Vacuum tortillas

[George Leppla]

Becca made breakfast burritos this morning.

As usual, she wrapped corn tortillas in a damp cloth, put them in the
tortilla warmer and put the whole thing in the microwave.

Not as usual... when she took the warmer out of the microwave, the lid
was stuck fast. Most of the air had escaped as it heated, formed a
vacuum and the lid sealed tight... VERY tight. So tight that I could
not pry it open with a knife or screwdriver, so I drilled a tiny hole in
the lid to let the air in and that did the trick.

And in the future, the hole will prevent this from happening again.

It was the first time I needed to get out a power tool to help with
breakfast!

George L

[Joel Polowin]

On 11/23/2013 10:33 AM, George Leppla wrote:
> Not as usual... when she took the warmer out of the microwave, the lid
> was stuck fast. Most of the air had escaped as it heated, formed a
> vacuum and the lid sealed tight... VERY tight. So tight that I could
> not pry it open with a knife or screwdriver, so I drilled a tiny hole in
> the lid to let the air in and that did the trick.
>
> And in the future, the hole will prevent this from happening again.
>
> It was the first time I needed to get out a power tool to help with
> breakfast!

It may be for the best to have that little hole there. But
another way of solving the problem would have been to put the
warmer back in the microwave to raise the internal pressure
again. :-)

[notbob]

On 2013-11-23, Sqwertz <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote:

> A rinse in cold water would have worked.

Make that hot water. Cold water would only increase the vacuum.

--------

Gay-Lussac's Law: The Pressure Temperature Law, which states,
pressure is directly proportional to temperature:

P = T

--------

In short, as temperature increases, so does pressure. If temperature
decreases, likewise pressure. IOW, the tortilla warmer heated to a
maximum temperature and when it was removed from the nukifier, it
began to cool, thereby reducing internal temperature and pressure and
creating a vacuum. Put it back in the wavy machine or run under hot
water. I'd opt fer the former, as the water may wet the tortitties
when the seal breaks using the later. ;)

nb

[sf]

LOL - now that was funny... and resourceful of you, George. :)

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

[George Leppla]

On 11/23/2013 10:02 AM, notbob wrote:
> In short, as temperature increases, so does pressure. If temperature
> decreases, likewise pressure. IOW, the tortilla warmer heated to a
> maximum temperature and when it was removed from the nukifier, it
> began to cool, thereby reducing internal temperature and pressure and
> creating a vacuum. Put it back in the wavy machine or run under hot
> water. I'd opt fer the former, as the water may wet the tortitties
> when the seal breaks using the later.;)

Yes, thought of re-heating, etc. Figured that a tiny hole (used a 1/16"
drill) would not only solve the immediate problem but prevent it from
happening again. Helps that my tools are right in the next room so I
didn't have to go looking for them.

George L

[Pico Rico]

"George Leppla" <geo...@cruisemaster.com> wrote in message
news:l6qkv...@news6.newsguy.com...

now you have created a place for bacteria to hide.

[James Silverton]

Microwaving can be used for sterilization e.g.:
http://news.ufl.edu/2007/01/22/zap-the-bugs/

I don't know if is a separate effect or just the rise in temperature.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

[Pearl Buck]

On 11/23/2013 8:37 AM, Sqwertz wrote:

> A rinse in cold water would have worked. And for the first time in 10
> months you probably have actual cold water coming out of the taps as
> opposed to lukewarm.
>
> -sw
>
Maybe he didn't want wet tortillas.

[Pearl Buck]

On 11/23/2013 9:02 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2013-11-23, Sqwertz <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote:
>
>> A rinse in cold water would have worked.
>
> Make that hot water. Cold water would only increase the vacuum.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!!!

[Nunya Bidnits]

"Pico Rico" <Pico...@nonospam.com> wrote in message
news:l6ql4a$ieb$1...@news.mixmin.net...

That is certainly true, but now superheated steam will be forced through
that tiny hole, effectively killing anything hiding there.

I think the solution is not nuking them until ready to use them so the
container doesn't have time to cook after nuking. Theoretically there would
then be little pressure drop to suck the lid down.

MartyB

[Nunya Bidnits]

"Sqwertz" <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote in message
news:9okhqqlw...@sqwertz.com...

> On 23 Nov 2013 16:02:50 GMT, notbob wrote:
>
>> On 2013-11-23, Sqwertz <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote:
>>
>>> A rinse in cold water would have worked.
>>
>> Make that hot water. Cold water would only increase the vacuum.
>

> My rice pan lid gets sucked on when I let it sit on the stove for 15
> minutes. I run it under cold water to loosen the lid. It's almost
> instantaneous - you can hear it pop.
>
> But perhaps the metal lid is contracting. Or something.

Dingdingding correct. EVEN though cold would reduce internal pressure
further, the action of cold water on the lid is much more immediate. But
there is the issue of possibly getting the tortillas wet. A few ice cubes in
a towel would probably do it.

