9 Best Tortilla Steamers
When preparing tortillas, you want them to be warm and soft when you serve them. Cold, dry tortillas are not only difficult to work with, but they aren’t as appetizing either!
The best way to warm up tortillas for dinner is to use a tortilla steamer, whether you are serving the tortillas as a side or wrapping them up with some fillings.
What are the best tortilla steamers? The best tortilla steamers will keep tortillas warm and keep them moist until you are ready to eat them. It is important to choose one that is made from a durable material that can suit the kitchen appliance you are using, whether the oven or microwave.
To help you pick out the best tortilla steamer and warmer for your kitchen, read on for our top recommendations at the moment, and what to look for to ensure you choose the right one!
How To Choose The Best Tortilla Steamer
You do need to put some thought into choosing the best tortilla steamer to use for your home. There is a range of different options — all of which work great, but all of which suit different needs and different kitchens.
Below are the various factors that you need to consider when finding the best tortilla steamer for you!
Material
Tortilla steamers are available in a range of different materials. The most popular are plastic, ceramic, woven straw, and cloth.
When choosing the material, think about how you will be warming the tortillas. If it will be in the microwave, then make sure that the warmer is microwave-safe, and the same if you will be using it in the oven.
It does come down to personal preference when choosing the material, whether you want a more sturdy ceramic warmer, or a cloth warmer that can be used to warm up a few tortillas at a time.
Size
While the material of the tortilla steamer is important, the size is possibly the most important factor to consider.
First, consider the size of the tortillas you use most often, whether they are smaller tortillas for tacos or larger tortillas for burritos. Then, consider how many tortillas you would usually be warming up at one time.
The size and depth of tortilla steamers do vary, so make sure you find one that will suit your needs, and which would hopefully be able to warm up all of your tortillas in one go.
Ease Of Cleaning
You need to make sure that the tortilla steamer you are purchasing is easy to clean. As they are made from various materials, the cleaning does differ between the different options.
Ceramic tortilla steamers are easier to clean, as they can be washed with warm water and soap, and sometimes even be dishwasher-safe.
Cloth steamers might need to be washed in the washing machine, while woven straw steamers will need to be cleaned by hand, usually spot-cleaned and dried with a kitchen towel.
Keeping Warm
Some tortilla steamers can keep tortillas warmer for longer, and these are great for when you are serving the tortillas straight from the steamer.
You can place the steamer out on the serving table and allow people to dish up on their own, enjoying a warm tortilla.
Other tortilla steamers lose heat quickly once removed from the microwave or oven, which is fine if you are going to be using the tortillas straight away to make burritos or tacos, and you do not need to keep them warm for serving.
The Best Tortilla Steamers
Keeping in mind all of the factors of what to look for when choosing the best tortilla steamer, take a look at the below best options to find the perfect one for you!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nordic Ware Microwave Tortilla Warmer 10-Inch | Microwave- and dishwasher-safe, suitable for burrito-sized tortillas. |
| 2 | Tortilla Warmer Insulated Cloth 12-Inch | Fabric steamer, large 12-inch diameter, keeps tortillas warm and can hold 11 tortillas. |
| 3 | Outset Cast Iron Tortilla Warmer | Multi-use; cast iron; stovetop-, oven-, and grill-safe. |
| 4 | Norpro Tortilla Keeper | Good for medium-sized tortillas, microwave- and dishwasher-safe. |
| 5 | CSF Lift Off Jumbo Tortilla Server | Large 12-inch design, microwave-safe, stackable container and lid. |
| 6 | Pine Needle Tortilla Warmer | Pine needle basket keeps tortillas warm, made with 100% natural materials. |
| 7 | Uno Casa Ceramic Tortilla Warmer And Holder | Microwave- and oven-safe, bright color, durable ceramic. |
| 8 | Dexas Large Microwavable Tortilla Warmer | Durable design, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, cool-touch handles. |
| 9 | M&R Tortilla Warmer | Fabric steamer, 100% cotton, 10 inches. |
1. Nordic Ware Microwave Tortilla Warmer 10-Inch
The Nordic Ware Microwave Tortilla Warmer 10-Inch is a great tool to have in your kitchen, especially when warming tortillas!
Measuring 10 inches in diameter, it is a good option for burrito-sized tortillas, but it can also be used for smaller-sized tortillas too.
Being a microwave-safe plastic, you can easily warm up multiple tortillas at a time in the microwave, steaming the tortillas to warm them up gently while keeping them moist as they are heated.
The plastic used to make the tortilla steamer is BPA- and melamine-free, so you know it is safe to use for the whole family.
The steamer does a great job of keeping the tortillas warm once removed from the microwave, so you can serve your family and guests warm and soft tortillas straight from the warmer.
You can also clean up quickly, as the steamer is dishwasher-safe, so you can enjoy your tortillas without worrying about clean-up.
While great for tortillas, you can also use the steamer to warm up crêpes, waffles, and pita bread too.
2. Tortilla Warmer Insulated Cloth 12-Inch
This oversized fabric tortilla warmer measures 12 inches in diameter, so it is able to hold almost all sizes of tortillas, whether flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or even roti, pita, pancakes, or waffles.
In less than a minute in a microwave, the warmer will heat up the tortillas to be warmer and soft, steaming them so that they do not dry out.
Made from the highest quality materials (such as a high food-grade polyester) with an insulated interior liner, the fabric steamer not only warms the tortillas well, but keeps them warm for quite some time until you are ready to use or enjoy them.
The inside of the fabric steamer has directions on how to use it, and the times to follow for a certain amount of tortillas. You can fit up to 11 tortillas into the fabric steamer at one time.
The colorful, patterned design of the fabric steamer will look great in your kitchen, too!
