Also a Californian, so it's pretty easy here - Mi Rancho is the best brand that is easily available. Most of the mass produced tortillas here are now made with guar gum, which makes them very pliable- they can usually survive being tossed in a grocery bag, a couple of weeks in the refrigerator, etc. with no problem. Extra thin tortillas also are less likely to break; mission sells them in a couple of sizes- they also crisp much faster, if you like hard tacos, tostadas etc. But, as others have noted, any tortilla that isn't terminally stale will soften up with a bit of heat.
I've found that almost any brand of corn tortillas found at the store can be made pliable with a quick warming on the stove. I just lay the tortilla directly on the burner (I have gas, but I'm sure electric would work as well) over medium high heat and flip with tongs every 15 seconds or so until slightly charred and toasty. They stack the tortillas in a warm dish towel as you warm up more. It's amazing how much easier to work with they'll be!
I have an electric stove and no, you don't want to heat them directly on the burner. However, I use your method in a cast iron pan and it works beautifully. If I want to do more at the same time, I use my gas grill.
Warming with a gas stove burner, gas grill, or in a cast iron skillet is a good way to soften harder tortillas.
That said, the superior way is to start with *fresh* tortillas, not old ones. When I say fresh, I mean tortillas made earlier that day (just like bread).
I live in California, so it is very easy to just go to a Mexican grocery store and buy tortillas that were made that day. If you go mid-morning, often the bags are still warm.
Trader Joe's has a good version. They have several, but the one I like are the 100% Corn Handmade. How are you preparing them? You do have to soften them before using them or they will crack.
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That said, the superior way is to start with *fresh* tortillas, not old ones. When I say fresh, I mean tortillas made earlier that day (just like bread).
I live in California, so it is very easy to just go to a Mexican grocery store and buy tortillas that were made that day. If you go mid-morning, often the bags are still warm.