How do you make a flexible corn tortilla?

[Stewey]

I wish I had an exact answer for you. Sorry, but it totally depends on where you live. There are many different brands but you can usually find some sort of generic package of corn tortillas. They come in a clear plastic two pound bag with (I think) a green and white emblem on the package.

If you are fortunate enough to live in or near a large city, chance are there will be a number of large mexican grocery stores (not just a small tienda). Those larger gorcery stores may have a tortilleria where they make their own tortillas. The corn tortillas will be warm and mildly flexible.

If not, most major grocery stores (Vons, Albertsons, Smiths) will have those generic two pound packages. These will suffice. You can't bend them easily right from the package. But once you place them flat into the hot oil, then they will start to be bendable. Just keep attempting to gently bend them with a fork/tongs while they are sitting in the oil and once you are able to fold it into that half-moon taco shape, hold it in this shape for a few moments to let the crispiness form and flip it to crisp the other side.

Working with the hot oil will take some practice, but if you have a good digital thermometer, you can quickly adjust the heat as needed (figure 325-370 degrees).

[Free Rider]

I live rather near you, Stewie, which is why I asked. I'm not the one who asked the original, flexible tortilla question and have no desire to fry the tortillas in oil. I heat them up quickly as I learned from some folks from Queretaro.

I don't like the quality of Alberton's tortillas. I think Tía Rosa has come closest to what I like, but I can't remember if that's the brand.

[Stewey]

The ones out here that you can usually find at the Von's I shop at is Guerrero brand. They aren't anything special, just a plain old corn tortilla--good flavor. Not very flexible strait from the bag but add heat or steam and they will loosen right up.

When I can help it, I prefer any of the brands that are made locally at any of the tortillerias--and you can find their tortillas in mexican stores and sometimes even in the chain grocery stores. Because they are fresh, they are really soft and flexible right right out of the bag and are usually still warm and you can see condensation inside the bag still. But give them a day, and they will be just as brittle as the grocery store brands.

If you can find some in your grocery store, they will generally be fine once you add some sore of heat to them.

Oh, in case I wasn't clear, I am only referring to corn tortillas. For flour tortillas, I make my own. I cannot stand the flour tortillas from the store with MAYBE only one brand being acceptable in a pinch. But I have to be really really desperate and I will usually go without flour tortillas rather than buy some.

Wow...I sound like a tortilla snob. Sorry guys.

[Free Rider]

I'm a tortilla snob too. I've seen Guerrero, but have never tried it. I'll give it a try next time I'm in a Food City. I assume they have them.