Mexican Kitchen Tools

Pressure, Steam or Roast? The Best Electric Tamale Steamer

Electric ways to steam tamales: Instant Pot, food steamers, a fryer-steamer and a roaster, with honest capacity limits versus a stovetop tamalera.

An unwrapped tamal on a wooden serving board with onion rings and a small cactus, against a red background
A tamal served on a wooden board.

A tamalera on the stove is the classic way to steam tamales, but it is not the only way. Plenty of home cooks have no spare burner on tamale day, cook in an apartment with a small stovetop, or simply want a pot that switches itself off. An electric steamer, a multi-cooker or a pressure cooker can do the job, as long as you know what each one holds and where it falls short.

This guide covers the electric options worth buying for tamales, from an Instant Pot with its steam rack to a large fryer-boiler-steamer and a roaster for holding a crowd’s worth hot. One thing up front: most electric appliances here hold about 10 quarts or less, a fraction of a 20- or 30-quart stovetop tamalera. If you are new to tamales, start with our guide to what tamales are.

Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a working Mexican kitchen looks for when steaming tamales, the makers’ own specifications and manuals, and published recipes, which we name.

Quick verdict: which electric tamale steamer to buy

For most kitchens, the best electric tamale steamer is the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-quart: the listing includes a stainless steel steam rack, it cooks tamales under pressure in about 40 minutes rather than an hour or more, and it does a dozen other jobs the rest of the year. For bigger batches without pressure, the Masterbuilt 10-liter XL fryer, boiler and steamer gives you a deep 10.6-quart pot with a lift-out basket, and the Ball EasyCanner 21-quart canner is the tallest pot here. If you want a plain countertop steamer with a long timer, choose the Euro Cuisine FS2500. For more than two or three dozen at a time, a stovetop tamalera is still the better tool.

The rest of this page explains why, what each appliance actually holds, and when an electric steamer is the wrong choice.

Five electric tamale steamers at a glance

Our five standout picks side by side, one for each kind of kitchen, with the specifications each maker or listing states. All seven appliances are reviewed in full below.

Appliance Best for Capacity How it steams Buy on Amazon
A small batch of tamales, fast 6 quarts; fill to 2/3 under pressure Pressure steam on a steam rack View on Amazon
Big batches in a lift-out basket 10.6-quart pot, per the listing Open steaming in a deep basket View on Amazon
Set-and-forget steaming Two 8.5-quart stainless tiers Steam tank, 90-minute timer View on Amazon
Small batches and reheating 8.25 quarts in three bowls Remove dividers to stand food upright View on Amazon
Reheating and keeping tamales hot 18 quarts Water in the pan, tamales on the rack View on Amazon

Product images from Amazon. Capacity is as stated by each maker or listing. No maker here states how many tamales its appliance holds; counts below come from named recipes only.

Electric or stovetop: be honest about capacity first

Before choosing an appliance, it helps to know what you give up. In our guide to the best tamale steamer, the top pick is a 20-quart stainless tamalera that its maker, Concord, rates for 30 to 60 tamales. Only one electric pot below is in that size range, Ball’s 21-quart water bath canner, and Ball rates it in canning jars, not tamales. The rest hold about 10 quarts or less, and a pressure cooker can only be filled to two-thirds of its height.

Electric appliances win in other ways. They free a burner, they hold an even temperature without you watching the flame, and most switch to a warm setting or shut off when the time is up. Pressure cookers also cut the cooking time sharply. So the honest rule is simple: for a dozen or two tamales, an electric steamer is a convenient choice; for a holiday tamalada of several dozen, use a stovetop tamalera, or run an electric appliance alongside it for the overflow.

A lidded pot on a stove in a dim kitchen with steam rising from it
Steady steam is what cooks tamales, whatever the heat source.

Our picks for the best electric tamale steamer

These seven cover the electric ways to steam tamales: pressure cookers, a deep fryer-boiler-steamer, a multi-cooker with a basket, two countertop food steamers and a roaster oven. We looked hard for a dedicated electric tamalera from a named maker and did not find one sold in stock on Amazon in the United States, so there is none on this list.

1. Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart Pressure Cooker – Tamales in About 40 Minutes

Best overallInstant Pot 6 Qt 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

An Instant Pot is the electric appliance most home cooks already reach for, and the Duo Plus is the one we would pick for tamales. This is the 6-quart WhisperQuiet version; Instant Pot also makes an 8-quart size with a taller pot, but it was not in stock when we last checked. It comes with a stainless steel steam rack with handles, which keeps the tamales above the water, plus two extra sealing rings, according to the listing.

The big advantage is time. Williams-Sonoma’s Instant Pot pork and green chile tamale recipe stands the tamales upright on the steam rack, cooks them at high pressure for 40 minutes, then lets the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes. That recipe makes 12 to 16 tamales, which is a fair guide to what one batch in a pressure cooker holds. A stovetop pot typically needs an hour or more, as the University of Maryland Extension’s recipe shows.

The limit is height. Instant Pot’s Duo Plus manual says that for all pressure programs, including Steam, the food and liquid should not pass the two-thirds line, and it lists the 6-quart inner pot at about 9.4 inches across and 6.2 inches deep. Tall tamales may need to lean or be trimmed shorter at the folded end. The same manual asks for at least 2 cups of liquid for the minimum, so follow your own model’s manual rather than a recipe that uses less.

The lid and stainless inner pot are dishwasher safe, according to the listing.

Why we like it

  • Stainless steam rack with handles in the box
  • Tamales cook in about 40 minutes at high pressure (Williams-Sonoma recipe)
  • Stainless inner pot with a tri-ply bottom
  • Dishwasher-safe lid and inner pot
  • Pressure cooks, slow cooks, sautés and steams the rest of the year

Key specifications

Model 112-0169-01 (6 qt WhisperQuiet, per the listing)
Capacity 6 quarts; fill no higher than 2/3 for pressure programs
Power 1000 W, 120 V
Type Electric pressure cooker, 9 functions including Steam
Rack or basket Stainless steel steam rack with handles
Size Inner pot about 9.4 in wide, 6.2 in deep (Duo Plus manual)
Cleaning Dishwasher-safe lid and inner pot
Warranty Not stated in the listing

Why we recommend it

It suits anyone who makes a small batch of tamales at a time and wants them done fast, without giving up a burner. It is also the most useful appliance here for everyday cooking, from beans to pozole.

Skip it if you make tamales by the dozens: one batch is roughly a recipe’s worth, and you cannot top up the water or check the tamales while it is under pressure.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Much shorter cooking time
  • One-touch WhisperQuiet steam release
  • Keep-warm function
  • Useful all year

Cons

  • Smaller, shorter pot than the 8-quart size
  • Two-thirds fill limit restricts height
  • No peeking or refilling mid-cook

Check price on Amazon

2. Masterbuilt 10-Liter XL Fryer, Boiler and Steamer – A Deep Basket With a Lifting Hook

Best for big batchesMasterbuilt® 3-in-1 10 Liter XL Electric Turkey Fryer plus Boiler and Steamer Combination with Drain Basket and Breakaway Safety Cord in Stainless Steel

Masterbuilt sells this as a turkey fryer, but it is also a boiler and a steamer, and its size is what makes it interesting for tamales. The listing gives a 10.6-quart cooking pot, and Masterbuilt says it fits a turkey of up to 20 pounds. A pot that deep leaves room for tamales to stand upright in the basket, something the shallow trays of most food steamers cannot offer.

It has an adjustable thermostat from 125 to 375°F, according to Masterbuilt, a hinged lid that lifts off, a cooking basket with a lifting hook and drain clips, and a built-in drain valve for emptying the water when you are done. Masterbuilt lists the components as dishwasher safe and the unit at about 18.4 inches wide, 16.5 inches long and 14.8 inches tall, so it needs a clear stretch of counter.

One honest caution: Masterbuilt’s product page does not explain how to set the basket up for steaming or how much water to use. For tamales, the principle is the same as in any steamer: keep the water below the tamales, never over them, and check the level during a long steam. Read the manual for the fill lines before the first batch.

