How to Air Fry Frozen Tamales
All you need to turn frozen tamales into a hot, satisfying meal is a little oil and your air fryer. In under 30 minutes, they’ll be heated through and ready to serve.
John and I have made more tamales than we can count over the years, though our styles couldn’t be more different. He keeps his batches small, while mine tend to take over the whole kitchen.
The extras from my batches usually go straight into the freezer. During our last move, we forgot to pull out a bag to thaw, and our steamer basket and Instant Pot were already packed.
The air fryer was still sitting on the counter, so we gave it a try. The tamales came out a little drier than they would from a steamer, but the method worked well and saved dinner that night.
You can use this method for homemade or store-bought frozen tamales as long as they have already been cooked. To make a batch from scratch, try our Instant Pot tamales with cheese and chiles or vegetarian tamales.
Leave the Husks On
Keep the tamales wrapped in their corn husks while they cook. The husks help hold in moisture and protect the tamales from the air fryer’s dry heat.
Brush a thin layer of vegetable oil over the outside of each husk. Tamales that are wrapped at both ends tend to retain moisture a little better than those left open on one side.
Air Fry in a Single Layer
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Arrange the frozen tamales in a single layer with a little space between them so the hot air can circulate.
Cook for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Check one at the 18-minute mark and remove the tamales as soon as they are hot in the center.
Air fryer models vary, so yours may need a little more or less time. Cook additional tamales in batches rather than stacking or crowding the basket.
⚠️ Watch the Cooking Time
Air-fried tamales will usually be slightly drier than steamed or pressure-cooked tamales. Leaving them in for a few extra minutes “just to be safe” dries them out even more.
Once the center is hot, they are ready. If they come out a little drier than you prefer, serve them with melted cheddar cheese, guacamole, hot sauce, taco sauce, salsa, or sour cream.
They also pair well with sides like Spanish rice, refried beans, Instant Pot cilantro lime rice, corn and black bean salsa, or Mexican street corn.
Other Ways to Reheat Frozen Tamales
No air fryer? Wrap the tamales in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 3 to 4 minutes.
You can also stand them upright in a stovetop steamer and heat them for 20 to 25 minutes. Add a few extra minutes when reheating five or more tamales.
For the Instant Pot, add water and a steamer basket, cook the tamales using the steam function for about 15 minutes, and finish with a quick release.
Ingredients
- 6 frozen tamales, any variety
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
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Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Leave the tamales in the corn husks, and coat with a layer vegetable oil.6 frozen tamales¼ cup vegetable oil
- Arrange the tamales in the air fryer basket and cook for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Cook until the tamales are hot and warmed through. Times may vary depending on your air fryer.
- Serve with your favorite sides!