Flour tortillas are a staple in many cuisines and households. With their versatility and convenience, it’s easy to always have a pack on hand. However, flour tortillas also have a relatively short shelf life. Knowing how to tell if flour tortillas have gone bad can help you avoid serving spoiled ones that could cause illness.
What are the signs of bad flour tortillas?
There are a few clear signs that indicate your flour tortillas have spoiled and should be discarded:
- Mold growth – Any fuzzy, soft, or slimy spots are a sign of mold. This means the tortillas are past their prime and should be thrown out.
- Odd smell – Fresh flour tortillas have a pleasant, bread-like aroma. A sour, unpleasant, or alcoholic odor means they’ve gone bad.
- Texture changes – Hard, dry, or crisp tortillas that have lost their soft pliability have expired and should not be eaten.
- Discoloration – Yellowing, dark spots, or unnatural colors signal the tortillas are stale.
Trust your senses – if the look, smell, feel, or taste seems off, the tortillas should be discarded. When in doubt, throw them out.
How long do flour tortillas last?
The shelf life of flour tortillas depends largely on how they are stored:
- Unopened package: Store-bought, packaged flour tortillas typically stay fresh for 1-2 weeks past the “best by” date on the package when left sealed and stored properly.
- Opened package: An opened package of flour tortillas will last 4-7 days in the refrigerator.
- Homemade tortillas: Freshly made flour tortillas last just 2-3 days in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.
Proper storage is key – keep flour tortillas in their original packaging or an airtight container. Refrigeration extends their shelf life significantly versus leaving them at room temperature.
How to store flour tortillas to extend shelf life
Follow these simple storage tips to keep flour tortillas fresher for longer:
- Leave store-bought tortillas in their original packaging or rewrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil until ready to use.
- Place tortillas in a zip-top plastic bag with the air pressed out before sealing to prevent drying.
- Store unused flour tortillas in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Freeze extra tortillas for long-term storage. They will keep for 1-2 months in the freezer.
- Avoid storing tortillas at room temperature – refrigerate or freeze them instead.
An airtight container or resealable plastic bag works well for storing leftover tortillas. Just make sure to press out any excess air before sealing to prevent moisture loss.
Can you save expired flour tortillas?
We don’t recommend eating flour tortillas past their prime. However, there are some ways to try to briefly extend the life of tortillas that are just starting to expire:
- Revive in the oven: Place stale tortillas in the oven at 300°F for 2-3 minutes, wrapped in foil. This may soften them slightly.
- Refresh under water: Run expired tortillas under water to rehydrate them and restore flexibility.
- Toast thoroughly: Crisp up extra dry and hard tortillas in a pan, oven, or toaster oven.
Keep in mind these revival methods don’t reverse the aging process or make tortillas last for weeks. But they may add an extra day or two if your tortillas are just starting to dry out. Always discard flour tortillas that have mold, smell odd, or are excessively hard.
How to tell if homemade flour tortillas are bad
Since homemade flour tortillas don’t contain preservatives like store-bought brands, they have a shorter shelf life of only 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Watch for these signs they’ve gone bad:
- Dry, stiff, or brittle texture
- Sour odor
- Visible mold
- Changes from off-white to yellow or grey
If your fresh homemade tortillas develop any sticky or slimy patches, that’s also a giveaway they’ve spoiled and should be thrown out. Trust your senses – discard homemade flour tortillas that look, smell or taste unpleasant.
Can you freeze flour tortillas?
Freezing is an excellent storage method to prolong the shelf life of flour tortillas. Here are some freezing tips:
- Place tortillas in a single layer separated by parchment paper before freezing. This prevents them from sticking together.
- Store tortillas in an airtight freezer bag or container, with as much air pressed out as possible.
- Add a label with the freeze date so you know how long they’ve been frozen.
- Most flour tortillas stay fresh in the freezer for 1-2 months.
- Thaw frozen tortillas in the refrigerator overnight before using.
Freezing prevents mold growth and other signs of spoilage. Just be sure tortillas were fresh when initially frozen – freezing doesn’t improve the quality of expired tortillas.
What happens if you eat bad flour tortillas?
Consuming spoiled flour tortillas can cause foodborne illness. Potential symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Headache
- Fever
The elderly, infants, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for illness from food poisoning. If flour tortillas show any signs of spoilage, follow the motto “when in doubt, throw it out” to be safe.
How to prevent flour tortillas from going bad
Practice proper storage and handling to maximize the shelf life of your flour tortillas:
- Purchase only what you’ll use within 2 weeks.
- Check expiration or “best by” dates.
- Keep unopened packages stored in a cool, dry pantry.
- Refrigerate opened packages and fresh homemade tortillas.
- Freeze extras, wrapped tightly in plastic or foil.
- Seal tortillas in airtight bags or containers.
- Avoid humidity and moisture that can cause early mold growth.
Quickly discard any packages that are torn open or have signs of spoilage like mold. With proper storage and handling, flour tortillas can stay fresh for 1-2 weeks past the date on the package.
Conclusion
It’s easy to spot signs that flour tortillas have spoiled, like mold, discoloration, and unpleasant odors. With their relatively short shelf life of just 1-2 weeks, it’s important to store them properly in the fridge or freezer and discard any expired ones. Freezing extends the shelf life for 1-2 months. Don’t risk eating flour tortillas past their prime – follow safe handling and storage methods to prevent foodborne illness from consuming bad tortillas.
