Imagine having mouthwatering tamales, ready to be devoured, in less than 30 minutes. It sounds like a dream, right? Well, with an Instant Pot and some frozen tamales, you can make this dream a reality.
I have to admit, I was quite late to the Instant Pot revolution. A gift from my mom sat in its box, untouched for over a year. It wasn’t until I craved refried beans that I finally unboxed it. In just half an hour, I made beans that tasted like they had been simmering on the stove for hours. I was instantly hooked!
Now, let me share with you my latest discovery. On a particularly hectic evening, when my family was battling bronchitis and pneumonia, I wanted a quick and easy meal. I decided on make-your-own tostadas for dinner. While my healthier batch of refried beans cooked in the Instant Pot, I remembered the frozen tamales my mom had given us for Christmas.
Curiosity led me and my daughter to search high and low for instructions on how to make frozen tamales in an Instant Pot, but we came up empty-handed. We found plenty of recipes and videos for fresh tamales, but nothing about cooking them from frozen. Determined to find a solution, I experimented and succeeded. And now, I’m thrilled to share with you how to perfectly cook frozen tamales in the Instant Pot.
Frozen Tamales in the Instant Pot
These instructions are specifically for tamales that are still frozen solid. If your tamales have defrosted, they might fall apart if cooked for the same amount of time. So, keep that in mind.
Now, you might notice in the photos that I only have eight tamales in my Instant Pot. These are from Costco, and they are huge! In fact, each one is equivalent to two regular-sized tamales. Adjust the quantities in the recipe accordingly to match the size of your tamales.
Just follow these easy instructions, and you’ll be savoring delicious tamales in no time:
- Place the frozen tamales in the Instant Pot.
- Add one cup of water to the pot.
- Close the lid and make sure the valve is set to the sealing position.
- Set the cooking time to 20 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural release of pressure for 5 minutes before switching the valve to the venting position to release any remaining pressure.
- Carefully remove the tamales from the Instant Pot and serve them while they’re still warm.
This foolproof method ensures that your frozen tamales come out perfectly cooked and ready to delight your taste buds.
For more culinary adventures, stay tuned! I’ll soon be sharing a recipe for chicken tamales made in the Instant Pot. So, get ready to expand your tamale-making skills.
If you’re interested in making authentic homemade pork tamales from scratch, I have a dedicated blog post with a step-by-step tutorial. You can even freeze those homemade tamales and come back here for instructions on how to cook them in the Instant Pot.
Are you looking for more Instant Pot recipes? Here are a few mouthwatering suggestions:
- Authentic Homemade Pork Tamales in the Instant Pot
- Healthier Refried Beans in the Instant Pot
- Jumbo Baked Potatoes in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Chili’s Skillet Queso
- Apricot Upside Down Cake in the Instant Pot
Don’t forget to share this article with your friends who also want to enjoy the convenience and deliciousness of cooking frozen tamales in an Instant Pot. Happy cooking!