3. Outset Cast Iron Tortilla Warmer
If you are looking for a multi-use tortilla steamer to keep in the kitchen, then this Outset Cast Iron Tortilla Warmer is definitely one for you to consider!
It is a pre-seasoned cast iron pot that works well to steam tortillas, but it doubles up as a dutch oven too.
The cast iron steamer is safe to use on the stovetop, in the oven, or on the grill, so you have a few different options on how you would want to steam the tortillas to warm them up.
Being made from cast iron, the steamer retains heat well, so the tortillas will be kept warm well after they are removed from the heat source.
The diameter of the pot measures 10.25 inches, which allows it to fit fairly large tortillas, and it is 3.5 inches high, so you can stack quite a few tortillas in there to heat up in one go.
This is a great option for a multi-purpose tool in the kitchen, and it still does a great job at steaming tortillas.
4. Norpro Tortilla Keeper
The Norpro Tortilla Keeper is one of the best options around to steam, reheat, and keep warm tortillas of different sizes.
It measures 8.5 inches in diameter, which makes it a good option for tortillas used for tacos and as a side to meals.
Other than using it for tortillas, it is great to use for pitas, flatbread, chapatis, waffles, pancakes, and much more.
The sturdy construction allows it to last a long time in the kitchen, and it is safe to use in the microwave so that you can warm the tortillas up in a flash.
This insulated food server is ideal for keeping tortillas warm, soft, and fresh, and you can either use them straight away or use the warmer to keep the tortillas warm before serving.
It is also dishwasher-safe, so you can enjoy easy cleanup after your meal!
5. CFS Lift Off Jumbo Tortilla Server
The CFS Lift Off Jumbo Tortilla Server measures 12 inches in diameter, so it is suitable for small taco tortillas, or larger tortillas used for burritos.
It is thick-walled, both for durability to last a long time in the kitchen, and for insulation, to keep the tortillas warm well after they are removed from the microwave.
The tortilla steamer is microwave-safe and safe to be used in the dishwasher, for temperatures up to 190°F. Being microwave-safe, you can warm the tortillas up in under a minute.
Wrapped in an Aztec-inspired design, the black steamer will fit into your kitchen beautifully, and be a perfect dish to serve the tortillas from when entertaining guests.
The lid and the container are stackable, which helps with space in your kitchen too!
6. Pine Needle Tortilla Warmer
The Pine Needle Tortilla Warmer is made by rural artisans, which allows it to be traditional and authentic — plus it does a great job at steaming tortillas and keeping them warm!
All the materials used are 100% natural, and overall, the warmer is 100% sustainable and biodegradable.
Measuring 9.8 inches in diameter, the warmer can hold good-sized tortillas, but might not be able to hold large burrito tortillas. However, it can also be used for other food items, such as pancakes, crêpes, bread, waffles, and more.
The pine needle basket does an exceptional job at keeping tortillas warm after steaming, and it also makes a beautiful dish to serve the tortillas from as well.
Cleaning is also made easy, as the product is resistant to water and humidity, so you simply have to clean the basket with a damp cloth and sanitize it with the usual sanitizing products if you want.
7. Uno Casa Ceramic Tortilla Warmer And Holder
The Uno Casa Tortilla Warmer has a tight-fitting lid that locks in heat and freshness, keeping the tortillas soft, warm and moist; ready to use to make tacos or to eat as is.
Made from ceramic, the tortilla warmer is both oven- and microwave-safe, so you can choose the heating method depending on what suits you best.
Being 8.6 inches in diameter, the warmer will not fit larger tortillas, but it is a good option for smaller homemade tortillas, and when warming tortillas to use to make tacos.
Durable and strong, as well as quick and easy to clean, this colorful stoneware tortilla warmer will definitely be a great addition to your kitchen!
8. Dexas Large Microwavable Tortilla Warmer
The durable design of the Dexas Large Microwavable Tortilla Warmer means it will last a long time in your kitchen, and heat batch after batch of tortillas up.
It measures 9.6 inches in diameter, so it will only be able to hold tortillas up to this size.
Heavy wall poly construction allows for better insulation, keeping the tortillas warm even when the steamer has been removed from the microwave.
The cool-touch silicone handle stays cool, so you do not have to worry about burning your fingers when removing it from the microwave.
The steamer is microwave- and dishwasher-safe, so you can have the tortillas warmed up quickly, and you do not have to worry about cleanup afterward either!
9. M&R Tortilla Warmer
The M&R Tortilla Warmer will keep tortillas steaming hot, and prevent them from going soggy.
The fabric steamer keeps tortillas hot for up to an hour and reduces the amount of moisture stored, which means the tortillas are fresh and hot, but not overly moist.
This fabric steamer can hold up to 10 tortillas at a time, warming them evenly throughout. With a 10- to 12-inch diameter, you can also fit in just about any size of tortilla that you need.
Made with 100% cotton, the fabric steamer is microwave-safe, and it allows moisture to escape to keep tortillas in the best quality. To clean it, you can either hand wash it or pop it into the washing machine for a quick rinse.
It is also available in a range of different colorful designs, so you can choose the one that suits your kitchen best!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve learned all the factors to consider when looking to buy a tortilla steamer, here are some additional questions that we thought you might have.
Can tortilla steamers only be used for tortillas?
Tortilla steamers do not only have to be only used for tortillas. They are great to use to warm up pancakes, pita bread, flatbread, roti, chapati, and so much more.
How long will a tortilla steamer keep a tortilla warm?
How long a tortilla warmer will keep a tortilla warm depends on the material it is made with and the insulation, but generally, a good quality tortilla warmer should keep tortillas warm for between 20–60 minutes.
The tortillas will be kept soft, warm, and fresh for some time after being heated.
