How to Cook Frozen Tamales
Here are 5 ways to cook frozen tamales, these instructions are for both pre-cooked and uncooked frozen tamales.
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 131kcal
Ingredients
- 12 frozen tamales of your choice or as many as you have
- water for steaming
Instructions
How to Cook Frozen Tamales in a Tamalera Pot
- Pour in enough water to reach the indicated line in the tamalera pot, secure steaming rack.
- Arrange frozen tamales upright without overcrowding. If steaming banana leaf tamales you can stack them but don’t pack in too tight.
- Cover the pot, heat to medium-high heat, and allow to come to a boil. When you see steam coming out turn stove to medium heat.
- Steam uncooked frozen tamales for 60 minutes and cooked frozen tamales for 35-40 minutes.
How to Steam Frozen Tamales in a Large Pot
- Place your steamer basket or rack inside the pot. Pour in enough water until it reaches just the bottom of the basket.
- Arrange tamales upright without overcrowding, for banana leaf tamales you can stack them.
- Cover the lid with aluminum foil and make a small hole in the center. Secure the lid on the pot.
- Turn the heat to medium-high heat. Allow the water to come to a boil and when you see steam coming out turn stove to medium heat.
- For uncooked tamales steam for 60 minutes and for cooked tamales steam for 35-40 minutes before checking for doneness.
Instant Pot Frozen Tamales
- Pour in one cup of water into the pot and place a steam basket or trivet inside the pot.
- Place tamales upright without overcrowding on top of the trivet, for banana leaf tamales you can stack them.
- Secure the lid on the pot, move the valve to seal or sealing.
- For uncooked tamales set to manual Pressure Cook, High, and 35 minutes. For cooked tamales set the timer to 20 minutes.
- Let the programs finish and allow for a natural release before removing tamales.
Microwave Frozen Tamales (For Pre-Cooked Tamales Only)
- Place cooked frozen tamales in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate.
- Place a damp paper towel over the tamales to help both defrost and prevent the tamales from drying out.
- Set to high and cook for 3-4 minutes before carefully flipping over the hot tamales and microwaving for another 3-4 minutes. You can add a few more drops of water to the paper towel if it feels dry.
- If after this time you still have cold tamales then continue microwaving at intervals of 1-2 minutes until they are defrosted and heated through.
- Allow to rest for 2 minutes before eating to avoid burning yourself.
Air Fryer Frozen Tamales (For Pre-Cooked Tamales Only)
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Arrange the frozen tamales in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. (You can spray the basket with oil before arranging the tamales).
- Cook for 10 minutes before flipping them over – at this time you can unwrap the tamales for a crispier texture if desired.
- Air fry for another 5-10 minutes or until they are warmed through.
Notes
* Please note that the nutritional information will depend on which type of tamales you are cooking.
To steam you can use any of the following: A tamalera pot, or a large pot and a steamer basket, or an Instant Pot or pressure cooker with a steamer basket or trivet.
Nutrition
Serving: 12servings | Calories: 131kcal
