Has anyone used this rack to bake homemade tortillas into taco shells? Do you cook the tortillas first or put the raw tortillas on the rack?
777385
Yes I have used it and the tacos are very crisp and good. I am on weight watchers and was looking to shave some calories. I love tacos and the crispness but not the fat content. They do not make exactly uniform shells so if you are storing them for a long time it is a bit difficult. I absolutely love mine though. I used raw tortillas.
777386
No you don't cook them first, just put them on the rack. You might want to put wet paper towel on them to wet them so they can stay on the rack better.
777387
I have not used this rack to shape homemade tortillas. I think you're going to want to cook the tortillas first, then shape them on the rack.
1813434
I agree with Ben. I am not sure what recipe everyone is using, but I am fairly certain real tortillas have lard in them. If you still have a problem here is what I did. [I made my dough, I used just what I had around the house, flour, water, salt and lard. I split a ziplock bag apart. I placed one side of the bag on the open press, then placed the little dough ball on the bag, and placed other side of the bag on the dough and closed the press. I pressed the leaver. Masa flour is more coarse, so you might want to add a tablespoon of regular bread flour or all purpose flour to the Masa as this may improve the dough because of the gluten that is in regular wheat flour. Gluten would or could or should ...laughing hold your dough together I would think. I laugh because I am only speaking theoretically and have not tired the Masa with flour. It is just cheap ingredients and well worth the trial, I think to have a good homemade, tortilla less all the additives store bought would have in them. Real tortillas I believe have pork fat or lard in them, so you would need some kind of fat. I don't think you want to use oil as this seems like it would be to liquid. In a pinch I would consider Crisco, but much prefer a natural ingredient like lard as it is a real fat that our body knows how to handle. I have a rule if I cannot get the stuff to melt on hot toast I don't think it is going to flow at body temperature in my blood. Good luck and don't give up.
1716947
Sandy W. I have done both, but have to place the rack so that it is lower in the oven, which means you need to watch the bottom of whatever you are cooking. If you are using a shallow baking dish that centers your food quite evenly, everything seems to work fine! Hope this helps!
644932
We bake the Tortilla Shells at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes and seems to work out fine for us. Hope this helps.
616222
These pans are meant for baking so you won't get a nice, puffy, crispy golden shell from these pans. I have baked the tortillas dry, brushed oil on them and have sprayed them with pretty much the same results each time. But we prefer the lower calorie/fat from baking them dry.If you are looking for the tortillas to be how restaurants serve taco salads in, you'll need to fry the tortillas and these pans aren't the proper equipment for that. There are metal wire molds available out there for frying tortillas. I'd probably check kitchen stores and restaurant supply companies for them and you'll need a deep fryer, tall pot or even a turkey fryer. And lots of oil. These pans are meant for baking so you won't get a nice, puffy, crispy golden shell from these pans. I have baked the tortillas dry, brushed oil on them and have sprayed them with pretty much the same results each time. But we prefer the lower calorie/fat from baking them dry.If you are looking for the tortillas to be how restaurants serve taco salads in, you'll need to fry the tortillas and these pans aren't the proper equipment for that. There are metal wire molds available out there for frying tortillas. I'd probably check kitchen stores and restaurant... » Read More These pans are meant for baking so you won't get a nice, puffy, crispy golden shell from these pans. I have baked the tortillas dry, brushed oil on them and have sprayed them with pretty much the same results each time. But we prefer the lower calorie/fat from baking them dry.If you are looking for the tortillas to be how restaurants serve taco salads in, you'll need to fry the tortillas and these pans aren't the proper equipment for that. There are metal wire molds available out there for frying tortillas. I'd probably check kitchen stores and restaurant supply companies for them and you'll need a deep fryer, tall pot or even a turkey fryer. And lots of oil. « Show Less
420303
The press just flattens the tortilla dough instead of using a rolling pin, so much easier. Then you cook the tortilla in a flat bottomed pan, or even a regular frying pan on medium-high heat for 2 or 3 minutes per side. Happy 4th.
616220
These pans are meant for baking so you won't get a nice, puffy, crispy golden shell from these pans. I have baked the tortillas dry, brushed oil on them and have sprayed them with pretty much the same results each time. But we prefer the lower calorie/fat from baking them dry. If you are looking for the tortillas to be how restaurants serve taco salads in, you'll need to fry the tortillas and these pans aren't the proper equipment for that. There are metal wire molds available out there for frying tortillas. I'd probably check kitchen stores and restaurant supply companies for them and you'll need a deep fryer, tall pot or even a turkey fryer. And lots of oil.
900464
Just the bottom heats up. You must flatten the ball of dough to get size/desired thickness & then after a short bit, then open & turn the tortilla over to cook other side & properly. The top just reflects the heat from the bottom.
1008549
Dear K. Beene....This is very tricky indeed. The most important thing is the quality of your dough. It has to have a good consistency and that means you have to have the dough very soft indeed. The best and the most ideal way to avoid the tortillas sticking to the plates, either upper or the lower one, is that you make sure that you set the temperature to the MAX and do not lift the upper plate immediately but leave it for at least 20 seconds and then lift the upper plate and having done that you will notice that the tortilla had not stuck to the plate and now the tortilla is ready to be flipped. I hope you will find this suggestion suitable and workable. I did exactly this way and it was okay. Try it and I am sure you will succeed in your efforts. Write to Amazon about your experience after applying this method......farhatullah sharif
1252757
Only in a microwave oven. Wrap a damp paper towel around tortillas. Heat for about 30 seconds.
2138864
I'm no tortilla expert, and i'm looking for a new press as my aluminum one is a joke i have to use a rolling pin , but honest the best thing i've found is mix very warm to hot not boiling water with a pinch of salt and add this to the masa flour. Then knead and let it rest. The longer your masa sits the better it gets. If i try to make a tortilla just after mixing they crack while cooking. Just give it thirty minutes to an hour, then go back it should work out well. Good luck!
1280692
That's exactly why I bought it. Choco tacos!!!! Just use your hand to shape it in a U. GET THE TACO, ANY ICE CRAM YOU LIKE, GET SOME MELTED CHOCOLAYE IN A BOWL, DIP THE SHELL AND ICRE CREAM, SPRINKLE NUTS ON TOP. OR USE THOSE MAGIC SHELL THINGS
1280689
That's exactly why I bought it. Choco tacos!!!!Just use your hand to shape it in a U. GET THE TACO, ANY ICE CRAM YOU LIKE, GET SOME MELTED CHOCOLAYE IN A BOWL, DIP THE SHELL AND ICRE CREAM, SPRINKLE NUTS ON TOP. OR USE THOSE MAGIC SHELL THINGS
2114213
John make sure your tortilla is well formed and bottom of shell touches bottom also try lowering the oven a little and put a bit of foil around the edges hope this works because I had the same problem BY
1960800
I'm not sure yet...I hadn't thought about it, but I was planning on putting it in the oven because it is metal. It works great for keeping your tacos from falling over when you make them! Thanks for the tip Billie about the oil and the 425 degrees info.
1254527
No, I never have. I just put 1/2 damp paper towel in with 5 or 6 tortillas to provide steam and have not had any trouble with tortillas sticking together.
779948
you just add the tortillas to the bottom part with a damp paper towel (to prevent them from getting too dry) and then microwave. if you have the lead it would trap too much heat. it is super simple and easy to use and comes with an explanation. we use it all the time.