Can I Steam Tamales In My Instant Pot? (Answered)

Tamales are delicious Mexican food that has become a staple at every holiday gathering.
They are usually steamed or baked in corn husks and filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, and spices.
The question is whether you can steam tamales in your instant pot.

Instant Pots are great for cooking because they cook foods faster than conventional ovens.
If you want to try out some new recipes, then you should definitely consider buying an instant pot.

You can steam tamales in an instant pot.
There are two ways to steam tamales in an Instant Pot.
One way is to steam them in the pressure cooker mode.
Another way is to steam them using the saute function

What are tamales?

Tamales are a type of Mexican dish consisting of cornmeal dough wrapped around a filling of meat, vegetables, cheese, chile peppers, and spices. Tamales are traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven called a tamalero.
How do I steam tamales in my instant pot?
Answer: It is possible to steam tamales in your instant pot. Follow these steps:

Basic tamale ingredients

1 Fill the instant pot with enough water to completely submerge the tamales.
2 Add 1/4 cup of salt to the water.
3 Place the tamales into the instant pot.
4 Close the lid and set the timer for 20 minutes.
5 After 20 minutes, open the lid and check if the tamales are soft. If not, continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
6 Once the tamales are soft, remove from the instant pot and serve immediately.

Making tamales in your Instant Pot

Tamales are typically stuffed corn dough wrapped around meat and vegetables. Tamales are traditionally served during Christmas and New Year celebrations. Tamales are usually cooked using a slow cooker or stovetop method. However, making tamales in your Instant pot is easy and convenient. To make tamales in your InstantPot, follow these steps:
Step 1: In a bowl, combine the masa harina, lard, and salt. Mix well until the mixture forms a ball.
Step 2: Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts. Roll each part into a ball.

Soak

To soak beans, place them in a pan and fill with enough water to cover the beans completely. Bring the water to a boil and let simmer for about 30 minutes. Drain the beans and rinse under cold running water.

Make masa

Masa is a corn dough used in Mexican cuisine. It is similar to polenta but is made from ground dried corn instead of wheat flour. To make masa, combine 1 cup of warm water with 2 cups of yellow cornmeal polenta in a medium saucepan. Stir well until smooth. Add 3 tablespoons of salt and stir again. Cover the saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring frequently until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the masa with a fork and spread into a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let cool completely.

Prepare the filling

To make the filling, mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green chiles, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt. Spread the mixture evenly over the cooled tortilla chips. Top each chip with a slice of pepper jack cheese. Bake the chips according to package directions. Serve immediately.

Assemble

To assemble the burritos, spread 1/4 cup of the salsa onto the bottom half of each tortilla. Place 2 tablespoons of the refried beans on top of the salsa. Add 3 slices of pepper jack cheese and sprinkle with shredded lettuce. Fold the sides of the tortillas over the filling and roll up tightly. Secure with toothpicks. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Secure

Assembling the burrito is very easy, but you need to follow these steps carefully. First, lay down the tortilla flat on a cutting board. Then, place the toppings in order from left to right. Start with the cheese, followed by the beans, then the salsa. Next, fold the two sides of the tortilla together and press firmly. Finally, secure the burrito with toothpicks.

Steam

To steam food, put it into a covered pan or bowl and fill it with enough water to cover the food. Heat the water until it comes to a simmer. Cover the pan and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Remove the cover and check the food. It should be cooked through. If not, replace the cover and continue cooking.

How to steam tamales in your Instant Pot

Tamale making is a fun activity for kids and adults alike. Tamales are traditionally wrapped corn dough filled with meat, cheese, beans, and other ingredients. To make tamales in your Instant pot, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your Instant pot is set to saute mode.
2 Add 1 cup of water to the bottom chamber of the Instant pot.

Wrapping up (while you unwrap your tamales!)

To wrap your tamales, place the corn husks in a bowl and cover with hot water. Let sit until softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the water and pat dry. Place a piece of plastic wrap on top of the husk and fold the ends down toward the middle. Fold the sides of the husk together and continue folding the husk over itself until you reach the end. Tie the ends with string or twine.

How long do you steam tamales in a pressure cooker?

Tamale making is a process that requires patience and practice. It takes about 30 minutes to make tamales. To check if tamales are cooked properly, insert a toothpick into the center of the tamale. If the toothpick comes out clean, the tamales are ready. Tamales are usually served warm but can be reheated in the oven or microwave.

Can I use Instant Pot Air fryer basket for steaming?

You can use any metal utensil that fits into the pot. For instance, you can use a regular saucepan, but you will not get the same results as using a steamer basket.

How do you steam frozen tamales in an Instant Pot without a steamer basket?

Yes, you can use an instant pot for steaming. It works very well for steaming vegetables and meat. To steam something in an instant pot, place the item you wish to steam into the inner pot, fill the outer pot with water, and put the lid on top. Turn the dial to “steam” and let the pressure build up until the indicator light turns green. Once the pressure is built up, turn off the stove and wait for the pressure to release naturally. This takes about 10 minutes.

How long do I cook tamales for?

Tamale making is a process that requires patience and practice. It takes about 30 minutes to make tamales.

Can you use an Instant Pot for steaming?

You can steam frozen tamales in your Instant Pot using the steaming rack. Simply place the tamale on top of the steaming rack and fill the pot with enough water to cover the tamale. Close the lid and set the timer for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, open the lid and check if the tamale is done. If not, close the lid again and let it continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pot and serve immediately.

What can I use if I don’t have a steamer basket for my Instant Pot?

Yes, you can use the air fryer basket for steamer. But if you use the air fryer for steaming, you will not get the same results as using a regular steamer.

How do I know when my tamales are done?

Tamale making is a fun activity for kids and adults alike. It’s easy to make tamales at home and they taste great! Tamales are traditionally steamed in corn husks but today we can make them in any type of vessel. In this article I am going to explain you how to make tamales using a pressure cooker.