
- Best Budget Tortilla Warmer: IMUSA USA Sunburst Cloth Tortilla Warmer
- Best Splurge Tortilla Warmer: Carlisle Lift Off Jumbo Tortilla Server
- Best Small Tortilla Warmer: Dexas Microwavable Tortilla Warmer
- Best Tortilla Warmer for Large Groups: Norpro Tortilla Pancake Keeper
- Best Ceramic Tortilla Warmer: Ceramic Tortilla Warmer by KooK
- Best Terracotta Tortilla Warmer: Fox Run Tortilla Warmer
How we picked these products
To find the best tortilla warmer, we turned to our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Their team of on-staff experts—which includes all types: engineers! data analysts! registered dietitians!—rigorously put everyday products to the test (and then more and more tests) in their New York City-based labs to determine which ones you can trust.
Their Kitchen Appliances & Culinary Innovation Lab has not formally tested tortilla warmers this year, but you can rest assured that each of these recommendations has been fully vetted to ensure their discerning standards are met, if not exceeded. After sitting down with Papantoniou to discuss her team’s research and fieldwork, we’ve determined that these are the best tortilla warmers you can buy.
Sarah Ceniceros - Hearst Owned - 2/8
1) Nordic Ware Microwave Tortilla and Pancake Warmer
Nordic Ware
Amazon
$19.00
Call us dramatic, but there’s nothing worse than opening your tortilla warmer only to find out that the edges of those beautiful, delicious carbs have gotten hard and stale due to poor insulation. Luckily, that’s no problem for the Nordic Ware Microwave Tortilla and Pancake Warmer, which has thick walls to retain heat and maintain freshness for up to an hour. Plus, it couldn’t be easier to use or clean: Just pop it in the top rack of your dishwasher when you’re done and it’ll come out squeaky-clean.
This BPA- and melamine-free plastic warmer is microwave-safe and large enough—about three inches high and 10 inches in diameter—to fit a bunch of burrito-size tortillas or golden, fluffy waffles. (However, that large size can be a double-edged sword, as it also means it’ll take up some extra space in your cabinet.)
“If I were looking for a tortilla warmer, I’d be going towards something like Nordic Ware,” said Papantoniou. “It’s slim, it has that classic design that you commonly see in restaurants. It’s just super straightforward with a good shape and an easy-to-remove cover.”
Nordic Ware - 3/8
2) IMUSA USA Sunburst Cloth Tortilla Warmer
Imusa
Amazon
$9.00
Not all reliable tortilla warmers are a budget-killer. Just look to the IMUSA USA Sunburst Cloth Tortilla Warmer as proof. Originally founded in Colombia in 1934, IMUSA opened its U.S. branch, IMUSA USA, in 2006 before both branches were acquired in 2011 by France’s Group SEB (which has other unbeatable brands, like All-Clad, Krups, and Tefal under its wide-reaching umbrella). Aside from its affordability, this cloth tortilla warmer is ideal if space is an issue in your kitchen and you don't have room for a bulky tortilla warmer. It doesn't take up much room and it can keep your tortillas warm for a surprising amount of time—up to 45-60 minutes!
“The cloth is thicker than your typical hot towel and it has a large opening so you can get your tortillas in and out,” said Papantoniou. “Plus, the storage factor is really nice and it’s microwaveable.” And when you’re done, just throw the Sunburst Cloth Tortilla Warmer into your washing machine for easy clean-up.
IMUSA USA - 4/8
3) Carlisle Lift Off Jumbo Tortilla Server
Carlisle FoodService Products
Amazon
$26.00
When you’re making your tortillas from scratch using the same recipe your family has perfected for generations, you can’t just stow them away in any ole warmer. Stackable, microwavable, and dishwasher safe for temperatures up to 190°F, the Carlisle Lift Off Jumbo Tortilla Server is the ultimate container for professionals and home chefs alike.
“It’s stackable and slim, so it’s similar to what would be available in restaurants,” said Papantoniou. “You can carry a few back and forth at once and everyone can have their own warm tortillas or two people can share.”
