Instructions For Reheating Tamales In The Microwave:
The moist towel or cloth serves as a compressed steamer when used inside the microwave. To prevent uneven heating of tamales when using the microwave, dont reheat more than three tamales at once.
How To Store And Reheat Tamales
Once the tamales are completely cooled, leftovers can be stored in a zip top bag in the fridge for 4 days or in the freezer for a couple months.
To reheat refrigerated tamales, place a damp paper towel over them and microwave for 2 minutes until heated through. Keep the corn husk on the tamale while you reheat them to prevent them from drying out, then remove husk before eating.
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How To Reheat Tamales In The Frying Pan
Unlike the previous methods, this is an unusual way to reheat your tamales, but the result makes it worth a try.
This method works on the principle of using heat to warm up your tamale from its core, but this time, you wont use steam.
If you are into tamales in their unusual crispy texture, this method is for you. To reheat your tamales through frying, you need to remove their cornhusks or leaves first. Then follow the below instructions:
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Can You Reheat Food In The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
As Ive been learning;just how versatile my Instant Pot pressure cooker is, I decided to do some research to figure out if I could use it to easily reheat food.;
And I found out that YES, you CAN reheat food in the Instant Pot!; Not only does the Instant Pot help me make easy pressure cooker recipes, but it also reheats my leftovers!
In my case, this was a huge discovery in terms of kitchen convenience.; I know there are other people who avoid using microwaves due to health concerns.;;The Instant Pot;is a viable option for reheating food for anybody who doesnt have access to or desires not to use a microwave!
Keep reading to find out how to reheat food in the Instant Pot!
Related:
Heat Up Tamales By Boiling

Some companies provide tamales in pre-packed vacuum-sealed bags which are easy to cook you just have to reheat them in boiling water and they are ready to eat.
Also Check: How Long To Cook Oxtail In Instant Pot
Reheating Tamales Using A Crockpot/slow Cooker
I love using the Crockpot when reheating the tamales because it requires no babysitting.
Just throw the tamales in the pot, set the timer, and go on your merry way.
The disadvantage is that they take a while to reheat. But considering how effortless this method is and how fantastic its results are, I say its worth it.
Heres how:
1. Set your Crockpot or slow cookers temperature on high.
2. Place the tamales, husks intact, in the pot. Arrange them such that the open ends are facing up. Dont overcrowd the pot to ensure even reheating.
3. Spritz some water over the tamales.;
4. Cover the pot and reheat for an hour. Check their status after 30 minutes. If theyre not yet hot at this point, rearrange them to ensure theyre reheating evenly.
5. Once the timer goes off, check the internal temperature using an instant-read thermometer it should hit at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How To Cook Uncooked Tamales
Option one:
Option two:
- We’ve been told by some customers that they have cooked our uncooked tamales in their pressure cookers. We’ve heard that they come out perfect like if they were steamed. We have never tried this ourselves but if you have a pressure cooker, you could give it a try. We’ve been told that 15 minutes will do. Remember to always follow your cooking equipment safety instructions.;
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How To Store Them Later
Storing cooked Tamales is simple. They can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days with just simply putting them into Ziploc bags or airtight containers.
But if you want to store them longer than few days I recommend that you put them in the freezer by wrapping them in plastic wrap or foil. That way they can last for several months.
Also Check Out: The Most Recommended Freezer Containers
Wasting good food really leaves me heartbroken!
Why waste food when you can store it, reheat it and eat it again later. Youll be happy if your stomach is happy, and whats the better way for making your stomach happy than through food.
So, I hope that you found this article helpful and that you will try out one or all of these ways of reheating the Tamales, or any other similar food.
Happy Cooking!
How To Steam Tamales On The Stovetop
When you are reheating Tamales directly from frozen on the stovetop, It will take about 40 minutes. But you must check the Tamales for overcooking after every 20-minute interval. Heres how to steam Tamales on the stovetop.
