If you’ve wanted to make your burritos and freeze them for quick lunches or dinners, you’re in the right place. Homemade burritos are way better than any ready-made, frozen versions, and you’ll want to make sure you freeze them the right way so that they don’t lose their flavor.
Here are some quick tips for making and freezing your burritos so that you can have a Mexican night in minutes.
We’ll include a quick recipe at the end for making your own tortillas, too.
What to remember when making your burritos
Here are some handy tips for implementing when making your burritos if you know you’ll be freezing them.
· Use large tortillas at room temperature. If your tortillas are cold, warm them gently first in a pan so that they’ll be easier to roll. Make sure you are using tortillas that are big enough for burritos.
· Avoid fillings that drip. If you have a very wet filling, the drips won’t do you any favors in the freezer. You’ll have frozen liquid between the burrito and the foil, which won’t help your tortilla get crispy when you heat it to eat it later.
· Fill your burritos when everything is at room temperature. Don’t use hot fillings, and then put your burritos immediately in the freezer: your tortillas will get soggy before the burritos can freeze. Room temperature ingredients also mean that your burritos will freeze faster, which helps lock in the flavors.
· Roll your burritos tightly. Make sure you’ve folded the ends over to keep the filling inside. You want your burrito to hold together well when you heat it and eat it. If you aren’t sure how to roll a burrito, here’s how.
How to freeze your burritos
Once you’ve added the fillings to your burrito, roll it up tightly. Make sure you fold the ends over so that the fillings stay inside.
Next, wrap your burrito in foil – do this tightly to avoid air pockets. You don’t want to put the burritos in a bag or container without foil since they will stick together. The foil is also useful when you reheat them. Wrap each burrito individually, and then stack them in a freezer-safe container or a freezer bag.
Your burritos should keep for up to 6 months.
How to reheat your burritos
When it’s time to reheat your burritos, don’t microwave them! If you use a microwave, all of your work will be wasted, as the filling will be warm, but the tortillas will be soggy.
Instead, here’s how to do it:
Remove the burrito from the foil, and defrost it overnight in the fridge. Alternatively, defrost it in a microwave on the defrost setting for 7 minutes on each side. The idea is to thaw your burrito slightly without cooking it.
Now put your burrito in a nonstick pan or skillet over medium heat and heat till brown and crispy. Your filling will be nice and warm, and your tortilla will be crisp and tasty.
Another way to reheat your frozen burrito is in the oven. No need to unwrap it first – pop it in an oven that’s preheated to 400 degrees F. Let it heat for 45 minutes before removing the foil. Return the burrito to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes more so that the tortilla gets crispy, then serve.
How to make flour tortillas
If you want everything to be homemade, you may want to make your own flour tortillas.
This simple recipe makes 8 tortillas.
Ingredients
· 2 cups all-purpose flour
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 3/4 cup water
· 3 tablespoons olive oil (or other favorite oil)
Method
Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl, then stir in the water and the oil.
Put the dough on a floured surface and knead it for a few minutes. Adjust the texture if you need to with a little more flour or water for a smooth dough.
Cover the dough using the upturned bowl and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Form tortillas, either rolling them out or using a cast-iron tortilla press. Each tortilla should be roughly 7 inches in diameter.
Cook tortillas on medium heat in a greased cast-iron skillet (or heavy pan) for 1 minute on each side. You’ll know one side is done when it starts to brown slightly in a few places (like small brown spots).
Place each tortilla in a bowl with a lid or a basket wrapped in a towel so that it would stay warm while you cook the rest of the tortillas.
Serve warm.
