How long do Tamales last in the Fridge?

Tamale, a popular Mexican dish, has gained popularity around the world. This Mesoamerican corn-based meal is often filled with cheese, fruits and vegetables, as well as the most important ingredient, chilies. After being cooked, tamales can go bad very quickly. Most people wonder how long do tamales last in the fridge and in doubt they go about asking people about it.

So, how long do tamales last in the fridge? Tamales can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to four months. It can be kept at room temperature for approximately 4 hours.

To create a unique texture, tamales are steam-cooked in a banana leaf or corn husk.

Making tamales from scratch can be quite a task. Batch-cooking tamales is an excellent idea.

However, if you are making large batches of tamales you may want to check if they can be stored in the fridge, freezer or on the counter until you are ready to eat.

This article will explain how to keep your tamales fresh and delicious.

I suggest that you continue reading to learn more about tamales, their properties, storage and how to prepare them.

What is a Tamale?

Tamales, as I have already mentioned, is a corn-based dish that originated in Mesoamerica. Because of their portability and delicious taste, they have been enjoyed in some form for thousands of years.

Tamale is an Anglicized version of the Spanish term Tamal. It comes from Nahuatl term, tamalli.

A tamale’s dough is made of masa (corn), which can be filled with many different things. The most common fillings are meats, cheeses and chilies.

Each person will choose their fillings and create unique flavors.

The masa dough is wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk and steam until it becomes cooked. Season the steaming liquid to give it a more flavorful finish.

After the tamale has been cooked thoroughly, you can either remove it from its husk or place it on a plate.

Wrapped tamales are easy to transport, delicious, and filling. This food is versatile and can be made in a variety of flavors. It’s no surprise that it has survived the test of time.

Tamales are often associated with Mexican culture. However, it is believed that they were spread from indigenous communities in modern-day Mexico and Guatemala to the rest of Latin America.

What long do tamales last in the fridge?

You can make a lot of tamales and have them ready to go for your meals every day. Tamales can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

This means that you can prepare them earlier in the week, and then reheat them for lunch or dinner.

How to Store Tamales in the Fridge?

These are the best ways to store your tamales in the refrigerator.

Allow the tamales to cool to room temperature.

You will need a container with an airtight seal that will hold your tamales without them having to be bent or squashed.

Put a layer of tamales in the bottom of your container.

Place the tamales in a container that is filled to the top. You can also fold the plastic along the sides.

You can add another layer of tamales to the container if there is enough space.

After you have completed the first layer, wrap another piece of plastic wrap around the tamales. Gently fold the plastic along the sides of your tamales.

Continue this process until you are satisfied with your container.

After you have filled your container, wrap one more piece of plastic wrap over it. Press it down on the tamales to seal the container.

Attach a piece masking tape to your container’s lid. This extra step will let you know if the tamales are still good to eat.

Keep in the refrigerator for at least 7 days.

How long do tamales last in the freezer?

You should use your tamales within six months of their freezing date. They may develop freezer burn or a less appealing flavor and texture after this age.

How to Store Tamales in the Freezer?

If you don’t plan to eat tamales within a few days, freezing them is a great option.

Tamales freeze well, and can last for up to 6 months if you follow the right steps.

Your tamales should be cooled to room temperature. Sometimes, I’ll even keep them in the refrigerator overnight to prevent freezing.

Line a baking sheet or plate that fits in your freezer with parchment paper.

Place your tamales in one layer, with at least half an to one inch space between them. To ensure that they freeze evenly, air should flow between them.

Place the tray of tamales on a plate in the freezer. Let them rest for between 12-24 hours, or until they have completely frozen. To make sure they are stable, give them a poke.

After the tamales have frozen completely, transfer them to an airtight container or bag. They will develop freezer burn if they are left on a baking sheet. You can wrap the tamales individually in plastic wrap before placing in the freezer bag.

Once you have packed everything, use a piece masking tape to write the date and contents. The tape should be stuck to the container or bag and returned to the freezer.

These steps will allow you to keep your tamales intact for up to 6 month in the freezer.

How long do tamales last on the counter?

You should not leave food at room temperature for more than 4-5 hours.

Cooked food that is kept at room temperature can become a breeding ground of bacteria and could make you sick if you eat it.

If your tamales are not on the counter, cover them with plastic wrap to keep them fresher and stop insects like flies from eating your fruits.

When following the above instructions, I do not recommend that you leave your tamales on the counter for more than 2 hours before moving them to the fridge/freezer.

You can keep them in the fridge for later use if you don’t plan on eating them immediately.

If you leave the tamales out for more than an hour, you should heat them up to 165F before you eat to ensure you don’t get sick.

