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Make fresh tortillas easily with the best tortilla makers

Mexican cuisine has crossed boundaries and become a favorite for many families. If every day is Taco Tuesday or if you just love the fresh taste of homemade tortillas, it's time to invest in a tortilla maker. These presses create perfectly even, delicious corn tortillas in a snap. The Victoria Cast Iron Tortilla Press is an affordable, traditional and durable tortilla maker, and it's a great choice for both amateur and professional cooks. Materials Tortilla makers are available in four main materials. Manual vs. electric Manual tortilla makers provide a tactile interaction with your food. There's a sense of handcrafting each tortilla as you press it. Conversely, it's hard to beat the convenience of an electric tortilla press. These not only press the tortilla, but they also cook it. Some of these are capable of making pita, focaccia and other types of flatbreads as well. They're often more compact, too. However, some cooks find that this is a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none situation — an electric tortilla maker doesn't produce the same quality of tortilla as a manual one. They're also more expensive than manual presses. Tortilla size For weekly tacos, you'll only need a press of about 6 inches in diameter. However, as you further explore cuisine, you might want a larger tortilla maker. They come in sizes up to 12 inches across. Larger presses are typically only used in commercial kitchens and may be too large for the average home cook and their storage capabilities. The thickness that each press can achieve also varies. Ideally, tortillas are approximately 1/8-inch thick, but some lighter presses aren't able to achieve this thinness. Ready lights Electric tortilla makers feature lights that indicate when they're ready to cook. This means that the plates are heated to the proper temperature. Sturdy connections Some cooks press as much as their entire body weight on the top of the tortilla maker. Because you're exerting so much pressure on the lid of the press, you'll need sturdy connections and bolts to handle it. Comfortable press handle When you press the lid down, most of your weight rests on the lid handle. These handles should be comfortable and easily hold that weight. To make authentic corn tortillas, all you need is 1 3/4 cups of masa harina and 1 cup (plus a few tablespoons) of hot tap water. Manual tortilla makers are affordable, costing $20-$35, but electric versions can be $100 or more. Can you use cornmeal to make corn tortillas? A. In a pinch, you can substitute cornmeal for masa harina. However, because cornmeal is coarser, the texture of your tortillas will vary slightly. Are more expensive cast iron presses worth it? A. The more expensive cast iron presses have elaborate coating on the outside that increases their price, but the important part of a tortilla maker is on the inside. In this case, there isn't much difference between an inexpensive cast iron press and its more expensive counterpart. Top tortilla maker Victoria Cast Iron Tortilla Press What you need to know: This heavy cast iron press is easy to use and creates perfectly even tortillas. What you'll love: The weight of the lid uses more gravity than manual effort. The perfectly level surface works to make individual pizza crusts, too. It's nonstick. What you should consider: It's heavy, but this is also part of its authenticity and charm. Top tortilla maker for the money Bellemain Preseasoned Cast Iron Tortilla Press What you need to know: This is another cast iron press that makes perfect tortillas for solos or couples. What you'll love: It's heavy but compact. Use this for smaller quantities of tortillas. The weight of the lid is substantial and helps with pressing. What you should consider: Some people thought the tortillas were too thick. Worth checking out Uno Casa Cast Iron Tortilla Press What you need to know: This makes larger tortillas for big appetites. What you'll love: This 10-inch press comes with 100 sheets of parchment paper to store tortillas as you press them. The surface is flat and smooth, and the press is easy to operate. What you should consider: Some users thought the tortillas were too thin, while others thought they were too thick. There were some concerns about weak bolt connections in the lid. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.