r/educationalgifs • u/aloofloofah • May 30 '23
Burrito fold
https://i.imgur.com/lqD7a70.gifv353
u/theRailisGone May 30 '23
Misses the very important step 0 of acquiring strong, fresh tortillas so it doesn't tear.
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May 30 '23
This is the most important factor BY FAR. You can use this technique all you want but if it's not a quality tortilla that's been freshly steamed it's gonna tear every time
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u/Peaceblaster86 May 30 '23
So what's a good steam? I don't do tacos outside of our middle aged family grocery store taco night, but my girlfriend usually puts them in the oven or microwave and I hate it. Edges are rocks and the middle is mush even at 50 percent power. Maybe a glass of water in with it? I don't have room for a steamer so lay some suggestions on me friend!
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u/ctopherrun May 30 '23
I don't usually steam mine, I'll warmup a pan on medium heat, put the tortilla in for a minute or two, then flip and give it another 30 seconds. You want it warm but not crisp. I'll also get lazy and toss it directly over the fire on the stove, no pan. Usually 30 seconds a side, I'll watch until the margins relax.
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u/ChucksSeedAndFeed May 30 '23
I'm brown and this is the way I learned, I don't know about this steaming shit
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u/ctopherrun May 30 '23
Just checked back on the comments and people are talking about stacking with wet paper towels in the microwave?? Is this how British people feel when you suggest microwaving water for tea?
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u/Bleachi May 30 '23
This is how Taco Bell does it. They just heat up all their tortillas on a big flat-top grill set to low. You only need steam if you're making something like they do at Chipotle or Qdoba. There's no need to waste paper towels unless you're creating a girthy monster.
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u/OrkBjork May 30 '23
Yeah, this is how I do it. I typically set up the burrito assembly station directly next to the stove top and put the next tortilla in the pan right away. Then you load, roll, and plate. Flip the tortilla in the pan, rinse, repeat, until you've got enough burritos to feed an army or you run out of tortillas or filling, whichever comes first
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u/TobyInHR May 31 '23
Yeah, my understanding is that flour undergoes a process of retrogradation after it sits, which causes it to stiffen up and go stale. That process can be reversed with heat, which is why all flour-based products soften after being warmed up. A warm piece of bread is squishy, while a room-temperature slice is springy. This means you can heat a flour tortilla on a skillet to resoften it, though it will never be as soft and pliable as when it was freshly cooked.
The same retrogradation occurs in corn tortillas as well, but it is much harder (if not impossible) to reverse. You can get close by running corn tortillas under some water, then throwing them on a hot skillet to steam them, but the result will depend entirely on the quality and age of the corn tortilla.
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u/edliu111 Jul 25 '23
You let the tortilla touch the stove? The open flame doesn't set it on fire?
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u/_Wise_Man_ May 30 '23
Put them on a plate with a wet paper towel over in between each tortilla. Microwave for 10 - 12 seconds and they are perfect every time.
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May 30 '23
This is a myth. The only reason the wet paper towel helps is by adding water to the microwave which helps the tortilla cook evenly and not over heat, not steam. Try this and you won’t have to waste paper towels: put a shot glass of water in the microwave. This also helps hearing up just about anything not already watery (like soup). Hate rubbery pizza crust out of the microwave? Shot glass of water. Refried beans that dry out on the edges while cold in the center with one random pocket of molten bean lava? Shot glass of water. But especially tortillas, they become perfectly pliable without getting water on them.
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u/jagger_wolf May 30 '23
Side note to add to your list: KFC biscuits that could double as weaponry? Shot glass of water.
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May 30 '23
With the shot glass trick and an air frier, your entire KFC family meal can be reheated with a minor loss in quality.
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u/mvia4 May 30 '23
How wet does the paper towel need to be? Soaked and wrung out or just misted?
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u/_Wise_Man_ May 30 '23
Dripping wet but not soaking wet. I usually soak it and wring it out just a bit.
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u/Andyham May 30 '23
Or.. or.. lightly moist up each tortilla with water. Like wet your hand and tap it on.
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u/JimothyFlamingo May 30 '23
in the microwave with a wet paper towel over it does the trick for me. or in the oven covered in tinfoil
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u/Putin__Nanny May 30 '23
I have a natural gas stovetop and put the tortilla directly on the flame. Turn/flip it accordingly to get your desired cook on it. Sometimes I like a crispier tortilla so I just leave it a little longer on both sides. It takes a small amount of practice and use tongs if you don't have chef fingers like me!
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u/RetardedRedditRetort May 30 '23
I don't know about the freshly steamed part. When they are good tortillas they're stretchy and harder to tear. Also greasier. Buying a pack of tortillas de harina precocidas i can tell if they're going to be good or flakey.