To prevent bacteria growth, you may want to warm tamales in a chafing dish if you plan to serve them at a dinner party or potluck.

How long do uncooked tamales last?

Uncooked tamales shouldn’t be left out on the counter more than an hour before being cooked or moved to the refrigerator or freezer.

These ingredients are great food for bacteria so make sure they don’t spoil before you can enjoy them.

Can You Freeze Uncooked Tamales?

You might wonder if you can freeze uncooked tamales if you make a large batch of tamales but only need to cook a few. Uncooked tamales can be frozen very well.

If you follow the instructions above for freezing, they should last approximately 4-6 months. Wrapping them individually will prevent them from sticking together, and increase their quality over a longer time.

Don’t forget to write the date and contents of the freezer bag on masking tape or paper. This will help you avoid eating frozen tamales that are burnt or taste bad.

How do you cook tamales?

There are a few options to heat your tamales. To reheat tamales, you can steam them.

You can also use the oven and microwave. However, the texture of the food may differ if you do so.

How to Reheat Tamales in a Steamer?

These steps will allow you to steam your tamales.

Turn the steamer to medium and fill it halfway with water.

Place the steamer basket/steamer pot on top.

Place the tamales in one layer in the basket, and then cover it with a lid.

Allow to steam for approximately 15-20 minutes. You might need to steam them for 10 minutes if you do not have frozen.

At the 15 minute mark, check. If the tamales are still not quite warm, turn them over and steam them for another 5-10 minutes.

Once the steamer basket has been warmed, take the banana leaf out of the steamer basket and open the husk.

How to Reheat Tamales in an Instant Pot?

Instant Pot, one of my favorite kitchen gadgets, can just about do everything, including pressure cooking chickpeas and beans, making delicious soups and stews, as well as reheating tamales quickly.

These are the steps to correctly heat your tamales in an Instant Pot.

Put 1 cup water in the Instant Pot’s bottom. This step is essential as the Instant Pot will not allow you to skip it.

Either your Instant Pot steamer basket, or steam rack can be used. You can use whatever you have in your Instant Pot.

Put the tamales in the Instant Pot.

Set your Instant Pot to seal by placing the lid on it. Press the Manual button to set the timer for five minutes. If they are frozen, you may need to extend the timer by a few minutes.

Let the tamales boil. If you don’t want to wait, you can either manually let the steam escape or allow it to naturally release.

To remove the tamales from your Instant Pot, use tongs. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before you open them and enjoy.

How to Reheat Tamales in an Oven?

If you don’t have a steamer, another option is to bake your tamales.

Remember that they can dry out and may not be as tender if you steam them. These are the instructions to heat your tamales in an oven.

Preheat the oven to 425°F

Wrap each tamale tightly in aluminum foil. You should make sure that there is no space between your tamale and foil. The tighter, the better!

Place the tamales on a single layer on baking sheets.

Bake the tamales for ten minutes.

Turn the tamales upside down after 10 minutes.

Cook the tamales another 10 minutes.

Take the tamales out of the oven, and then unwrap the tinfoil wrapper and corn husk.

Serve with your favorite sauce.

It is best to let your tamales thaw in the refrigerator overnight before you cook them. You might have to cook them for another 10 minutes if you forget this step.

How to Reheat Tamales in the Microwave?

These steps will allow you to microwave your tamales. They might have a different texture and dry out.

If you have the time, the oven is a good option. However, a microwave can be used in an emergency.

Make sure you have a plate that is microwave-safe to fit your tamales.

To prevent them drying out, wrap each the tamales in a damp paper towel.

Place the tamales on a single layer of the plate with an inch space between them. To ensure even cooking, leave some space between the tamales.

For about 1-2 minutes, heat your microwave. You can check the temperature of the microwave and add an additional 1 minute to the cooking time if they need more heat.

Take your tamales out of the microwave and unwrap the corn husk and paper towel.

How to tell if Tamales are bad?

There are some signs that tamales may go bad. Tamales are made with mostly meat, vegetables, and fruits. Tamales can often be characterized by moldy tamales and a bad smell.

Bad tamales will have mold growth on them. It will also change in color from yellowish to orange or pink. Throw out all tamales if you see mold or color changes.

Bad tamales will smell rotten. It may also have other smells depending on what ingredients were used. If you suspect that the smell is not what it should be, then throw it out.

Wrapping up

How long do Tamales last in the Fridge?

Tamales can make a delicious and they can be stored in the freezer or fridge. To preserve their freshness, you should keep them in the refrigerator for at least one week.

Tamales can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months if you use proper storage methods. You must label your bag with the contents, date and time so that you can keep track of them and check when and how long they last.