How long do the tamales last? - The Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking for a delicious, easy-to-eat, and customizable meal or snack, tamales are a perfect choice. They are made from a dough based dough and can be loaded with a variety of different fillings to satisfy your cravings.

The tamales are steamed in a corn or plantain husk to create a delicate and unique texture that is sure to have you asking for more.

If you make them from scratch, it can be quite an undertaking, so it’s a good idea to cook the tamales in batches.

But if you’re making a big batch of tamales, you might want to know if you can store them in the fridge, freezer, or on the counter until you’re ready to eat them.

How long do the tamales last? They last about a week in the fridge, six months in the freezer, and four hours on the counter. In the fridge and freezer, tamales keep best if they are wrapped in plastic and placed in an airtight container. On the hob, tamales should not sit out for more than four hours.

This article will show you exactly how to store your tamales, so they stay fresh and delicious.

Read on to find out what tamales are, how long they keep, how to store them properly, and the best ways to reheat them.

What is a tamale?

Tamales are a corn-based dish that originated in Mesoamerica. They have been consumed in some form for thousands of years thanks to their portability and delicious taste.

Tamal is an anglicized form of the Spanish word tamal, which comes from the Nahuatl term, tamalli.

The dough inside a tamale is made of masa (corn) that can be filled with many things. Some of the most popular fillings are meats, cheeses, chiles, fruits, and vegetables.

The choice of filling is personal and different people will include different combinations to create unique flavors.

This dough is wrapped in a corn or banana leaf and steamed until cooked . If you want to add more flavor to your tamale, you can season the cooking liquid.

Once the tamale is fully cooked, you can remove it from the sheet or use it as a plate.

The wrapped tamale is easy to transport, filling and delicious. Plus, the flavor combinations are virtually limitless, so it’s no wonder this food has stood the test of time.

Although you may associate tamales most closely with Mexican culture, it is believed that they spread from the indigenous communities of what is now Mexico and Guatemala throughout the rest of Latin America.

How long do tamales last in the fridge?

If you want to cook a big batch of tamales to enjoy at weeknight meals, you’re in luck. Tamales can easily be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

That means you can cook them earlier in the week and just reheat them for lunch or dinner.

How to store tamales in the fridge

To better preserve your tamales in the refrigerator, you should follow these instructions.

1. Let the tamales cool to room temperature. 
2. Look for a container that has an airtight seal and will fit your tamales in without having to bend or crush them.
3. Place a layer of tamales in the bottom of the container. 
4. Once the bottom of the container is full, you can place a piece of plastic to wrap the tamales. Tuck the plastic in a little on the sides.
5. If there is more room in the container, you can place another layer of tamales on top of the first.
6. Once that layer is complete, you can place another piece of plastic over this layer of tamales. Gently tuck the plastic down the sides of the tamales.
7. Repeat this step until the container is full. 
8. When the container is full, place a last piece of plastic on top and press it over the tamales to seal the container.
9. Take a piece of tape, write the date and contents, and stick it to the lid of the container. This extra step will let you know if the tamales are still fresh enough to eat.
10. Put them in the fridge and eat them within 7 days. 

How long do tamales last in the freezer?

In general, you’ll want to use your tamales within 6 months of the freeze date. After this age, they may start to get freezer burn or have a less appetizing flavor and texture.

How to keep tamales in the freezer

Freezing tamales is a great way to preserve them for maximum freshness and flavor if you don’t plan on enjoying them within a few days of cooking.

Luckily, tamales freeze very well and can last up to 6 months if you follow the proper steps.

1. Make sure your tamales have cooled to room temperature. I sometimes even put them in the fridge overnight before freezing.
2. Find a plate or baking sheet that will fit in your freezer and line it with parchment paper. 
3. Arrange the tamales in a single layer, with at least a 1/2-inch gap between them. You want air to be able to flow between them, so they freeze evenly.
4. Place the tray or plate of tamales in the freezer. You will want to let them rest for 12-24 hours or until they are completely frozen. Give it a little push to make sure it’s solid.
5. Once the tamales are completely frozen, you can transfer them to an airtight freezer bag or container. If you leave them on the cookie sheet, they are likely to get freezer burn. If you want to protect them even more, you can individually wrap each tamale in plastic wrap before putting them in the freezer bag or container.
6. Once packed, take a piece of tape and write the date and content on it. Tape the tape to the bag or container and put it back in the freezer.

If you follow these steps, you will be able to preserve the integrity of your tamales for up to 6 months in the freezer.

How long do tamales last on the counter?

When it comes to leaving food out at room temperature, it’s not something you want to do for more than 4-5 hours.

When cooked food is kept at room temperature, it becomes a breeding ground for various bacteria that can make you sick if you eat it.

To keep them a bit cooler and prevent flies and other insects from enjoying your labor, be sure to cover your tamales with plastic wrap if they’re on the counter.

I do not recommend leaving the tamales out for more than 1-2 hours on the counter before moving them to the fridge or freezer when following the instructions above.

