How to store flour and corn tortillas, and when to throw them out
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 3 months (flour), 25-45 days (corn)
Keep flour tortillas in the pantry for 3 months and corn tortillas for 25 to 45 days, both counted from the date of purchase.
Watch out Throw out moldy tortillas, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
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Fridge
Keeps for 3 months (flour), 60-90 days (corn)
Flour tortillas keep 3 months in the fridge after you open the package, and corn tortillas keep 60 to 90 days from the date of purchase.
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Freezer
Keeps for 6 months (flour)
Flour tortillas keep 6 months in the freezer from the date of purchase.
Watch out FoodKeeper lists no freezer time for corn tortillas.
Flour tortillas last 3 months in the pantry, 3 months in the fridge after you open the package, and 6 months in the freezer. Corn tortillas last 25 to 45 days in the pantry and 60 to 90 days in the fridge, and FoodKeeper lists no freezer time for them. Throw out any tortillas with mold.
Buying tortillas this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
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Flour tortillas keep 3 months in the pantry, and corn tortillas keep 25 to 45 days. The two types get different times in the fridge and freezer too, so it helps to know which one you have.
Every time below comes from the USDA FoodKeeper and counts from the date of purchase, unless it says otherwise.
How long do tortillas last?
Flour tortillas last 3 months in the pantry, and corn tortillas last 25 to 45 days, both counted from the date of purchase.
In the fridge, corn tortillas last 60 to 90 days from the date of purchase, and flour tortillas last 3 months after you open the package. In the freezer, flour tortillas last 6 months, and FoodKeeper lists no time for corn tortillas.
| Tortillas | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flour | 3 months | 3 months after opening | 6 months |
| Corn | 25 to 45 days | 60 to 90 days | No time listed |
How to store flour tortillas
Store flour tortillas in the pantry for 3 months from the date of purchase. Once you open the package, FoodKeeper gives them 3 months in the fridge. The freezer holds them 6 months from the date of purchase.
How long do flour tortillas last in the fridge?
Flour tortillas last 3 months in the fridge after you open the package. FoodKeeper counts that time from opening, not from the day you bought them.
How to store corn tortillas
Store corn tortillas in the pantry for 25 to 45 days, or in the fridge for 60 to 90 days, both counted from the date of purchase. Their pantry window is shorter than the 3 months flour tortillas get.
How long do corn tortillas last in the fridge?
Corn tortillas last 60 to 90 days in the fridge, counted from the date of purchase. That clock starts at the store, not when you open the package.
Can you freeze tortillas?
Yes, flour tortillas can be frozen for 6 months, but FoodKeeper lists no freezer time for corn tortillas.
Can you freeze flour tortillas?
Yes, flour tortillas keep 6 months in the freezer, counted from the date of purchase. That’s a quality time, because the USDA says food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe and only quality suffers with long freezer storage.
Can you freeze corn tortillas?
FoodKeeper lists no freezer time for corn tortillas, so this guide doesn’t give one. The USDA’s general freezing rule is that food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, with only quality suffering over time.
Does freezer burn make tortillas unsafe?
No, freezer burn doesn’t make food unsafe, only dry in spots. It shows up as grayish-brown, leathery spots where air reached the surface. The USDA says to cut those parts away before or after cooking.
Do tortillas go bad?
Yes, tortillas go bad, and FoodKeeper sets time limits for keeping them in the pantry and the fridge. Flour tortillas get 3 months in the pantry, and corn tortillas get 25 to 45 days.
How to tell if tortillas are bad
Mold is the sign to look for, and moldy tortillas should be thrown out. The USDA says to throw out moldy bread and baked goods, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
That means the mold you can see may not be all of it. It also helps to count the days since you bought the tortillas and compare them with the table above.
How long are tortillas good after the expiration date?
FoodKeeper counts from the purchase date, so flour tortillas get 3 months in the pantry and corn tortillas get 25 to 45 days. It doesn’t give a time that starts at the expiration date.
In the fridge, corn tortillas get 60 to 90 days from the date of purchase. Flour tortillas get 3 months in the fridge, counted from the day you open the package.
Whatever the date on the package says, throw out any tortillas with mold. The USDA says moldy bread and baked goods should be thrown out, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
Frequently asked questions
Do flour tortillas go bad?
Yes, flour tortillas go bad. FoodKeeper gives them 3 months in the pantry, 3 months in the fridge after opening, and 6 months in the freezer.
Do corn tortillas go bad?
Yes, corn tortillas go bad. FoodKeeper gives them 25 to 45 days in the pantry and 60 to 90 days in the fridge, counted from the date of purchase.
Are flour tortillas safe after 6 months in the freezer?
Flour tortillas stay safe in the freezer if they were kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C), but quality suffers with long storage. The 6 months is a quality time.
Can you cut the mold off a tortilla?
Moldy tortillas should be thrown out. The USDA says porous foods like bread and baked goods can be contaminated below the surface.
How long do tortillas last once the package is open?
Flour tortillas last 3 months in the fridge after opening. FoodKeeper gives corn tortillas 60 to 90 days in the fridge from the date of purchase, with no separate time for opened packages.
Can you eat expired tortillas?
Throw them out if they have mold. If they don't, compare the days since you bought them with FoodKeeper's times, which are 3 months in the pantry for flour tortillas and 25 to 45 days for corn tortillas.
