In a large bowl, whisk together the masa and salt. Add the warm water and stir with a spatula until evenly combined, switching to your hands once the dough gets too thick to stir. Knead for 4 minutes until the dough becomes less gritty and more smooth. Let the tortilla dough rest for 10 minutes.
Divide the dough into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-ounce balls (see notes). If you don’t have a kitchen scale, aim for 1 1/2-inch diameter.
Place a dough ball between two pieces of wax paper (parchment or plastic wrap also work, but I find the dough sticks less to wax paper). Roll the dough until it’s wide enough to be cut with a 5-inch biscuit cutter. The thinner you roll the tortillas, the faster they’ll cook and the greater the yield (this may take some experimenting; you can always re-roll the dough).
Peel the wax paper off the dough, one side at a time, then place the tortilla back down on one piece of wax paper and press down with a 5-inch biscuit cutter. Peel the excess dough away from the cutter before lifting it, then remove the raw tortilla and set aside on a cutting board or baking sheet (something you can use to move it). At this point, you can either repeat this process with the remaining dough, or roll a couple at a time while the tortillas cook.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat (use anything but nonstick; I used stainless steel). Set down a large piece of foil or a tortilla warmer to store the finished tortillas (something to help them steam and keep warm).
Drop a tortilla straight down onto the skillet (if it slides too much, the finished tortilla might have a peely appearance). Cook for 30-60 seconds, flip with a spatula, then cook for an additional 30-60 seconds. Times may vary depending on your cookware and the thickness of the tortillas). You can cook 1 or more at a time, depending on the size of your skillet.
Once the tortilla is cooked, transfer to the tortilla warmer or set down on the foil and close to create a pouch. The steam will keep them from drying out. Add each cooked tortilla to the same stack, closing again as you go.
Serve immediately (this is when they’re besor cool completely before storing in the refrigerator in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 3 days.
Notes
The water temperature doesn’t need to be very specific; but if you prefer an exact amount, aim for 135 degrees F. It shouldn’t be too hot to knead.If using a kitchen scale, you can either measure out 1 1/4-ounce or 1 1/2-ounce balls. 1 1/2 ounces will give you a bit more wiggle room as you roll out the tortillas, but it will leave you with more excess doll to re-roll. Experiment with what feels right.What to serve with corn tortillas: Try using these tortillas with my carnitas, grilled flank steak tacos, rotisserie chicken tacos, or Kalua pork!