Tamales are a wonderful food. They can be made without meat, especially if you have a vegetarian meal with your family and friends.
Tamales are very popular around the world. People in different countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala prefer to eat them.
They usually have a traditional meal with tamales for the holidays. Tamales can be served on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Tamales are made of cornflour, tomato sauce, green chili peppers, and stewed onions.
These ingredients are mixed with shredded chicken breast or pork.
They are wrapped in a corn husk and then steamed over boiling water till cooked through.
Can you freeze Tamales? You can freeze tamales.
However, they will taste different from freshly cooked ones.
It would be a great idea to freeze them when you are preparing for your holiday meals.
You can prepare some and keep them in the freezer for later use.
Does Freezing Affect Tamales?
If you are looking for a recipe to store in the freezer, it would be a great idea to prepare tamales.
You can use fresh corn leaves that are young and tender, which are not commonly found in grocery stores.
It will give your tamales a distinct flavor from those freshly prepared from the market or supermarkets.
Freezing tamales will not affect the flavor, taste, or texture.
However, you will notice some changes when you thaw and reheat them.
Tamales are sensitive to heat. That is why you should follow these directions carefully.
Freezing tamales requires a considerable amount of preparation time, making it a very difficult task for busy people.
You need to double wrap your tamales and use freezer-quality zip bags.
When you freeze your tamales, you must remember that you are preparing unbaked food for your meal.
For this reason, you should use a container with a lid or wrap them with plastic sheeting and secure them properly.
Be sure to label the package of tamales so you can tell if they’re genuine Mexican tamales or not when you thaw them later.
How to Freeze Tamales?
Tamales can be frozen in their traditional wrappings.
However, you have to wrap them with plastic first, then place them inside a heavy-duty freezer bag.
Be sure that you remove as much air from the plastic wrap before freezing.
Tamales can also be cooked first and then freeze them.
Make sure to cool them down first before freezing.
Once they are cooled down, use freezer-quality zip bags, then place them inside a heavy-duty freezer bag.
Be sure to label the package of tamales so you can tell if they’re genuine Mexican tamales or not when you thaw them later.
They will last for up to six months in the freezer, which is good if you plan to have a large family gathering for holidays.
How to Thaw and Reheat Frozen Tamales?
Tamales should be thawed overnight in the fridge.
This will take 8 to 10 hours, so you can start preparing them early before you leave for work the next day.
When you are ready to eat your thawed tamales, wrap them in a paper towel and microwave them for about 25 seconds or until they are warm.
You can also thaw them overnight in the fridge then cook them as you usually would, but it will take more time because of preparation preparations.
Another option is to steam them for about 10 minutes.
You can also fry the tamales in a sauté pan with hot water or vegetable oil, then add a little bit of salt and pepper, and they’re done.
It would be best if you never thawed your frozen tamales at room temperature because it will ruin their texture and flavor.
It is best to wrap tamales with fresh corn leaves before freezing.
It will make them taste better than those which are wrapped with plastic or wax paper.
How to Tell if Tamales are Bad?
Tamales are a great food for your family and friends.
You can store them in the freezer and reheat them anytime you want, which is why it’s one of the best homemade meals you can prepare at home.
If you have already stored some tamales in your freezer, be sure to check their expiration dates regularly so they will last longer with the right amount of quality.
If they have already passed their sell-by dates, you will need to know if Tamales are bad or not so you can throw them away right away.
If you spot any mold or discoloration on tamales, it means that they are already bad.
You should always check the whole batch of tamales before eating them so you can spot any spoiled ones in case there’s a possibility that you missed one.
If you notice that your tamales have an unusual odor and taste, this may be caused by molds.
The molds may look like white or dark spots, and they usually grow inside the tamales, so you might need to cut them into pieces to check inside for any possible signs of molds.
Just remember that the quality of your tamales will depend on how well you stored them in the freezer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tamales are a timeless treat that many people have enjoyed for centuries.
They are best when they’re fresh, so don’t forget to ask your friends and neighbors to share them with you so you can try how good this traditional meal tastes in your own home.
If you have any leftovers, it’s best to freeze them right away, so they are still fresh and delicious when you are ready to eat them later.
If you want your tamales to taste just as they were freshly made, wrap them with fresh corn leaves before putting them in the freezer.
When you’re ready to serve your frozen tamales, thaw them overnight in the fridge, then heat or steam them until they are warm.
Can You Freeze Tamales? Easy Guide to Freeze Tamales
Ingredients
- Tamales
- Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
- Labels and markers
Instructions
- Tamales can also be cooked first and then freeze them.
- Make sure to cool them down first before freezing.
- Once they are cooled down, use freezer-quality zip bags, then place them inside a heavy-duty freezer bag.
- Be sure to label the package of tamales so you can tell if they’re genuine Mexican tamales or not when you thaw them later.
- They will last for up to six months in the freezer, which is good if you plan to have a large family gathering for holidays.
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