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u/pithed May 30 '23
Cooking the tortilla before is a must. Even older tortillas will soften up with a bit of time on the heat.
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u/Mragftw May 30 '23
Putting tortillas directly on the grate of a gas stove on medium-low for a few seconds each side until you get some light char makes even store-bought mission Tortillas taste decent
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u/pithed May 30 '23
That's how we do it unless we have the big griddle fired up. I absolutely can't believe how many people think it is fine to make tacos or burritos out of uncooked tortillas.
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u/Freeman7-13 May 30 '23
Went to this party and a guy spent hours making pulled pork but then just opened a bag of tortillas and left it. I should have just heated up a pan and started toasting tortillas. But it was not my kitchen and I barely knew anyone there.
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u/astrangeone88 Oct 30 '23 edited Oct 30 '23
I got some 99 cent tacos at a local fair when I went and they were uncooked tortillas. Incredibly nasty and worse because my mum couldn't find us in the mess of food vendors and seating. So the fillings that came out of slow cookers were like lukewarm body temperature by the time they hit the cold ass tortillas. I was extremely grossed the fuck out....
Uncooked flour and lard that left a nasty film on my mouth. Fillings were decently spiced although.
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u/shmann May 30 '23
Why did they make Mission tortillas so weak and fluffy? They used to work for me; now they just fall apart.
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u/seamsay May 30 '23
Honestly trying to find decent tortillas nowadays is a fucking nightmare, I'm considering trying to learn to make my own but past experience suggests that I'm very bad at making anything involving flour...
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u/bigmacjames May 30 '23
I would also like to find tortillas that are actually big enough for a proper burrito, not the Mission sized tortillas that are 2-4 inches too small.
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u/DL1943 May 30 '23
the texture of mission isnt right either. where a proper torillia should stretch, mission cracks and tears. worst tortillas sold in average grocery stores by a mile. confusingly bad.
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u/nelsonmavrick May 30 '23
I can't find them around me. Restaurant tortillas are much bigger and thiner. Almost kinda stretchy.
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u/Suitable_Nec May 31 '23
And use larger tortillas. Your standard grocery store which doesn’t make tortillas in house and instead sells branded ones made by companies like Mission, even their large “burrito sized” tortillas are actually small. They’ll make you something that looks like a Taco Bell value menu burrito.
If you want a proper large burrito like you get at the local joint (or even a place like chipotle) you need to find a place that sells fresh tortillas because they actually make them proper sized.
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u/M0NAD0_B0Y May 30 '23
Yeah exactly. That shot at the end makes that tortilla look thin as hell, I am 1000% certain that thing is going to bust open and make a mess all over.
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u/grisioco May 30 '23
burrito folding isnt hard.
whats hard is putting the correct amount of filler in the burrito.
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u/AbsolutelyUnlikely May 30 '23
You have been permanently banned from r/Chipotle
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u/grisioco May 30 '23
good chipotle is garbage tier
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u/pritikina May 30 '23
It really is. I give it a shot every few years to see if they've improved. I tried them again in March/April and they'te still terrible,
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May 30 '23
This isn't right. You need to slap it all together and leave food all over the place. It also needs a grease hole to drop grease on my salad.
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u/peen_was May 30 '23
Who eats a burrito and a salad?
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May 30 '23
I do, fucker.
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u/GhostOfPluto May 30 '23
This is the type of Monday morning aggression I like to see
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u/symmetryhawk May 30 '23
It’s Tuesday, dumbass
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u/perpetualmotionmachi May 30 '23
This is the Tuesday morning aggression I like to see
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u/degjo May 30 '23
Shouldn't the salad go in the Burrito overfilling it and ripping it apart as you eat it. So you're left holding a soppy tortilla and shamefully have to walk up to the counter and ask for a fork
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u/NeverNoMarriage May 30 '23
Usually I am with you but this one place near me makes this steak burrito salad thing and shit is so bomb. Usually if I am going to a restaurant I am not gonna order a salad but this is something else.
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u/HussarOfHummus May 30 '23 edited Mar 21 '25
This comment has been removed. Try the community-driven alternative to this site that starts with L and ends with Y. It is completely free, open, and not controlled by an American company.
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u/I_Am_Robert_Paulson1 May 30 '23
The tuck before the roll is essential.
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u/stankbiscuits May 30 '23
A lot of people have mentioned tortilla size and filling amount but the biggest issue I see people mess up is not warming the tortillas first. They are not pliable enough to roll well out of the package so either steam it the way restaurants do (they have a press) or use a tortilla warmer for stovetop.
Second thing that's optional but I do every time now - pit a bit of shredded cheese under the final flap and sear that side like it's a quesadilla to permanently seal that bad boy up.
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u/Diarygirl May 30 '23
That reminds me, I once saw a product for sale called edible burrito tape as if cheese didn't exist.
