Originally Posted by pondering_it_all
I think I've mastered the six inch tortilla press. My tortillas have gotten better over the past few weeks since I bought it. I've discovered a few things by trial and error:

1. Get the right consistency. The masa has to stick together well but not be at all lumpy. If it's too dry, sprinkle in a little more water. It does tend to dry out as you make balls.
2. Use thick plastic, like a cut up food storage bag on each side of the dough. Wax paper is lousy.
3. Make the right size balls for your press. If you are squishing out too much around the edges, your balls are too big. If the pressed tortilla does not come to the edge of the press, they are too small. You want plastic, dough, and then plastic if that is not obvious. Put a ball down on the lower plastic so it's toward the hinge side of the press. Then put the top plastic on it and squish it down so it's somewhat flat.
4. Don't press too hard. The tortilla thickness should come out uniform.
5. Peel off the top layer of plastic bag. Then pick up the tortilla with the dough facing your palm. Then peel off the bottom layer of plastic carefully.
6. Toss the raw tortilla into the pan without touching the pan. If you do it right, the tortilla dough does not wrinkle or fold.

That reminds me of Matzo, which reminds me this thread was about masa for a while. I love fresh tortillas but there is a learning curve for this very fragile dough. I was trying to make a modified masa dough that I could use for empandas, but the plain masa couldnt be sealed without cracking. I added some gluten, that I have around for amending sourdough. I figured I needed just a bit of gluten elasticity. Made a nice dough and put the purfect amount of dough in the press and gently applied pressure till the dough came to the edge. It was hilarious when I opened the press and watched the six inch circle quickly shrink to 2 inches. Next time maybe a little less gluten, and preheat the press to 450 on the induction to vulcanize it to keep 6 inches grin I've got some great welding gloves.

TAT


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