10 Inch Chef Pro Tortilla Flat Bread Maker

The media could not be loaded.  This press is WONDERFUL and works perfectly if used correctly!!The problem that most negative reviewers seem to have is that they don't know how to use it, which is understandable as the included instructions are not very good!Here is the PROPER way to use this device to make tortillas:1. HEAT SETTING - This is the most important part: Put the heat setting ONLY halfway up the dial, literally halfway between "Min" and "Max" and NOT in the "Med" zone, as this is far too hot for making tortillas. The biggest problem with this device happens when it is generating too much heat and causing steam to tear the tortillas apart. It may take some doing to find the proper heat setting, but you should be able to fully depress the lever and hold it for long enough to spread the dough without having the tortillas torn apart. The difference between success and failure can be only one or two clicks on the heat setting dial.2. Place dough ball about 2/3 of the way towards the hinge side of the device (NOT directly in the middle).3. Close device and depress handle FULLY for approx 5-6 seconds. On my device, the tortilla does not end up quite uniform in thickness after a single press, so I have to turn the unfinished tortilla around and depress fully again for 2-3 seconds.4. FINISH the tortilla in a skillet / griddle. HERE IS WHY (see below!!!)The difference between flour dough and corn dough is that flour dough will not spread well unless some heat is applied. Anyone can make corn tortillas on a simple cast iron press, but it takes real finesse to make flour tortillas with a press, as the dough is much more finicky. THIS DEVICE SHOULD ONLY BE USED to apply the necessary heat to get the dough to spread, it should not be used to cook the tortillas (at least not closed, you could use the bottom like a griddle and cook 'em on it, but things go a lot faster using a separate griddle/skillet). If you put the heat setting too high, the tortilla will not spread; it will be torn apart by the steam generated by cooking. However, if the heat setting is too low, the tortilla will not spread well and will stick to everything in sight. When I live in Mexico in the 90s, we had a device similar to this that we used to make flour tortillas, but it was not multi-purpose and did not get nearly as hot as this one can. The only thing that device did was spread the dough for you, and it did it flawlessly because it was only meant to press tortillas.THE KEY TO SUCCESS in making 100% perfect tortillas with this device is (1) Correct heat setting, and (2) an understanding of what the device is supposed to do for you.UPDATE - March 2013 - We've owned this press since December 2011 and it is still working well. We use it very frequently and are still very happy with it.UPDATE II - January 2014 - We tried making flatbread for the first time with this press last week. Although it took me a little bit to find the right heat setting (actually in the "medium" zone!), in the end, the flatbread turned out spectacular! The press is still going strong, and we still use it extremely regularly. BUY IT!!!Update III - January 2015 - Still going strong. We use the press a few times a month on "Taco Tuesdays" and it is still working perfectly. One of my best Amazon purchases ever!Update IV - Feb 2016 - Still going strong, still making tortillas in exactly the same way as when we bought it. Nothing has broken, and it doesn't appear to be losing its ability to heat up or anything yet. We haven't eaten store-bought tortillas in 5 years now. Fresh is the ONLY way to go!Update V - Feb 2019 - Still working as well as it did when new.

The machine worked without incident for 3 months and then just quit working. We thought it was an awesome machine as it makes great tortillas and is easy to use, but it just died for no reason. We would not recommend purchase of this machine. We are huge users of amazon and ebay; we have never complained about any product with the exception of items not delivered.

IGNORE THE BAD REVIEWS-THESE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE A TACO PRESS! I actually purchased this model in May 2010 with Amazon.... this is a SUPERB product and at the time I got it a very good price. That has gone up considerably since then.... I'm glad I didn't wait! Now, I have been making taco shells the way my mother-in-law did for decades and she was raised in Mexico. This is a breeze to use and we have had no problems whatsoever with this tortilla maker. It does exactly what they say it will... when you roll out a small ball of dough and put it on the hot tortilla maker (SEE MY PHOTOS OF THIS IN PROGRESS) it flattens out the dough, so you can fill the shells and fry them up and make homemade tacos....yummy! Many American's still fry up shells separate but I've found this to be a waste of time and they aren't as good. That is the way I used to do it before my husbands family showed me the better way! I believe they do say you can make pita bread etc, but I haven't tried that yet. I'm looking at making my own flour, so I will be experimenting with different breads and tortilla's with my Chef Pro!UPDATE: There are people who buy these appliances with the concept that they are ready to eat once flattened. This is NOT so! If you are new to making homemade tacos then I can understand your confusion, but you must fry your shells after they are flattened, Chef Pro and other flat bread makers are only intended to make flattening your dough a breeze. Unless you are making your dough without eggs you shouldn't eat them until they are fried up. We use olive oil and get very good results. This makes our tacos not greasy and much healthier. Just put a small amount of olive oil in your pan and fry until brown on both sides. We do it the "Mexican" way and put our beans/meat mixture inside the shells before frying. Good luck and happy taco making! We love it!Tip: You don't need arm muscle to flatten these shells in the Chef Pro!UPDATE: After 3 years of using this flat bread maker for making home-made taco's it still works perfectly! I still highly recommend!

The tortilla press seems to be working well. A nice round ball of dough give a tortilla that pretty much fills the press. I'd give it a 5 if a piece of the molding didn't snap off and fly across the room on the second tortilla. I am not so confident that this press will last a long time.

The handle and part of the bottom plate snapped off after maybe a couple hundred pieces of dough. The machine worked pretty well for several months but I could feel the handle and the surface it was mounted to giving way. I proceeded to take it easy and press the dough into discs before pressing gently. The entire bottom plate cracked and the handle is no longer attached. I contacted the company and they will do nothing even though it has been less than a year. The warranty through amazon was not available at the time I purchased the press. Amazon, the seller is unwilling to take it back for credit. Great machine, for the first six months and bear in mind I only used it once or twice a month.