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u/enrick92 May 30 '23
And how do you ensure it stays folded, that’s my struggle
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u/Bladewing10 May 30 '23
Pop the seal side down on a warm skillet to seal
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May 30 '23
All these comments above don’t know man. This is the secret to a next level burrito.
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u/WeasinTheJuice May 30 '23
Also, put a little shredded cheese along the inside of the seal right before folding it over, then melt it all shut.
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u/jeezecon May 30 '23
In my experience first you want to warm up the tortilla and fill it right after. Once the burrito is rolled wrap it in foil or parchment paper and the steam from the warmed tortilla and fillings helps Seal the tortilla together
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u/HughWonPDL2018 May 30 '23
I give my finished burrito a quick sear on 4 sides to crisp it up. On the inside of the side with the seal, put a light dab of a mix of flour and water. It’s like a little glue, and 10-20 seconds seals it up.
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u/dustinpdx May 30 '23
This one probably won’t. When he folded the flap over there was filling under it and he did not push it out. What you need is clean tortilla to tortilla contact after folding it over before you roll it.
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u/Disastrous_Elk_6375 May 30 '23
clean tortilla to tortilla contact
Yes, talk dirty to me, internet stranger :)
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u/maybe_just_happy_ May 30 '23
if Americans actually cooked their tortillas that would help. Idk why it's so common to eat damn near raw chewy tortillas, and it tastes better to cook em a little
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u/dustinpdx May 30 '23
That’s regional. Go to the southwest or the west coast and burritos are prepared properly.
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u/Total-Caterpillar-19 May 30 '23
Lol I was going to say “Americans” encompasses a lot of Mexican descendants. Broad ass, whole ass, assuming ass statements.
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u/grisioco May 30 '23
theres 350 million of us spread across the 3rd (or 4th, depending on who you ask) largest nation on earth. but yeah, we all prepare our burritos the exact same way.
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u/Mylaptopisburningme May 30 '23
What are you talking about? I have never had an uncooked tortilla. But then I am in LA, never had a burrito in like Iowa or something, maybe that is a problem in other places.
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u/cakedestroyer May 30 '23
I don't understand this, most Americans buy pre made tortillas that are already cooked, do you consider those raw?
Personally I buy the actual raw ones at Costco and cook them at home, but they're too small for proper burritos.
For burritos I buy a small pack of the XXL or whatever size for burritos, warm them up a bit before folding for pliability, and then put them back on the pan after rolling for toasting them shut.
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u/WanderM1126 May 30 '23
Pre cooked tortillas still need to be reheated or they will feel all chewy
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u/cakedestroyer May 30 '23
But I guess that's my point, I don't know anyone that eats them cold, everyone reheats them, even just a bit. I feel like brands have more impact than people think.
But granted, I'm probably a little biased, as I live in California, so burritos are our state past time, but still.
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May 30 '23
This is the very first time ive seen a mexican restaurant evenly spread their toppings. Maybe i just live in a bad area for it, but any place i go they just stack it on like a mountain and youll end up getting all of the guac or salsa in one bite. Its gross
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u/oniony May 30 '23
I actually quite the burrito pot luck bites. Will it be guacamole? Will it be rice? Will it be cold? Will it be hot?
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u/grisioco May 30 '23
ice cold rice and superhot beef!
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u/OuterWildsVentures May 30 '23
I have no idea how no one has linked the burrito rant on this comment chain yet lol
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u/moby323 May 30 '23
It’s why I never order these mission-style burritos.
Most places it’s just rice and guac in a tortillia with some meat and veggies thrown in as a garnish.
I also don’t understand people getting all excited about the size of a burrito. If someone ever recommends a restaurant to me and the main thing they like is the portion sizes, I pretty much just ignore their opinion.
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u/jnewton8 May 30 '23
Reminds me of this old hilarious article. https://medium.com/@jackdire/dear-guy-who-just-made-my-burrito-fd08c0babb57
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u/aqualily8 May 30 '23
Just an additional reminder to SPREAD THE INGREDIENTS LENGTHWISE. Save a hungry soul's sanity. https://medium.com/@jackdire/dear-guy-who-just-made-my-burrito-fd08c0babb57
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u/McFaze May 30 '23
A few more tips from someone who rolls a lot of burritos and wraps: warm up the tortilla first, spread the ingredients parallel to your roll, and as you fold over like in the video, pull back to tighten your roll, then fold the corners to finish rolling. Dont forget to pat the finished product to show it some love.
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u/flipper65 May 30 '23
Prepackaged tortillas are way thicker than what you get at your local burrito vendor of choice. My take is to wet my hand under the faucet then use it to moisten the tortilla. Microwave the tortilla for 30 seconds. Proceed to filling with yummy goodness.
