how long does it take for tamales to cook
Tamales usually take about 1 to 2 hours to cook when freshly made and steamed, but the exact time depends on size, batch, and cooking method. Frozen, already-cooked tamales generally reheat in 20 to 40 minutes in a steamer.
Basic cook times
- Fresh tamales in a stovetop steamer: about 60–90 minutes , sometimes up to 2 hours for large batches.
- Frozen (pre-cooked) tamales in a steamer: about 20–30 minutes for a small batch, up to 40 minutes if the pot is full.
- Pressure cooker/Instant Pot: often around 20–30 minutes at high pressure, plus release time.
How to tell they’re done
- The corn husk should peel away cleanly from the masa, without sticking.
- The masa should feel set and not gummy in the center; if it’s still doughy, keep steaming and recheck every 10–15 minutes.
Quick step-by-step check
- Steam tamales for about 1 hour , keeping gentle steam and enough water in the pot.
- Test one tamale: let it rest 5–10 minutes off the heat, then peel the husk; if it sticks or the center is soft, return the batch to steam.
- Continue cooking in 10–20 minute increments until the husk releases easily and the masa is fully cooked.
Cooking time ranges by method (HTML table)
| Method | Type of tamale | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Stovetop steamer | Fresh, from scratch | 60–120 minutes, checking after ~60–90 minutes. | [10][9][1]
| Stovetop steamer | Frozen, pre- cooked | 20–40 minutes depending on batch size. | [10][1]
| Pressure cooker | Fresh tamales | About 20–30 minutes at high pressure, plus release. | [5][3][10]
| Pressure cooker | Frozen, pre-cooked | Roughly 15–25 minutes at high pressure. | [3][10]
Mini FAQ
- Can you overcook tamales?
They are forgiving, but very long steaming can dry them out; aim for the husk- peels-clean test instead of a fixed time.
- Why do some recipes say 4–6 hours?
Slow-cooker or very low-heat methods, or very dense packs of tamales, can take several hours, but most home steamer setups run closer to 1–2 hours.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.