Got my first tortilla press

[Old Crank]

Never really needed one before since living in the southwest and CA meant easy access to fresh tortillas.
Here in Germany is a different story. Nothing says traditional tortilla like, Hecho en Schweden, or Lithuania.
One of my wife's friends dragged a cast iron one from Texas. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

Do people here have any preference for releasebpaper? Will only be used for flour based on a dietary restriction for corn.

[Warpy]

1. Pro tip: use plastic

Either cut apart a zip bag. Put the ball of corn mixture between the plastic and into the press. Press in one direction, then rotate the dough, the presses tend to make them a little lopsided if you don't.

Dib;t yse waxed paper, it just crumples up and makes a mess.

I did an OK job squashing it between a couple of cutting boards, got the tortilla press when I was doing Chinese dumplings with tapioca flour. I've used it for fresh tortillas.

You'll never buy those stale things in the supermarket again, once you've tasted fresh ones.

[mitch96]

5. "Pro tip: use plastic" +1 but I only use the press for corn tortillas.

If you have left overs....Make chips!!! delish.. Sometime I mix ground up popcorn with the corn Masa for a different taste/texture...YMMV.
m

[dem in texas]

2. yes, use plastic wrap

Living in Texas, you can always find freshly made tortillas. I only make my own when I want to make gorditas.

[Kali]

3. flour tortillas are better rolled out with a rolling pin

corn need the press because they have no gluten and don't stretch

[Old Crank]

4. My efforts with a rolling pin

While generally successful leave me with too many funny shaped tortillas.
For my first effort with the press I used the silicon backing paper which seemed to work reasonably well. Next batch I will try plastic wrap but it sounds like it would be fussy.

[Kali]

6. how did they come out?

I would think pressed flour tortillas would be a bit dense. ok for eating with butter or baking with cheese or frying crisp, but maybe not great for rolling a burrito?

[Old Crank]

7. Came out wel.

I think I need to use just a little smaller ball to make them a bit thinner. I normally use duck/goose fat. This time I used pig fat. I like the flavor the best.

[chowmama]

8. I tried one for the first time a few weeks ago

and just cut a 1 gallon plastic bag apart. They were corn tortillas and tasted great, but were too thick.

I'm trying again tomorrow night.