Tortillas are found in many different Mexican dishes such as burritos, tacos, chimichangas, fajitas and many more. Tortillas have been used in Mexican food for over a thousand years. Now, one finds that any number of items on the menu will offer either flour or corn tortillas in various Mexican dishes. However, what is the difference between flour or corn and which type of tortilla is better for the different types of Mexican cuisine? Eddie’s Mexican Restaurant will share the difference between flour and corn tortillas.

Tortilla Ingredients; Corn & Water or Flour, Water, Oil, Salt & Baking Soda

When separating flour from corn tortillas you have to start with the ingredients in each. When it comes to corn tortillas, the primary ingredient is, of course, corn and water. Corn tortillas are made by a process called nixtamalization. This process involves the soaking and cooking of corn in an alkaline solution such as lime-water. Flour tortillas use more ingredients in contrast to corn tortillas. As you can guess, flour tortillas contain flour, water, oil, a bit of salt, and baking soda. Either lard or vegetable shorting is used to help make the flour tortillas softer than corn tortillas.

Texture of Corn or Flour Tortilla

Another major difference between corn and flour tortillas is the texture. Both tortillas are flexible and can be used for tacos or burritos. However, corn tortillas are slightly more firm and chewier. Corn tortillas are also easier to break into pieces which is why they are frequently used for chips or fried Mexican dishes such as tostadas or tacos. Flour tortillas are often softer and vary in size. The flour tortilla tends to be larger than corn tortillas. Due to flour tortilla’s soft, fluffy, and more flexible texture, they are best used for fajitas, tacos, and burritos.

Corn & Flour Tortilla Nutrition

For those who find they enjoy both flour and corn tortilla will often base what type of tortilla to have with their meal according to which one is healthier. Tortillas are considered lower in calories than breads which is why many diets use tortilla wraps versus bread. When comparing which one is better, corn or flour both have their own set of benefits. Corn tortillas are loaded with fiber and magnesium. Fiber aids in digestion while magnesium helps the heart and brain muscle function. Corn tortillas are considered a whole grain and have fewer carbohydrates and calories. Flour tortillas are often less healthy than corn as they are made with fats to create their softer texture. However, when it comes to calories, there is not a whole lot of difference between flour and corn. Additionally, flour tortillas have protein, iron, and calcium.

Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Las Vegas, Nevada (Just Minutes from Summerlin, North LV, Paradise, Lone Mountain & Henderson, NV

There are plenty of differences between flour and corn tortillas. However, which one is better comes down to individual preferences. Tortillas are a staple in many Mexican dishes. When attending your favorite Mexican restaurant you will often have your choice of flour or corn tortillas. At Eddie’s Mexican Restaurant we provide a number of dishes with your choice of corn or flour tortillas. When you are craving your favorite Mexican food, come on down to Eddie’s Mexican Restaurant and enjoy your favorite dish today.