Tortillas are staples in a typical American kitchen. They are so handy that sometimes you find yourself buying in bulk or making a lot of them. If you do any of these, you’re most likely wondering if tortillas will go bad over long-term storage.
You should know that tortilla is food and foods go bad. So, tortillas go bad.
I believe this has you wondering how long it will take for tortillas to go bad and how best you can store them. Keep reading to see the full details in the article.
What are tortillas?
Tortillas originate from Latin America. They are unleavened, flat, round slices of bread made with flour, water, and salt.
The flatbreads are used as wraps for tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, burritos, and other sandwiches.
This bread is a very handy kitchen resource. You can eat a tortilla as it is, use it as a wrap for fillings, or fry or bake it as chips. Tortilla is also used to make tortilla soup.
Do tortillas go bad?
Yes, tortillas can go bad.
Tortillas naturally have a long shelf life because of the very few ingredients used to make them. However, they go bad after a while and under improper storage conditions.
Furthermore, the different varieties of tortilla wraps last differently under different storage conditions. Generally, tortilla wraps would last up to a week at room temperature. But you can extend their shelf life by storing them in a freezer.
In addition, factors like mold growth, insect infestation, and the humidity and temperature of the storage environment can influence spoilage.
Do flour tortillas go bad?
Yes, they do.
The flour tortilla is made of all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, lard, and water.
The tortilla goes bad after seven days of storing it in the pantry. If you’ll like to keep the tortilla wraps beyond that, you should keep them in a refrigerator or freezer.
Do corn tortillas go bad?
Corn tortillas go bad, but they last longer than flour tortillas.
Tortilla made with corn is more resistant to mold because it is made from whole grains. It will stay fresh and usable for up to 10 days.
Do wheat tortillas go bad?
The wheat tortilla will also go bad under the wrong storage conditions. If it is exposed to high humidity, it’ll absorb moisture and begin to grow mold.
Keep in mind that wheat tortilla wraps will last only one week in the pantry. So, you should use them within one week to avoid waste.
However, if you want to keep the tortilla for more than a week, you should refrigerate or freeze it.
Do spinach tortillas go bad?
Spinach tortilla goes bad after one week of storing it in the pantry. You can keep the tortilla for three to four weeks in the fridge if you want to keep them longer than a week.
Do homemade tortillas go bad?
Homemade tortillas go bad. In fact, of all the varieties of tortilla wraps, they have the shortest life span.
They last only two to three days on the counter or in the pantry. If you love to make your tortilla bread yourself, you can make a large batch and store them in the fridge for up to a week.
Moreover, you can also freeze homemade tortilla wraps for up to six months.
Do tortillas go bad in the fridge?
Although you may think the fridge is your best guard against food spoilage, it’s not absolute. Tortilla wraps can go bad in the fridge if you don’t store the pack properly.
If you got store-bought tortilla wraps, you should reseal the pack or transfer the flatbreads into an airtight container before refrigerating.
Any space in the storage container will make the tortilla wraps to absorb the smell of other foods in the fridge. Consequently, they’ll begin to grow mold and become unfit for consumption.
Do tortillas go bad if unopened?
An unopened tortilla pack will go bad if you store the pack outside the fridge or freezer beyond seven days.
If the tortilla remains unopened and frozen, it can last several weeks and even months past its printed date.
Do tortillas go bad if left out?
Yes, they will.
When tortillas are left out, they absorb moisture and grow mold. Always refrigerate or freeze tortilla leftovers to keep them fresh and edible for a longer period.
How fast do tortillas go bad?
Tortillas go bad as fast as they are exposed to mold growth, humidity, high temperatures, and insect infestation.
What is the shelf life of tortillas?
The shelf life of tortilla wraps depends on how they were made, what they are made from, and the storage conditions.
| Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
| Corn Tortilla | 7-10 days | 2 months | 8 months |
| Wheat Tortilla | 7 days | 1 week | 8 months |
| Homemade | 2-3 days | 1 week | 8 months |
- Corn tortilla wraps last seven to ten days under proper storage conditions in the pantry, two months in the fridge, and up to eight months in the freezer
- The flour, wheat, and spinach alternatives will keep for seven days in the pantry, one month in the fridge, and up to eight months in the freezer
- Homemade tortilla wraps last only two to three days in the pantry, one week in the fridge, and up to eight months in the freezer
Can you eat expired tortillas?
Before you eat expired tortilla wraps, you should be sure how far gone they are.
You can eat a tortilla just a few days or weeks past its printed date, especially if it has not yet been unopened.
Expired tortilla wraps may not have gone bad by the expiration date, so they may be safe to eat. Most importantly, carefully examine the bread for signs of spoilage. Trash the wraps if you notice any signs of spoilage.
Additionally, eating tortilla wraps that have gone bad can make you sick. If you or anyone else has eaten a bad tortilla, watch out for signs of poisoning.
How to tell if tortillas have gone bad
Examine the surface
Carefully examine the surface of your tortilla wraps for mold growth or color changes other than the usual brown dots.
Also, look out for greenish or bluish mold growth on corn, wheat, or flour tortillas. For spinach tortilla wraps, yellow or brown dots are signs of spoilage.
In addition, touch the tortilla. If it feels slimy, you should throw it away. If it feels too stiff, the tortilla may not be bad. Stiffness is a sign of lost moisture.
Smell the tortilla
Good tortillas smell of flour. When they go bad, they smell foul and moldy. If you notice this, throw away the tortilla.
Take a bite
If you couldn’t get concrete evidence of mold growth, sliminess, stiffness, or a bad smell, you may have to taste the tortilla.
All you need is a little bite of the bread. If it tastes nothing like a fresh tortilla, trash it.
How to preserve tortillas
- Store tortilla wraps in the packaging they came in
- Keep opened and unopened tortilla wraps in the fridge or freezer for more extended storage
- Make sure the flatbreads are in an airtight container to keep out contaminants and moisture
- Most importantly, if you’re getting tortillas from the store, buy packs that still have a long time before their best-by date
FAQs
Does flour tortilla expire?
Yes, flour tortillas expire when they are way past the printed date.
You can eat expired tortillas only if they’re just a few days past the printed date.
How long does opened flour tortilla last?
Flour tortillas can last up to five weeks after you have opened them. However, they should be tightly sealed and refrigerated to prevent contamination.
Why do tortillas last longer than bread?
Tortillas last longer than bread because some are made from whole grains. This makes them resistant to mold growth and other environmental factors that make bread spoil.
Also, tortillas are made with few ingredients, which largely contributes to their long shelf life.
Conclusion
Both perishable and non-perishable food items will go bad after some time. And just as you would preserve perishable water-based foods like tomatoes and vegetables, you should also preserve tortillas well.
Moreover, the different varieties of tortillas last different expiry periods. In essence, one may go bad quicker than the other. Therefore, use the best storage methods to preserve your tortillas.
Most importantly, when you take them out of the pack, make sure you carefully examine each wrap for any signs of spoilage. If you notice any, trash them and get fresh ones.
Thanks for reading.
Check Millenora for more articles on food preservation and spoilage.
