Cast Iron Tortilla Press
Rick Bayless, author of "Authentic Mexican" as well as star chef recommends using a traditional cast iron tortilla press for making fresh tortillas. Small rounds of masa are inserted between the two plates and with one simple press... a fresh tortilla is made!
The primary advantage of the cast iron press is "leverage" and weight and makes your pressing job a little easier. If you are making lots of tortillas frequently then this may be a good way to go. The down side is the press is heavy to lift and move around (about 6 - 8 pounds).
Cast Iron Tortilla Press Sizes
Typically the tortilla press ranges in size from 6" up to 8". The traditional versions are still made in Mexico and South America although products are being made in China now as well. Most of the Chinese made products are aluminum or plastic so we suggest you steer clear of those.
Selecting The Right Finish
- Classic Silver Coating - The typical Mexican tortilla press has a "silver" painted on coating normally "crudely" applied. The purpose of the coating is to prevent the cast iron from rusting. Don't be concerned about the "paint job" because you never put dough directly on the surface. (See tortilla making instructions). The "rustic" nature of the "authentic" Mexican made tortilla press is part of the fun of Mexican cooking. These presses tend to be less expensive. We don't sell this style of press.
- Powder Coating - Powder coating is actually an electrostatic applied finish. It is more smooth to the touch but more important does not flake like the more common silver coating. If you dont' like a flaky surface this is a better choice for you. View this product
- Unfinished - Some manufactures are now offering an un-coated tortilla press. The press has a light seal coat on it but no painted surface. This is a good choice if you prefer no painted coating. These presses must never be soaked in water and always dried well before storing or they will rust. View this tortilla press
Cast Aluminum Tortilla Press
The aluminum press is light and easy to handle. It is pretty and shinny but you have to press harder so you get a bit more exercise using this press. Too much pressure may actually snap and break the press. There are some aluminum presses made in Mexico although the preferred is cast iron. A popular cast aluminum version is made by Norpro, made in the Orient. Our advise is unless you think you'll make tortillas once then never again, then buy a better quality press.
The Wooden Tortilla Press

The wooden press is pretty with an overall larger footprint than the cast iron versions. Wooden presses are still commonly used in Mexico. Even when we travel to outdoor Mexican markets in the U.S. we still see them in use for making fresh corn tortillas and also for making epanadas. Our version as shown above is made from solid blocks of hard mesquite wood. Many common presses are made of pine but that is a very soft wood and they just don't hold up for long periods of time. The better press as shown above is made of mesquite or oak, both of which are much heavier hard woods. With an 8" x 8" platform it will make a very generous sized tortilla.
The downside to the wood press is that they are commonly more crude than the one shown above. The bolts and hinges are normally steel and are prone to rust. This does not affect the usefulness of the press but just the aesthetics. Also this press is pretty big and bulky and takes up a lot of storage space.
Encino Wood Tortilla Presses
Another good quality (but very hard to find) is the "encino wood" tortilla press. Slightly smaller and more compact than our larger mesquite version but still features an ample 8" platform. Encino wood is a hard white oak native to Mexico. The overall dimensions are 11" long x 8 1/4" wide. The actual tortilla making surface is about 8"" square. (Currently out of stock)
The other more common wooden press is made out of natural soft pine and is the type of press frequently found in small Mexican grocery stores. The wood is almost white in color and unfinished and very light weight. Pine will eventually warp and become unusable so we don't suggest that type of press. You are much better off with a cast iron product than a light-weight wood press.
Bottom line, if you feel you need or want this type of press, only purchase a hardwood product (mesquite or oak).
The Electric Tortilla Press
It was only a matter of time....There have been several versions of the electric tortilla press available in the last several years. A new version has hit the market that is worth consideration. Although we are proponents of the "traditional powered by humans version" we think that this electric press has some virtues.
To use this gadget you plug it in, place a ball of dough between the plates, press, bake, all in one step. Beyond use for making tortillas you can make other nutritious flatbreads like pita, Roti, Foccacia, Gryo and Moo Shoo pancakes. The press plates are 10" in diameter and are made of heavy weight die cast aluminum for even heat distribution. The press can sit on it's end for compact storage. Buy the Best Revel CTM-660 8" Tortilla Maker/Flat Bread Maker