If you know you’re not going to eat them right away, it’s best to put them in the fridge and then reheat them.

To make sure you don’t get sick if you’ve left the tamales out for a couple of hours, you’ll want to reheat them to about 165°F before eating. 

If you are serving tamales for lunch or dinner, you may want to keep them warm on a heat source to prevent bacteria growth.

How long do raw tamales last on the counter?

Due to the freshness of the ingredients, uncooked tamales should not be left on the counter for more than an hour before cooking or refrigerated or frozen. 

These fresh ingredients are great food for bacteria, so you want to make sure you don’t let them go bad before you can enjoy them.

Can you freeze uncooked tamales?

If you are making a large batch of tamales and only want to cook a few for your meal, you may be wondering if you can freeze the uncooked tamales for later use. Luckily, uncooked tamales freeze very well!

They should last 4-6 months if you follow the same freezing instructions I’ve outlined above. Wrapping them individually will help prevent them from sticking together and improve their quality for longer.

Make sure you don’t skip writing the date and contents on the freezer bag or duct tape. This step will prevent you from eating freezer-burned or unpleasant-tasting tamales.

How do you reheat tamales?

If you want to reheat your tamales, you have a couple of options. Since tamales are traditionally steamed, one option is to steam them for reheating.

You can also use the oven or microwave, although the texture may be slightly different if you use these methods.

How to reheat tamales in a steamer

Follow these steps to reheat your tamales using the steamer method.

1. Fill your steamer halfway with water and set it to medium heat.
2. Place the steamer basket or pot on top.
3. Arrange the tamales in a single layer in the basket and cover with a lid. 
4. Steam for about 15-20 minutes. If you are steaming them from frozen, you may need to add an extra 10 minutes to the cooking time.
5. Check in 15 minutes . If the tamales aren’t hot, flip them over and steam for another 5-10 minutes.
6. Once hot, take them out of the steamer basket , open the peel or banana leaf and enjoy them.

How to reheat tamales in the Instant Pot

My Instant Pot is one of my favorite time-saving kitchen gadgets. It does everything from pressure cooking chickpeas and beans, making amazing soups and stews, and even reheating tamales in a flash.

Follow these instructions to properly reheat your tamales in an Instant Pot.

1. Place 1 cup of water in the bottom of your Instant Pot. You cannot skip this step, as the Instant Pot needs water to pressurize.
2. You can use the steam basket of your Instant Pot or the steam rack. Place whatever you have on hand in your Instant Pot. 
3. Place the tamales in the Instant Pot.
4. Place the lid on your Instant Pot and set to seal. Press the Manual button and set the timer for 5 minutes. You may have to add a couple more minutes if they are frozen.
5. Let the tamales cook. Once the timer is complete, you can release the steam manually or let it release naturally if you’re not in a rush.
6. Use tongs to remove the tamales from the Instant Pot and allow them to cool for 2-3 minutes before unwrapping and enjoying.

How to reheat tamales in the oven

Reheating your tamales in the oven is another option if you don’t want to take out the steamer.

Keep in mind that they can dry out a bit and the texture will not be the same as if you steamed them. Follow these instructions to reheat your tamales in the oven:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 
2. Wrap each tamale tightly in aluminum foil. Make sure there is no space between the tamale and the foil. The tighter the better!
3. Arrange the tamales in a single layer on a cookie sheet. 
4. Put the tamales in the oven for 10 minutes. 
5. At 10 minutes, open the oven and turn the tamales over. 
6. Cook the tamales for another 10 minutes. 
7. Remove the tamales from the oven and unwrap the foil and corn husk.
8. Enjoy with your favorite sauce.

If you want to cook your tamales from freezing, it’s best to let them thaw overnight in the fridge. If you forgot that step, you may need to let them cook for another 10 minutes.

How to reheat tamales in the microwave

If you want to reheat your tamales in the microwave you can follow these steps. The texture may change and there is a chance that they will dry out.

If you have the time and opportunity, I would try steaming or baking them, but a microwave will do in a pinch.

1. Find a microwave-safe plate that will fit the tamales. 
2. Wrap each tamale in a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out too much.
3. Arrange the tamales in a single layer on the plate, about an inch apart between each tamale. Keeping a bit of space between them will help them cook evenly.
4. Program the microwave for about 1-2 minutes. Check the temperature and if you want them hotter add 1 minute to the cooking time until they are heated through.
5. Take the tamales out of the microwave, unwrap the paper towel and corn husk, and enjoy.

Final thoughts

As you can see, tamales are a delicious food that can easily be kept in the fridge or freezer. If you want to store them in the fridge, be sure to consume them within a week to maintain maximum freshness. 

With proper storage techniques, tamales will last in the freezer for about 6 months. Be sure to label the bag with the contents and the date so you don’t lose track of when you cooked them and how long they will last.

Do you have a favorite way to store tamales? Let us know in the comments!