Coming in at two inches tall and 12 inches wide, the Carlisle’s lid creates a tight seal while its thick, virtually indestructible walls offer optimal durability and heat retention—so whether you’re munching on flapjacks with the family or meal-prepping burritos, you can be sure the contents of your warmer will stay tender and pliable.
Carlisle FoodService Products - 5/8
4) Dexas Microwavable Tortilla Warmer
Dexas
Amazon
$10.00
The small-but-mighty Dexas Tortilla Warmer takes the cake (pancake, that is) with its microwave- and dishwasher-safe design, variety of colors and patterns, and thick, heavy walls for optimal insulation and durability. This handy holder features a cool-touch silicone handle and comes in at just over 8 inches wide and over two inches deep—a bit small for a large gathering, but just the right size to hold a stack of your favorite corn tortillas or golden-brown French toast. And speaking of stacks, did we mention its stackable design simplifies storage?
Calling it “small, compact, and really straightforward,” Papantoniou noted that the Dexas “doesn’t look like it holds too many and might be a little bulky for some. However, it has a tall inner lip that helps the lid seal better and trap the steam, which will help keep your tortillas steamy.”
Dexas - 6/8
5) Norpro Tortilla Pancake Keeper
Norpro
Amazon
$22.00
Do your legendary taco nights have a wait list? Whether it’s time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the Norpro Tortilla Pancake Keeper will have you saying “The more, the merrier!” At about 10 inches wide and 5 inches deep, this warmer is perfect for entertaining with its large capacity and microwave-safe construction—just know that it takes up a fair amount of space when not in use!
According to Papantoniou, the Norpro Tortilla Pancake Keeper got its name “because the idea is that you want to keep your pancakes warm and fluffy and light without overcooking. That’s why it’s so tall, so you can hold more pancakes, which are thicker than tortillas, or tortillas in there.”
Sturdy and reliable, the heavy-duty plastic is thick enough to keep your tortillas warm while also being safe enough to be placed on the top shelf of your dishwasher for easy clean-up.
Norpro - 7/8
6) KooK Ceramic Tortilla Warmer by KooK
KooK
Amazon
$25.00
Whether you’re waiting for your dinner guests to arrive or are bringing the party elsewhere, KooK’s Ceramic Tortilla Warmer is great for those seeking a more durable vessel for their precious pitas and favorite flatbread. Ceramic is made up of a blend of different materials, so its levels of conductivity can vary. Furthermore, this 8.5-inch by 4-inch warmer doesn’t offer an air-tight seal like other options we recommend—although it is insulated.
That means this vessel isn't the best for holding in heat for extended periods of time (usually around 30 minutes, according to KooK), but as Papantoniou explained, “Ceramic is a really pretty and easy-to-clean material. You can keep your tortillas warm in here, or even reheat them in the oven if they’ve gotten cold.”
And for those hot days when the last thing you want to think about is turning your oven on, we have good news—it’s also microwave-safe! KooK says their Ceramic Tortilla Warmer can be put on the top rack of your dishwasher, but we recommend hand-washing it if you want to maintain the colorful, hand-painted design.
KooK - 8/8
7) Fox Run Tortilla Warmer
Fox Run
Walmart
$13.89
If you’ve been on the hunt for a quality terracotta tortilla warmer, pick up the Fox Run Tortilla Warmer. This gorgeous tortilla warmer has a glazed interior that can keep its contents warm and moist for up to 30 minutes.
“This one is made of terracotta, which is a more natural alternative to plastic,” Papantoniou explained. “Terracotta is good for putting in the oven and is often used for baking ware. The domed shape of the lid encourages steam to build up and condensation to form, so you can keep your tortillas moist, but not wet.”
The Fox Run Tortilla Warmer is microwave- and oven-safe up to 464°F, but there is a bit of a trick to it: Before you toss in your tortillas and heat it up, you need to soak this container in warm water for a few minutes. However, this extra step has a big payoff, because it ensures your tortillas stay soft and pliable.
Fox Run
