10-Inch Cast Iron Tortilla Press - Heavy Duty Commercial Grade Roti & Pataconera Maker - Pre-Seasoned with Flaxseed Oil - Authentic Colombian Made - Perfect for Home Kitchens & Restaurants - Ideal for Making Tortillas, Roti, Arepas & Flatbreads

This is an excellent tortilla press. I had a heavy, cast aluminum one many years ago and it worked great but somehow ended up getting lost in our many moves and I never replaced it. Over the last year or so, I've been looking at various types of presses from different brands. The aluminum ones I have seen are nothing like my original one, so I decided to focus on the wooden and cast iron versions. I have a lot of cast iron cookware and I use it all of the time -- I find it incredibly easy to use and very durable. So when this 8" version became available, I was very interested. I chose this one over the pricer HD version in the same size, and this one is definitely sturdy enough for my use. Some reviews mention a handle that is plastic rather than cast iron, but the press I received is 100% cast iron and very well made. My favorite brand of cast iron (the iconic USA manufacturer) doesn't make a tortilla press and I have noticed that some imported cast iron cookware is not as heavy and often has unfinished areas and large pores, but this brand is of very high quality. I already have a dutch oven made by Victoria (imported from Colombia) so I was sure this would also be top-notch. And it is. Since it is cast iron, it will need a bit of extra care to prevent rusting so if you are not familiar with seasoning cast iron, be sure to do a bit of research before ordering. The press is heavy, smooth and pre-seasoned and turns out perfect medium-sized corn tortillas (I roll flour tortillas) that are then cooked on a comal/griddle on the stove top. The lettering is very crisply rendered. There is a smaller 6 1/2" as well as a larger 10" version, but this 8" model is just the right size for my family. The hinge pins and especially the cotter pins don't seem particularly robust, but they are holding up well so far + they can easily be replaced if needed -- they are inexpensive and readily available at a hardware store. I think this tortilla press is well worth the modest cost.