Ask someone to picture a tortilla press and many will describe the IMUSA: a round silver press with a simple lever, sold in supermarkets and on Amazon for years. It is often the first press a home cook buys, and that makes it worth a careful look. Is a light aluminum press enough to make good corn tortillas, or is it the press you replace a year later?
This review covers what the IMUSA press is, what its maker and its listing state, where it does well and where it falls short, what America’s Test Kitchen found when it put the same style of press through its tortilla press review, and which presses to consider instead. One thing up front: IMUSA sells more than one press, and one of its listings causes real confusion, so we start by sorting out which is which.
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Quick verdict: is the IMUSA press worth buying?
The IMUSA 8-inch cast aluminum tortilla press is a fair choice for occasional tortilla nights: it is light, it never rusts, it needs no seasoning and its plates are the 8-inch size most cooks want. Its weakness is the same lightness, which America’s Test Kitchen found too little to press dough evenly. If you will press tortillas every week, a heavier cast iron press such as the Victoria 8-inch, or IMUSA’s own pre-seasoned cast iron DS model, is the better buy.
Which IMUSA tortilla press are we talking about?
When people search for an IMUSA tortilla press, they almost always mean the silver one: the 8-inch cast aluminum press, model MEXI-86008. It is the press our guides to tortilla making tools and the best tortilla press already feature, and the one America’s Test Kitchen reviewed. This review is about that press.
IMUSA also makes a pre-seasoned cast iron press, which it calls the DS model (IMU-85008DS). It is black, 8 inches across and, according to its listing, cast iron throughout, with engineered flat plates for uniform pressure. It is a different tool for a different buyer, and we cover it below as an alternative.
Then there is the listing to watch out for. As our guide to the best cast iron tortilla press records, one IMUSA listing on Amazon is titled “Cast Iron Tortilla Press 8-Inch, Black”, but its own feature list says the press is made of cast aluminum. If you want IMUSA’s cast iron press, look for the DS model number. If you want the aluminum press, the gray MEXI-86008 listing says so plainly. Read the whole listing, not just the title.
| IMUSA press | Material (per listing) | Size | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEXI-86008 (reviewed here) | Cast aluminum | 8 inches | Bare gray aluminum |
| MEXI-86005 | Cast aluminum | 6 to 6.5 inches (listing gives both) | Gray aluminum |
| IMU-85008DS | Cast iron | 8 inches | Black, pre-seasoned |
| MEXI-86004 | Pine wood | 12 x 7.5-inch surface | Natural wood |
IMUSA tortilla press review: the product in detail
Here is the press itself, with every specification taken from IMUSA’s Amazon listing or, where the listing is silent, from the source we name.
1. IMUSA 8-inch Cast Aluminum Tortilla Press – Light, Rust-Free and Simple
The IMUSA press is two round cast aluminum plates, 8 inches across, joined by a hinge, with a lever that folds over the top plate and presses it down. The finish is bare gray aluminum: no seasoning, no coating and nothing to rust. IMUSA describes it as lighter than traditional cast iron, for more comfortable operation and easy handling, and as easy to clean and store.
The listing suggests it for tortillas, tostones, arepas, flatbreads, empanadas, pita bread, roti and dumplings, and the Spanish name on the listing, pataconera, is a reminder that in much of Latin America the same press flattens fried plantains for patacones. For corn tortillas, an 8-inch plate makes a round a little smaller than the plate, the usual size for tacos and enchiladas.
IMUSA does not publish the weight. America’s Test Kitchen weighed the IMUSA cast aluminum 8-inch press in its review at 1 pound 11¾ ounces, with a 10-inch handle; its model number differs from this listing’s, so treat those figures as a close guide rather than an exact match. For comparison, the 8-inch cast iron presses in our cast iron guide weigh roughly six to eight and a half pounds, by their makers’ figures.