>
> Of course the real solution is to buy those raw tortillas and cook
> them in the pan to order. You'll never go back to pre-cooked
> tortillas again!

After you posted about them (Tortillaland raw tortillas) I went on a hunt
and found them locally at HyVee. I agree, they are really good. Quite
versatile.

One use I found is as a replacement for higher-carb pita bread. I made gyros
by very lightly brushing them with olive oil and then dropping them in a hot
skillet on both sides until they puff and the color changes, indicating they
are cooked through. It really has a nice texture. The gyros tasted great and
carbs were about half of a pita bread.

I've been using tortillas as a pastry for deep fried savory and sweet
empanadas because when fresh they puff up almost like a puff pastry. Eaten
very fresh the tortillas have a yeasty bready taste but still havew a
surface crispness, quite nice. which is These fresh tortillas raise the bar
even higher and seal better than even the freshest cooked tortillas.

MartyB

[Pearl Buck]

On 11/23/2013 11:40 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> I can't stand the overly bready pita breads.

But you need grill pussy, yeah?

http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.141053713.jpg

[Brooklyn1]

I use my power tool before breakfast. ;)

[Nunya Bidnits]

"Sqwertz" <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote in message

news:5jvg1oi7...@sqwertz.com...

> On Sat, 23 Nov 2013 11:45:00 -0600, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>
>> "Sqwertz" <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote in message
>> news:9okhqqlw...@sqwertz.com...
>>

>>> Of course the real solution is to buy those raw tortillas and cook
>>> them in the pan to order. You'll never go back to pre-cooked
>>> tortillas again!
>>
>> After you posted about them (Tortillaland raw tortillas) I went on a hunt
>> and found them locally at HyVee. I agree, they are really good. Quite
>> versatile.
>>
>> One use I found is as a replacement for higher-carb pita bread.
>

> Yep. I can't stand the overly bready pita breads. I use the
> tortillas to make falafel and gyro as well.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/sqwertz/11014036854/lightbox/
> (With cucumber sour cream sauce)
>
> -sw

Noticed you didn't call it tzatziki. So you made it with sour cream instead
of Greek yogurt, or in addition to?

MartyB

[Julie Bove]

"George Leppla" <geo...@cruisemaster.com> wrote in message

news:l6qhs...@news6.newsguy.com...

We've had that happen with a thermos. Finally just threw it out.

[Pearl Buck]

On 11/24/2013 12:09 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> I hate yogurt.

Yeah, so?

[Nunya Bidnits]

Sqwertz <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote:

> On Sat, 23 Nov 2013 15:50:57 -0600, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>
>> "Sqwertz" <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote in message
>> news:5jvg1oi7...@sqwertz.com...
>>> On Sat, 23 Nov 2013 11:45:00 -0600, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Sqwertz" <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote in message
>>>> news:9okhqqlw...@sqwertz.com...
>>>>
>>>>> Of course the real solution is to buy those raw tortillas and cook
>>>>> them in the pan to order. You'll never go back to pre-cooked
>>>>> tortillas again!
>>>>
>>>> After you posted about them (Tortillaland raw tortillas) I went on
>>>> a hunt and found them locally at HyVee. I agree, they are really
>>>> good. Quite versatile.
>>>>
>>>> One use I found is as a replacement for higher-carb pita bread.
>>>
>>> Yep. I can't stand the overly bready pita breads. I use the
>>> tortillas to make falafel and gyro as well.
>>>
>>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/sqwertz/11014036854/lightbox/
>>> (With cucumber sour cream sauce)
>>

>> Noticed you didn't call it tzatziki. So you made it with sour cream
>> instead of Greek yogurt, or in addition to?
>

> I hate yogurt. That is shredded and salted cucumber (drained), sour
> cream (ONLY Daisy Brand), cumin, with garlic and onion powders and
> left to mature for 2-3 hours. Any sauce leftover after a couple days
> is scooped up with Kettle brand lightly-salted potato chips ($3/lb at
> Costco).
>

No dill?

I make it with Greek yogurt and just a little bit of sour cream. Daisy is
good, around here so is Belfonte, no watery crap, nice and thick. I rpocess
the cucumber with a microplane so it drains very nicely and has great
texture in the sauce.

MartyB

[Janet Bostwick]

On Mon, 25 Nov 2013 17:17:42 -0600, Sqwertz <swe...@cluemail.compost>
wrote:

snip
>> No dill?
>
>If I use dill it's dried and just for show. Not much flavor left in
>dried dill.
>
snip
>-sw
you need to let dried dill sit a while in whatever dish you are making
to get the flavor out.
Janet US

[Nunya Bidnits]

This subthread reminds me I need to post about an herb product I found that
seems decent for winter needs. New post.

MartyB

[Pearl F. Buck]

Herb?

Sinsemillan?

[margo...@yahoo.com]

I put it back in the microwave and it opened--thanks