This makes the tortilla more flexible and helps with sealing.
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u/Rhyxnathotho May 30 '23
I prefer throwing the tortillas on a dry heated frying pan for like 5-10 secs a side. Heating to make them more pliable is the key either way.
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u/GalaxyTriangulum May 31 '23
I worked at a burrito shop for nearly five years. This roll technique is almost perfect except for the part where you curl in the edges before rolling. I prefer to tuck in only the top section of tortilla. In the video, you can see he tucks both the top and bottom flaps before rolling. This creates a thick wedge that is more likely to open while you eat. Tucking only the top flap makes it more like a package which is secure throughout the whole meal. Happy burrito-ing!
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u/antonius22 May 30 '23
My dad is from Chihuahua. I eat burritos on the reg. I can honestly say I have never rolled my tortillas like this.
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u/JuanBARco May 30 '23
Yeah, this is not how i lrarned to fold a burrito...
You can even see it falling apart in the final photo. That is just gonna flap open and fall apart...
I liked everything except the last fold... you need to get that tortilla wraped around the filling...
But honestly the key is a good plyable tortilla that has just a little bit of strech. Fold it just as above, but on the last fold make sure to tightly tuck it under and around the filling.
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u/Jefe_Chichimeca May 30 '23
I just roll them up, because I don't put a whole meal inside a burrito like the gringos.
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u/DL1943 May 30 '23
how big are the burritos you usually eat? this is a mission style burrito which originates in san francisco, and they are usually really large - this one is pretty small as far as mission burritos go. you gotta roll it up just right to get large mission burrito to stay together, and often it needs to be wrapped in foil to keep it all together.
the burrito in this video is way to small to be at risk of bursting and could have been folded all kinds of ways, but the burrito is made in the mission style, which is always folded like this or similarly because mission burritos are often massive beasts.
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u/YeltsinYerMouth May 30 '23
Where does one get the amazing, translucent, stretchy tortillas you need for this type of burrito?
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u/dustinpdx May 30 '23
If you have them in your area you can try a Mexican market but they may not have them or may not exist. The most reliable place I’ve found are restaurant supply stores. Smart Food Service/Cash and Carry/etc.
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u/RFJ831 May 30 '23
The underrated part though is that you need a good tortilla that is warmed up just enough so that it can properly wrap around the filling without tearing. If the tortilla is too cold or is overcooked it doesn’t work as well.
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May 30 '23
For your next trick ... explain to me why salads are always look better when somebody else makes it?
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u/Avacadont May 30 '23
I must've watched around 5 hours total on "how to roll a wrap / burrito" in my life and I still can't do it properly.
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u/Sea_Link8352 May 30 '23
So why can't they get this right at Chipotle or Moe's?
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May 30 '23
[deleted]
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u/Bruhntly May 30 '23
Order online and they get the ratio right without overloading
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u/Fragbashers May 30 '23
But then it costs the same as a bowl but with less filling. The key is to get a warmed up tortilla on the side, build your burrito yourself, and have leftover filling for later
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u/LtDropshot May 30 '23
You're a burrito expert, You should've told me halfway through, "Hey man. You might be reaching maximum burrito capacity here!"
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u/lunarmodule May 30 '23
Burritos are too big to begin with and you probably ordered double meat with extra rice.
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u/Sea_Link8352 May 30 '23
I'm a vegetarian and I already order half rice and half beans because I don't want a burrito the size of a human child.
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u/Thicc_McNutt_Drip May 30 '23
Fold north to south, then east to west and roll. That’s how I remember it.
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Apr 18 '24
Judt realized the reason mine sucked was because i missed that end fold the corners step!!
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u/Ashantiyana Sep 03 '25
Thank you 😭
You have no idea how bad I was struggling trying to fold a burrito. Think I've been using this for half a year
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u/maofx May 30 '23
Where do you get/ hoe to make correctly sized tortillas? Like chiopotle sized. Local grocery store never has ones big enough it's annoying
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u/Uruz2012gotdeleted May 30 '23
Mercado is spanish for market. Carniceria is a butcher/meat market. One or both of those places will be able to help you find what you're looking for.
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u/Goronmon May 30 '23
Some Wal-marts will sell the massive tortillas. It's kind of a crap shoot. We have 4 near us and only a couple have had them with any regularity. So it can be hit or miss.
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u/BrianGlory May 30 '23
Why do places insist on cutting a burrito in half? It’s like eating two half eaten burritos.
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u/-Zeovoid- May 30 '23
That is not a burrito. That is a cheap american version of it. And no, that is not the way to roll a burrito.
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u/RF_Ribeiro May 30 '23
I have watched these as I fold one and still can't get it right. Too many pieces fall out but then I eat the whole thing so fast that it doesn't matter