Why we like it
- Cast aluminum: will not rust and needs no seasoning
- 8-inch plates, the minimum width America’s Test Kitchen recommends
- Light enough to lift down from a high shelf
- Handle lies flat for storage, per America’s Test Kitchen
- Also presses arepas, empanadas and patacones
Key specifications
| Model | MEXI-86008 |
|---|---|
| Material | Cast aluminum |
| Plate size | 8 inches |
| Weight | Not stated by IMUSA (about 1 lb 12 oz, as weighed by America’s Test Kitchen) |
| Finish | Bare gray aluminum |
| Seasoning | None needed |
| Uses | Tortillas, arepas, empanadas, tostones, roti, flatbreads |
| Care | “Easy cleaning” (method not stated on the listing) |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you make tortillas now and then, want a press that cannot rust, or need something light enough for anyone in the house to lift and use. It is a sensible first press for finding out whether fresh tortillas become a habit.
Skip it if you will press tortillas every week or want them thin and even with little effort; a heavier cast iron press does more of the work.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No rust, no seasoning
- Light and easy to store
- Standard 8-inch plates
- Handles several Latin American doughs
Cons
- Too light to press evenly, per America’s Test Kitchen
- Weight and care not stated by IMUSA
- Easy to confuse with IMUSA’s other listings
Where the IMUSA press does well
It cannot rust
Cast iron presses rust if they are left wet, which means drying them carefully and wiping on oil from time to time. Aluminum does not rust, so the IMUSA press can be wiped down and put away without that routine. For a press that lives in a damp cupboard or comes out twice a year, that is a real advantage.
It is light
Under two pounds, by America’s Test Kitchen’s scale, is a fraction of what a cast iron press weighs. That makes it easy to lift from a high shelf, carry to a party or hand to a child who wants to help. IMUSA presents the light weight as comfort and easy handling, and for many households that is the deciding factor.
The plate size is right
America’s Test Kitchen preferred presses with plates at least 8 inches wide, and the IMUSA meets that mark; it named the plate width as a positive. Smaller presses let masa squeeze out past the edge, as Masienda explains in its own guide to choosing a press.
It stores flat
America’s Test Kitchen also liked that the IMUSA’s handle lies flat for storage, so the press slides into a drawer or a narrow cupboard.
Where it falls short
Weight is what presses a tortilla
The most important factor in America’s Test Kitchen’s review was weight. Recipe developer Lesley Téllez, whom the reviewers consulted, identified weight as the key factor: a press needs enough weight to produce an evenly thin tortilla, and the heavier presses gave the best results. The reviewers rated the IMUSA cast aluminum 8-inch press “Not Recommended” and wrote that it “was simply too light to press dough evenly”.
Uneven tortillas and off-center dough
America’s Test Kitchen reported that dough often slid off-center and squeezed out the sides, and that its tortillas “were almost always uneven”. A light top plate leaves more of the job to your arm, and an arm rarely presses as evenly as a heavy plate falling under its own weight.
Few published details
IMUSA’s Amazon listing does not state the weight, the handle length, the care method or where the press is made. Some retailer listings describe it as hand wash only, and that is the safe way to treat it: wash it by hand with mild soap, dry it and store it dry.
Confusing listings
Between the aluminum presses, the cast iron DS and the listing that calls an aluminum press cast iron, it is easy to buy the wrong IMUSA. Check the model number and the material line before you order.
Getting even tortillas from a light press
None of this means the IMUSA cannot make a good tortilla; it means you supply some of the force. A few habits help:
- Line the plates. Use two circles cut from a thin plastic bag, as Masienda recommends; parchment and zip-top bags are heavier and harder to peel.
- Center the ball. America’s Test Kitchen found dough slid off-center in this press, so set each ball carefully in the middle and close the lever slowly.
- Press twice. Press, open, turn the tortilla in its liners and press again, as Masienda recommends for any press. The second press evens out the thicker side.
- Check the masa. If the edges come out rough or cracked, the dough needs a little more water, a tip from Rick Bayless’s corn tortilla recipe.
What reviewers report about the IMUSA press
America’s Test Kitchen gives the most detailed independent account. Its review of seven presses tested the IMUSA cast aluminum 8-inch alongside the Doña Rosa x Masienda, which won, and the Victoria 8-inch, its best buy. It counted the 8-inch plates and the flat-folding handle in the IMUSA’s favor, and its light weight, off-center dough and uneven tortillas against it.
