Best Way To Reheat Tamales (#3 Is Fast And Easy)

It’s always a delicious idea to be innovative in your kitchen. Pulling out new recipes means pampering the taste buds. But sometimes you tend to go a little overboard. And that’s when you end up freezing or refrigerating the leftovers. So in the case of traditional Mexican Tamales, here’s the best way to reheat Tamales post-storage.

The exquisite corn-based dish consists of dough filled with pork, beef, or chicken. Along with vegetables and cheese! Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? So it justifies why you have some leftovers in your fridge.

But reheating Tamales is a process that should be carried out properly. Otherwise, you might mess with its original taste and complex texture. So how about I discuss the best way to reheat Tamales?

And the great news here is that I have four proper reheating methods to offer. So pick one that you think is the easiest, quickest, and most convenient for you.

Tamales are tasty, and there’s no denying that. But here’s the thing. Sometimes, you simply cannot finish them all.

Thanks to the invention of refrigerators and freezers, food doesn’t go to waste. You can reheat Tamales. So the taste is as enjoyable on any other day as when you freshly cooked them. Yes, this is possible. And here’s how!

  1   Reheating Tamales in Your Oven


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Photo credit: cherryonmysundae.com

If you like them crispy, make those Tamales golden in your oven. You don’t want to know how to heat up Tamales without a microwave or oven! And even if you do, I have discussed other ways to do so.

Reheating the dish in your oven makes room for all the deliciousness. So keep the aluminum foil ready!

Just keep in mind that reheating food in your oven saves a lot of time. When in hurry, it’s always best to opt for this particular method.

  • Step 1: Preheat your oven (425 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Step 2: Wrap the cooked Tamales in aluminum foil.
  • Step 3: Stack the corn-filled dough into a large oven-friendly dish. Arrange them in such a way that they’re not touching each other.
  • Step 4: Cook the Tamales for at least 20 minutes. During which you’ll see how they turn golden crispy.

  2   Reheating Tamales by Steaming


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How to reheat Tamales without a steamer? The answer to that question lies below.

I’m always making it a point to provide solutions that require minimal to no use of special utensils and tools. Cause I know that not everybody’s kitchen and way of cooking are the same.

With that in the clear, here’s how you steam! And one more thing. When reheating frozen leftovers, don’t forget to thaw them first. You don’t want the dish to become watery and lose its original taste now, do you?

  • Step 1: Fill the cooking pot. Use lukewarm water. And don’t fill too much water. Less than one-third, to be more specific.
  • Step 2: Let the water heat to medium-high.
  • Step 3: Now it’s time to place the yummy Mexican dish in that pot. The ends should be placed toward the bottom.
  • Step 4: After that, cover the pot with its lid. Let heat do its job for 15-20 minutes.
  • Step 5: At the end of which remove the Tamales and place them on a plate. They’ll take about five minutes to cool a bit. And that’s about it.

  3   Reheating Tamales in Your Microwave 


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Photo credit: kitchenbyte.com

What’s the easiest and fastest way to reheat Tamales? In short, what’s the best way to reheat Tamales? Microwave them!

I highly recommend microwaving Tamales if you don’t have much time on your hands. Otherwise, go for the oven, stove, or steaming. And why is that? It’s because microwaving a dish like Tamales tends to dry it out.

So for quick results, go grab your microwave-friendly plate.

  • Step 1: Place the Tamales freely on that plate. I say freely because I want you to space them out. And if you wish to avoid too much drying out, place a damp paper towel underneath. A little bit of steam here goes a long way during the heating process.
  • Step 2: Two minutes are perfect for heating Tamales.
  • Step 3: Following which eliminates the not-so-damp-anymore paper towel. And serve the dish while hot.

  4   Reheating Tamales on Your Stove


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Photo credit: tastehours.com

What’s the best way to reheat Tamales without jeopardizing their original taste, flavor, and texture? Use your stove top!

You think that the reheating process here takes a long time. But that’s not true. Unless 10 minutes is a long time for you!

So here’s how to reheat homemade Tamales to bring out the entire flavor.

  • Step 1: First off, preheat the cooking pan using some oil. Medium heat is perfect.
  • Step 2: Before placing the Tamales into that pan, remove their corn husk.
  • Step 3: Flip the Mexican wonders every two minutes. Until you start to notice a golden, crispy texture. On both the sides!

Now that I have reached the end, let me reiterate something very important. And even necessary as a matter of fact.

How to Store Cooked Tamales Properly? (Before Reheating Them)

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Now you know the best way to reheat Tamales. But none of the methods discussed above yield delicious results if you don’t store them properly. Cooked Tamales should be kept in the refrigerator or freezer. But you knew that already. Did you also know that you’re supposed to put them in airtight containers or Ziploc bags?

If you’re going to devour them in a few days, then the refrigerator is where they should be. But for longer storage like several months, nothing beats the power of a freezer. And for an even better outcome, wrap the Tamales in foil or plastic.

No More Wasting Tamales!

Or any other food! Technology has made life so much more convenient and easier. So why not use it to avoid wasting food?

Cooked food that you can store should not be thrown out. I’m not trying to give you a moral lesson here. All I’m trying to put across is that dishes like Tamales can be tasty today, tomorrow, and the day after. And even months later! Just know the best way to reheat Tamales.

So tell me, did you find the article helpful? And how likely are you to try out any of these methods for reheating?

How about you share your favorite homemade Tamales recipe with us here?

Here’s one I found on YouTube that I think you might like:

play

Thank you for watching and reading. Have a great day!

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