It’s time to get those tortilla wraps unstuck! Here are the best methods for doing so.
When you buy a package of tortillas at your local store, the last thing on your mind is that they might stick together in the package. And yet, it happens.
When opening the tortillas when they are to be used, many people find that the tortillas are completely stuck together, and separating them results in a pile of broken-up wraps of questionable use.
To loosen stuck tortillas, there are several methods you can use. Some require more effort and are more effective than others. These methods include the oven, the microwave, the wave method, as well as freezing the tortillas and leaving them out in the sunlight.
No matter how badly your tortillas are stuck together, you should be able to save them using one of the above methods (we will get into the specifics of each method in a moment).
As long as you follow the instructions carefully and exercise a little patience when separating the tortillas, all hope is not lost for your Mexican meal.
How to Get Tortillas Unstuck
If you like to eat tortillas and include them in your daily meals, there is the inevitable phenomenon of your tortillas sticking together in the package for no apparent reason.
Sometimes it’s possible to carefully pull the tortillas apart without causing major damage. If this is the case, you’ve hit the jackpot—and you don’t need to use any of the other methods mentioned in this article.
However, if you see that simply pulling apart your tortilla package will result in a pile of mangled, holey wraps, the good news is that there are numerous methods available to you.
These methods are simple and require only the typical tools and utensils you would normally find in any household kitchen.
The methods described in this article are as follows:
The oven method: Preheat your oven, wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil, then bake them in the oven twice to remove the excess moisture and get them unstuck.
The microwave method: Using your hands, spritz the tortilla wraps with water to give them a little moisture. Then microwave them in short increments until they are warm and separable.
The wave method: With your hands, grab hold of the stack of tortillas on opposite sides and move them in a wave-like motion to get the individual wraps unstuck.
The freezer method: Put the tortillas in the freezer and let them stiffen up before prying them apart. The trick to this method is to do it carefully, as, otherwise, you can all too easily mangle the wraps.
The sunlight method: A simple method using nothing but the warmth of the sunlight to help separate your tortillas.
We explain each method in detail below.
Why Do Tortillas Stick Together?
The jury’s out as to why tortillas sometimes stick together.
Some say it’s a manufacturing problem, since the tortillas should be browned to the extent that they do not stick together. Considering that most store-bought tortillas are typically undercooked, we wouldn’t be surprised.
Others say that tortillas stick together if they were packed when they were a little too warm. Condensation happens, inviting moisture, and making the wraps sticky.
Either way, there is likely too much moisture present in the packaging of your tortillas, which means that they need to be dried sufficiently to separate them.
The oven, then, comes to the rescue.
Using an Oven to Get Tortillas Unstuck
To use the oven to “unglue” the tortillas, preheat it to a medium temperature of 300°F (150°C) before removing the tortillas from their plastic packaging. Then wrap them in aluminum foil, preferably heavy-duty foil (as it won’t tear).
When the oven is sufficiently heated, bake the wrapped batch of tortillas for about 30 minutes until they are cooked all the way through. Remove the tortillas from the oven and open the foil, but do not try to pull them apart yet.
Place the uncovered tortillas back in the oven and bake in this manner for an additional 10 minutes to completely remove excess moisture. This is a good time to use your oven’s fan (if you have one), as it will effectively remove the moisture.
The top and bottom tortillas may become crisp, but that may be a worthwhile sacrifice if you can use the remaining tortillas from the package. Remove the tortillas from the oven and carefully separate them with a spatula before placing them on parchment paper to cool.
Suppose you’re not using the tortillas immediately. In that case, it’ll be best to place them in the fridge, sealed in their original packaging, with parchment in between each tortilla to ensure that they do not become stuck together once again.
The Microwave Method for Getting Your Tortillas Unstuck
The best way to use your microwave to get your tortillas unstuck is to spray them with a small amount of water (you can use a spray bottle or your hands) before placing them in the microwave for around 30 seconds.
You can try peeling them right away, but if it does not look like it will work, you can cover them with a damp towel for another 20-30 seconds before trying the separation again.
Note that heating the tortillas in the microwave can make them dry and gummy, especially if they are not consumed immediately.
The Wave Method for Getting Your Tortillas Unstuck
Hold the tortilla bundle in both hands, one hand on each side of the package. Gently roll the tortillas in waves from side to side.
Rotate the entire bundle 90° and repeat the process a few times until the tortillas separate naturally.
Done right, this method can be surprisingly effective, and it won’t alter the texture or doneness of the tortilla wraps!
Using a Freezer to Get Your Tortillas Unstuck
This simple method is to keep the tortillas in the freezer to stiffen them completely.
If necessary, you can detach one tortilla at a time with a butter knife or a silicone spatula. To do this, you must carefully insert the knife or spatula head between the two frozen tortillas—and gently twist them until they separate.
Using Sunlight To Get Your Tortillas Unstuck
The simple act of placing your pack of tortillas in the sunlight is another great way to separate your stuck-together tortillas.
This should be done while they are sealed in their packaging, and, depending on the temperature and the number of tortillas, and whether they’re frozen or not, they should be able to separate within half an hour.
You know that they are ready to be separated as they will be relatively warm throughout.
Conclusion
Regardless of which separation method you choose for your tortillas, you just need to go slowly and carefully. With a little patience, you should be able to save any package of tortillas that are glued together.
Whether you split your tortillas in the oven, in the microwave, in the freezer, or by natural sunlight, or whether you choose the wave method to separate them manually, you will surely find a method that works for you.
If all else fails and the tortillas are no longer usable, you can tear them up and use them to make your own version of a Mexican lasagna or any other dish you can dream up with your imagination.
The important thing is that you don’t let them go to waste.