Masienda, which makes the Doña Rosa press, lists ease of pressing, tension, durability, flexibility and surface area as the things that matter in any press, and notes that presses come in cast iron, aluminum and wood. Its guidance on plate size explains why the IMUSA’s 8-inch plates are adequate.
Buyer comments on retailer listings, including Walmart’s, tend to praise how easy the press is to use and clean and how flat it stores, while some buyers find it lighter or less solid than they expected. That matches the professional verdict: convenient, but light.
Alternatives to the IMUSA press
Victoria 8-inch Traditional Cast Iron Tortilla Press
The press America’s Test Kitchen named its best buy. Victoria makes it in Colombia from cast iron seasoned with flaxseed oil, and it is heavy enough to do much of the pressing for you. It needs drying and the occasional wipe of oil. It is our top pick in the best tortilla press guide, and our Victoria tortilla press review covers it in detail. See the Victoria 8-inch on Amazon.
IMUSA 8-inch DS Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Press
If you like the IMUSA name but want the weight of iron, this is the press to choose. Its listing describes eight-inch cast iron construction, a pre-seasoned coating and engineered flat plates that create uniform pressure across the surface. IMUSA does not publish its weight or care instructions, so treat it like any pre-seasoned iron: dry it fully and keep it lightly oiled. It is reviewed in our guide to the best cast iron tortilla press, and our comparison of aluminum vs cast iron tortilla presses explains the trade-off. See the IMUSA DS on Amazon.
Masienda Doña Rosa press
America’s Test Kitchen’s winner is a rolled steel press that Masienda says weighs nearly 11 pounds, heavy enough that the testers barely had to press at all. It is a much bigger investment and harder to store. Our Masienda tortilla press review covers who it suits.
Our verdict on the IMUSA tortilla press
The IMUSA 8-inch aluminum press does what its listing promises: it is light, it is simple and it will never rust. For a household that makes tortillas a few times a year, or wants a press for arepas and empanadas as much as for tortillas, it is a reasonable choice, and pressing twice goes a long way toward evening out its tortillas.
For anyone who plans to make corn tortillas every week, the professional evidence points the other way. Weight presses a tortilla, and the IMUSA has little of it. Spend a little more on a cast iron press, either the Victoria 8-inch or IMUSA’s own DS model, and the press will do more of the work for years.
IMUSA tortilla press questions, answered
Is the IMUSA tortilla press cast iron or aluminum?
The classic silver IMUSA press, model MEXI-86008, is cast aluminum. IMUSA’s black DS model, IMU-85008DS, is cast iron according to its listing. One IMUSA listing titled “Cast Iron” describes its press as cast aluminum, so check the material line and model number before you buy.
Is the IMUSA tortilla press good for flour tortillas?
The listing says it presses flatbreads and roti as well as tortillas, but flour dough springs back more than masa and is easier with larger plates and a heavier press. Our guide to the best tortilla press for flour tortillas covers wider presses.
Does the IMUSA tortilla press need seasoning?
The aluminum press does not; it has a bare aluminum finish. The cast iron DS model comes pre-seasoned and, like any cast iron, should be dried after use and lightly oiled.
Can you put the IMUSA tortilla press in the dishwasher?
IMUSA’s Amazon listing says only that it is easy to clean. Some retailers list it as hand wash only, so wash it by hand, dry it and store it dry.
How much does the IMUSA tortilla press weigh?
IMUSA does not publish a weight. America’s Test Kitchen weighed the 8-inch cast aluminum IMUSA it reviewed at 1 pound 11¾ ounces, well under the six pounds or more of a typical 8-inch cast iron press.
More on making tortillas at home
A press is one part of the kit. Our guide to tortilla making tools covers the comal, the warmer and the masa that go with it, and the best comal for tortillas guide covers what to cook them on.
And if you would rather someone else made the tortillas tonight, browse our menu or call to order.