Also Check: How To Warm Food In Instant Pot
Abcs Of Food Safety & General Heating Instructions
NOTE:
ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS WITH SOAP & WATER BEFORE HANDLING FOOD AS A RULE, ALWAYS HEAT HOT FOODS TO 165°F AND THEN HOLD READY-TO-EAT FOODS TO AT LEAST 140°F AND KEEP ALL COLD FOODS AT 40°F OR LOWER
HOW TO HEAT TAMALESGF:
Our tamales will arrive safe, fully cooked, and very cold or frozen, and they do not have to be defrosted to start the reheating process , but if you want to heat them faster, leave some in the refrigerator overnight for a quicker defrost process!
A. MICROWAVE:
Tamales can go right from freezer or refrigerator into a microwave.
- Leave the wrapping paper and husks on and heat on high for 2 minutes for frozen or 1 minute for defrosted.
B. DO IT YOURSELF STEAMER:
- For approx. one dozen tamales
- Pour 1 inch of water into a large pot and add a steamer basket.
- Arrange the tamales vertically in the pot/basket so they are standing up.
- Bring the water in the pot to a boil to create a steam then reduce the heat and add water every 20 minutes and simmer the tamales for 45-60min.
C. SKILLET:
- For grilled tamales you can always take a defrosted tamale, remove the paper and husk, and grill them in a skillet with some cooking oil or butter.
- Heat about 2 minutes each side and serve.
D. OVEN:
A reliable alternative to steaming, reheating tamales in the oven is a simple, quick method.
E. INSTANT POT
HOW TO SERVE THEM?
Serve them with our sauce, cheese and your favorite meats or add a fried egg for a delicious breakfast option!
A. DEFROST SINK:
S To Reheat Tamales In An Instant Pot
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Imagine you are coming home after a long day in the office, and your friends decide to come over for a get-together. Right now, all you want in the world is something easy to make. What can be better than a frozen Mexican Tamale? All you need to do is, reheating Tamales in the Instant Pot and enjoy the taste as if it is a freshly made dish.
Tamale is a Mexican dish consisting of streamed masa or dough with meat steamed in a wrapped corn husk. Tamale is considered a symbol of Mexican street food that is comforting, delicious, and mouthwatering. The dish shows the rich cultural and traditional cooking of the Mexican dishes.
Instant pot, the manufacturer of multicookers, helps you use pressure cook, slow cook, rice cook, and many other options. Tamales can be reheated in Instant Pot. It is an effective and time-saving process for you after a long day in the office. So, you can reheat tamales through a steamer, oven, or in a microwave. However, the most effective way is through Instant Pot.
Also Check: How To Cook Rice On Instant Pot
How To Reheat Tamales In The Oven
And thats none other than your lovely oven. Do you know that your oven can be helpful in reheating your leftover food?
This method will require more time and preparation, but the result will be incredibly rewarding.
See the steps below for details and the next time you have leftover tamales, think about giving your oven a try, and you wont be disappointed:
Preparation:
- Prepare a heat-resistant bowl or tray that can be used in the oven and some aluminum foil.
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit
Instructions:
Reheating Using A Steamer

The steamer is hands down, the most superior means to reheat tamales.
Think about it: tamales are cooked in a steamer, so it only makes sense to reheat them using the same tool.
With the steamer, you are ensured that your tamales are relaxing in a moist environment. The results are remarkably fresh and moist tamales.
The drawback is that itll take 30 minutes to reheat.
Some are also turned off by the hassle of taking out the infrequently used appliance from wherever its stored just for this purpose.
But if youre particular about retaining that perfect tamales texture, this method is worth it. Heres how:
1. Fill the steamers pot with 2 to 3 inches of water. The bottom of the steaming basket shouldnt touch the water.
2. Top the pot with the steamer basket and put the lid on. Boil the water on high heat.
3. Reduce the heat to medium. Using a pair of tongs, place the tamales into the basket, allowing space in between. Do not overcrowd the steamer to ensure even cooking.
