A Tale of Two Tortillas

Flour or corn? That is the question. Here we explore the culinary differences between flour and corn tortillas and why you might choose one over the other when cooking your favorite Mexican dishes.

Flour Tortillas

One of the main differences between corn tortillas and flour tortillas, besides the base ingredient, is that flour tortillas are made with lard or vegetable shortening. This helps the dough stay strong and to promote a more tender, pliable tortilla. Because of their relative strength and flexibility, flour tortillas are best for burritos, quesadillas and heavy, loaded tacos and fajitas.

Corn Tortillas

White or yellow corn gives corn tortillas more flavor than flour tortillas, but they are less flexible. Corn tortillas are best for smaller Mexican-style tacos and street tacos, and are traditional for enchiladas. They are prone to crack when cold, so heating them is essential to most uses.