Corn vs. Flour Tortillas: What’s the Difference?

I’m sure several people are confused when we ask if they want corn or flour tortillas for their tacos. People may choose one or the other without knowing what the differences really are. We use both of these types for our many dishes, but we thought we’d give you an overview so you can make a better decision next time.

Corn Tortillas

When it comes to differences, it all starts with the name. Corn tortillas are made from corn and not flour. This gives them a unique texture and taste and many times is the go-to tortillas for Mexican tacos.

You’ve probably eaten corn tortillas and never even knew it. They hold up to frying well and are used in traditional nacho chips, crispy and soft tacos and tostadas.

When you’re chomping down on some of our delicious nachos or chips and salsa, you’re eating freshly prepared corn tortillas.

It’s their unique flavor and versatility that make then the go-to tortillas for traditional Mexican restaurants.

Flour Tortillas

If you’ve ever eaten a soft taco from that fast food Mexican-American Restaurant that shall not be named, then you’ve had a flour tortilla. As the name suggests, it’s a tortilla made with flour instead of corn.

It also has fat introduced to help keep the dough together. This also makes is less crispy when fried and keeps it from becoming a chip. There are fried tortillas tacos though, but they are more flaky than crispy.

We’ve also found flour tortillas to be more robust than corn. They’re less likely to split open and dump your contents on the plate. It’s also why many times corn tortillas use two shells for a taco.

Flour tortillas are softer and more pliable than corn and often used for burritos.

The biggest downside of a flour tortilla is the lack of flavor. If you want to make what’s inside the dish shine, then a flour tortilla is the way to go. If you want to have the flavor of the tortillas mix with the rest of the food, then choose corn.

There is No Right or Wrong

When it comes to choosing a corn or flour tortilla, there is no right or wrong answer. It’s all about your personal preference. We suggest trying them both out and seeing what your favorite is.

Stop by and experiment with tortilla choice with some of our delicious tacos, burritos and more.