4. Let the tamales steam for 20 to 30 minutes 20 for refrigerated while 30 for frozen.
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Perfect Homemade Tamales And Carnitas
Stove top Slow Cooker Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Tamale Steaming Instructions
Our expert in Mexican and Southwest style cooking, Cynthia Detterick-Pineda of Andrews, TX, shares her Homemade Tamales Recipe and Carnita Recipe making secrets and lessons learned through the years. Cynthia says, In all the years my husband and I have been married, I cannot recall a single Christmas or Thanksgiving without tamales. Though not native to New Mexico, tamales have been adopted by the state and are very popular. Numerous adaptations have been made on the basic tamale, including vegetarian tamales, chicken tamales, and even chocolate tamales.
For most Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, Tamales are a Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition, especially in the state of New Mexico. Most people are intimidated by making tamales, but there is no need to be. This step-by-step process will insure that you make wonderful tamales!
Learn how to make perfect Homemade Tamales and Carnitas in your own home. For this recipe, we are covering the more traditional tamale using a pork filling although various different fillings can be used. Pork is probably the more traditional, but this recipe can use any sort of meat stuffing which has been marinated and cooked in a red chile sauce. We are also providing instructions to steam the tamales on the stove top, slow cooker or Instant Pot pressure cooker.
There are three important components to a tamale:
Filling
Tamale Dough
Corn Husk Wrappers
How Do You Make Authentic Homemade Pork Tamales In The Instant Pot
I have a brand new blog post with a tutorial to make homemade pork tamales from cooking the pork roast in the instant pot to cooking the freshly made tamales in the instant pot.; Once you make them, you can actually freeze them for later, and then come back here for these instructions to cook those frozen pork tamales in the instant pot!;
Stay tuned, its tamale-making season! Ill be sharing how to make chicken tamales in the instant pot very soon!
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How To Reheat Tamales In The Microwave
There is a secret to reheating a tamale in the microwave. The secret is to know if your tamales are already thawed or still frozen. Youll then want to wrap them in a damp paper towel, cover, and microwave them. And with the right timing, deliciously soft tamales are now on their way!Reheating tamales in the microwave is quite tricky. We want to avoid them coming out dry. If you plan for your tamale to be a quick bite and take the tamale on your way out, this method may prove to be the most convenient in the bunch. Be warned, though: This method usually makes your tamales drier than usual; nonetheless, the taste is preserved.This is also the quickest method because it only requires the least preparation and materials.
How To Heat Up Frozen Tamales
Tamale is a traditional dish from North America which is discovered from Mesoamerica. It is made of corn dough or masa that is wrapped in a steamed corn husk and banana leaf. This husk is discarded before serving. They are usually filled with Mexican style minced meat, cheese, vegetables or sometimes with fruits.
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The Dilemma: Instant Pot Vs Microwave To Reheat Food
Ive written before about how our journey to get out of debt, which has obviously impacted the decisions we make about how we spend money.; Recently, the microwave we received as a wedding gift nearly ten years ago gave out.; It would not work at all.;
No big deal, I thoughtwe can just buy a new one.;Ummm.have any of you priced microwaves lately?;
I was absolutely floored at the cost of a new microwave.; Even used and refurbished microwaves were way more expensive than I expected.;
Because I really didnt want to shell out the money for an appliance I only occasionally used, I decided not to replace it.;After all, I figured anything you can do in a microwave can be done on a stove, in an oven, or in the toaster oven.
Really, I surprised myself by not missing the microwave at all.;
It did take a little bit of getting used to, though.; They say necessity is the mother of invention, and that was true in my case as well.
I learned how to make my oatmeal in the Instant Pot, began steaming food on the stove top for;homemade baby food,;and;started boiling water on the stove top for my morning tea.; That took care of the things I had most commonly used the microwave for.
The one thing that was a little inconvenient though was reheating leftovers.;
Without the microwave, I would typically remove the leftovers from the refrigerator, take them out of their storage container and put them in a pan or pot on the stove to reheat.;