Wondering how to reheat tamales? Whether you’ve made them yourself or ordered from a tamales store nearby, there are various ways that you can reheat them if you’ve got some leftovers.
But, if you’re new to this dish, let us give you a quick refresher on what tamales are.
What are Tamales?
Tamales are a tasty, traditional Mexican dish made from corn dough (masa harina) stuffed with meats, beans, vegetables, or even cheese wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk. There’s a huge variety of flavors, and filling types can vary from region to region. Examples include gourmet, apple cinnamon, cheesy black bean, chicken tamales.
Tamales make for a delightful dish that’s easy to make and packed with flavor and spice. Whether or not you’re a spice lover, the tamale is a dish best eaten while hot and fresh. However, if you have leftovers, it’s important to know how to reheat them properly so they don’t dry out and retain their freshness and flavor.
And if you’re on this post, you probably want to learn how to reheat your leftover tamales properly.
That being said, here’s everything you’d need to know about reheating tamales the right way, and enjoy yesterday’s tamales as if they were made today!
Ways To Reheat Frozen Tamales
There are several methods to reheat tamales. For instance, you can reheat it on a stove, in a steamer, in an oven, microwave, or in a deep fryer.
Let’s look at all the ways one by one:
Using A Stove
One of the greatest methods for reheating your tamales is to use a stove. Some people like it this way as it brings out the most flavor and makes the tamales crispy. Below are the steps you’ll need to follow:
- Heat your pan over medium heat until it is hot enough.
- Remove the husks from the tamales.
- Pour a teaspoon of olive or sunflower oil into the pan and heat it two to three minutes.
- Cover the pan using a lid and place the tamales in it o help them cook faster.
- Flip the tamales every two or three minutes and continue to cook them until they are golden brown and crispy.
Using A Steamer
A steamer also makes an excellent option for reheating your tamales. As this is the way, they are originally cooked, steaming them helps retain their original flavor and texture. Although it’ll take some time to reheat, the wait is worth it if you’re particular about retaining that original tamales texture.
Here are the steps on how to reheat tamales using the steam method:
- Fill your steamer or pot with approx. ¼ of water and let the water heat up and come to a boil.
- When the water begins to boil, use tongs to place the tamales vertically into the steamer/pot. Ensure the tamales have enough space to move; otherwise, the steam won’t reach every corner.
- Cover the pot with a tightly-fitted lid and reduce the heat.
- Steam the tamales for 15 to 20 minutes if refrigerated and 30 minutes if frozen.
Using An Oven
A similar method to steaming, an oven is also a reliable alternative for reheating your cold tamales. Reheating tamales in an oven gives them a brown and crispy outer crust.
Below are the instructions on how to correctly reheat tamales in an oven.
- Turn your oven between 400°F to 450°F (204°C – 218.3°C) and allow it to heat up before putting in the tamales.
- Unwrap the tamales out of the husk and tightly wrap each tamale in a few layers of aluminum foil, ensuring air doesn’t get trapped in between.
- Place the tamales on an oven tray and leave some space between them.
- Bake them for 10 minutes and flip them using tongs. If reheating frozen tamales, bake for 25 – 30 minutes. Then carefully unwrap, and voila! You’re done!
Using A Microwave
When you’re seriously craving a tamale and waiting isn’t an option, Reheating tamales in the microwave is the fastest and simplest out of all the methods.
Here’s how to reheat tamales using a microwave:
- For the perfect microwaved tamale, it’s important to wrap each in a damp paper towel. This will prevent the tamales from drying out in the microwave.
- Place tamales on a microwaveable plate while leaving space between them.
- Microwave on medium-high for 15 seconds.
- Remove from microwave and unwrap paper towel, which should now be dry
- Wrap with a fresh damp paper towel put back on the plate, flip over to reheat the other side evenly, and further microwave for 15 seconds.
- Check the surface to see if the tamales are heated thoroughly. If not, repeat the 15-second interval until they’re hot to touch.
- This process will take about 30 seconds to 1 minute for thawed tamales, while frozen tamales will need 2 to 3 minutes.
Using A Deep Fryer
Another way to reheat your frozen or cold tamales and give them the crispiest exterior coating is to deep fry them.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Heat the fryer and let the oil thoroughly heat since cold oil will leave your tamales soggy.
- Before putting the tamales into the oil, remove the husk and pat down the tamale with paper towels to remove any moisture, as moisture can cause the oil to pop and bubble.
- Now, fully submerge the tamales into the deep fryer. Be careful not to drop the tamales into the oil, or the oil will splash back at you.
- Let the tamales fry for 2-3 minutes. The result should be the tamales looking golden brown with a fried coating.
- Carefully take the tamales from the deep fryer, and there you have it! Deep-fried tamales.
Conclusion
Ideally, these Mexican delicacies should be eaten while hot and fresh. But if you have a little too much for some reason and need to store them for later. Then it is best to pack them in airtight containers and freeze them. Use any of the above-given methods and reheat them quickly and easily whenever you wish to eat one.
Is this your first time eating tamales? If so, it’s time you order tamales online from retailers like Texas Lone Star Tamales – the home to authentic and delicious homemade Tamales. Place your order today!
