Customer Reviews

Norpro Taco Press

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

There are two ways to use this utensil... plunge into deep fat, or cook one side at a time. If you do one side at a time, you actually have to fry one side, take hold of the cool side of the tortilla, and flip it over and fry the other side because of the configuration of the handle, you can't just turn the thing over. You have to flip the tortilla itself. Still a timesaver if you're used to molding them in the pan with regular tongs. I do wear a leather work glove on the hand I'm holding it with, though. It gets quite warm.

I read the previous reviews and almost didn't buy this product, but for the price I decided to give it a try. I was skeptical because of the "V" shaped comment in a previous review, but I was relieved to find the one I received is shaped to form a perfect "U" shaped taco. I have no complaints and I highly recommend this product.

I have one of these. The picture is deceptive. These tongs actually just make a v shape taco. The picture shows the classic u shape. I have searched high and low for one that does the u shape with no luck. This product does work, if you don't mind having the v shape. (you will break the shell when you eat it).

this works a lot better than making taco shells the old fashioned way but since the corn tortillas are a little larger than the piece holding them, they sometimes fold over the ends making it difficult to remove the finished shell from the taco press. other than that i like this product.

I have looked EVERYWHERE for a taco press. You would THINK that California of all places would have such a thing. Of course Amazon.com came thru. Thankyou!

Its not fancy or made to last a life time but it works just like I expected. No problems with this product at all so far. We have a deep fryer that we heat up and dip the taco shells in that because it works best in deep oil.(plus its easier clean up that way)

I thought this was really a goofy purchase, I mean it just looks like a gadget, but when I tried it in a DEEP saucepan of 350 degree peanut oil it worked GREAT!

The size is right for the really small tortillas you can find at a tortilleria (WORTH THE TRIP BTW) but works with regular (US) corn (maize) tortillas. Obviously if your tortillas are cold (as in refrigerated) or stale (hello) they'll crack if you bend them too hard all at once. Try just holding them in the taco maker and lowering them into the oil. It'll soften in no time.

I found that about twenty or twenty-five seconds was ideal. I tried one for a full minute and it was crunchy, good for chips but not what I want in a taco shell. You do want to use a deep saucepan so you can cook the entire tortilla/shell in a single pass. You want some headroom at the top so that when the water escapes the tortilla as steam that you're not caught in the angry bubbling. A Progressive International Stainless Steel Splatter Screen works well here -- all the steam is also carrying microscopic bits of oil, which will eventually settle in your kitchen.

Really the best homemade taco shells I've ever tasted. Much easier than artistically creating each taco shell with simple tongs and a pan of hot oil. It looks like a gadget, but it really works well!

1. Use good oil (peanut oil is a good choice, expensive but worth it)
2. Get the oil hot (use a probe thermometer like Taylor Digital Cooking Thermometer/Timer)
3. If there's a tortilleria anywhere near you, check it out. The difference in flavor between supermarket tortillas and fresh (as in still warm) tortillas is day and night.

This product really works well. It makes the shell better than any restaurant and is easy to clean. We love it.

I purchased 2 of these because I make my own corn tortillas from corn flour and flour tortillas. Once you try made from scratch tacos you will never buy tacos from the store again, I promise you. So since this device is designed to either be submerged in fat or oil or doing one side then flipping the taco to the other side (which I prefer) I noticed when the one side cooked and I went to turn it, the other uncooked side pretty much fell apart. I solved this by: When the one side of the taco is frying in the oil, I take a metal dipper and pour the hot oil on the other side. This cooks it enough to when I need to take the taco out and switch it to the other side, it is stable enough to not crack. My sons LOVE my tacos and this device makes them beautifully uniform without all the puffy bubbles. Thank you.

Ok for the guy saying that the tortilla just breaks.. DO NOT close all the way before plunging into oil as cold shells do crack and putting it loosely in the bender then into the oil and warming first before clamping tighter works better. I have not have the "hot' problem when using the handles. But I have been using this for years! It is awesome and cooks your tortillas great if you take the time to do it correctly.This item IS made for deep fryers for best results.