Why we like it

  • 10.6-quart pot, deep enough to stand tamales
  • Deep basket with a lifting hook
  • Thermostat from 125 to 375°F, per Masterbuilt
  • Drain valve for emptying water
  • Dishwasher-safe components

Key specifications

Model MB20012420
Capacity 10 liters; 10.6-quart pot (listing)
Power Not stated
Type Electric fryer, boiler and steamer; 125 to 375°F
Rack or basket Cooking basket with lifting hook and drain clips
Size About 18.4 x 16.5 x 14.8 in (Masterbuilt)
Cleaning Dishwasher-safe components; drain valve
Warranty 1-year limited

Why we recommend it

Choose it if you want a big electric batch in a basket you can lift out, or you already plan to fry a turkey and want one appliance that also steams tamales and boils corn and crawfish.

Skip it if you want clear steaming instructions from the maker, or counter space is tight: the maker gives none for steaming, and it is a large appliance to store.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Deep pot for standing tamales
  • Deep pot with a lift-out basket
  • Drain valve makes emptying easy

Cons

  • No steaming guidance on the product page
  • Bulky to store
  • Wattage not stated

Check price on Amazon

3. Euro Cuisine FS2500 Two-Tier Electric Food Steamer – A Long Timer and Stainless Trays

Best food steamerEuro Cuisine FS2500 Electric Food Steamer

Most countertop food steamers are built for broccoli and fish, with timers that stop at an hour and plastic baskets. The Euro Cuisine FS2500 stands out for tamales on two counts. Its two trays are stainless steel, 8.5 quarts each by the listing’s figures, and its built-in timer runs to 90 minutes, enough for the 60 to 75 minutes the University of Maryland Extension recipe gives for steaming tamales without pressure.

The water sits in a 4.5-quart stainless steel tank below the trays, and the listing says it can be filled with hot or cold water. When the timer ends, the steamer shuts off and switches to warm. The listing gives 1200 watts and a three-year warranty, longer than most appliances here.

The trays are better suited to tamales laid flat than standing. Lay them in a single layer, seam side down, on a few corn husks, and use both tiers for a bigger batch, swapping their positions halfway if the top tier cooks more slowly. Euro Cuisine’s sheet for this model also lists a steam concentrator and a vented lid.

Why we like it

  • Two stainless steel trays, 8.5 quarts each
  • 90-minute timer, long enough for tamales
  • 4.5-quart stainless water tank
  • Automatic shut-off and warm setting
  • Three-year warranty, per the listing

Key specifications

Model FS2500
Capacity Two 8.5-quart tiers (17 quarts total)
Power 1200 W
Type Electric food steamer; 90-minute timer, keep warm
Rack or basket Two removable stainless steel trays
Size Not stated by the maker
Cleaning Not stated in the listing
Warranty 3 years

Why we recommend it

It suits cooks who want a dedicated steamer that runs long enough for tamales and also handles vegetables, fish and reheating, with no pressure and no flame to watch.

Skip it if you want tamales standing upright in the traditional way; the tiers are trays, so most tamales will lie flat.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Timer long enough for a full steam
  • Stainless trays and tank
  • Long warranty

Cons

  • Tamales lie flat
  • Dimensions not published by the maker
  • Cleaning details not stated

Check price on Amazon

Stainless steel pots and a wire fryer basket on a commercial kitchen range
A deep basket lifts food in and out of a pot of hot water or oil.

4. Presto Kitchen Kettle XL 10-Quart Multi-Cooker – A Steaming Basket That Hooks On

Best multi-cookerPresto 06009 10-Quart Kitchen Kettle XL Multi-Cooker

Presto’s Kitchen Kettle XL is an electric pot with a thermostat, closer to a stockpot with its own heating element than to a pressure cooker. Presto gives it a 10-quart liquid capacity and 1800 watts, the most power of any appliance here, which helps it bring water to a boil and recover quickly when you add more.

It comes with what Presto calls a versatile basket for deep frying, steaming and blanching, which hooks onto the rim for draining, and a tempered glass cover so you can see the steam without lifting it. Presto’s Control Master heat control holds the temperature you set. Because nothing is sealed, you can lift the lid, add hot water and check a tamal whenever you like.

The pot is coated inside and out with a ceramic nonstick finish that Presto says is PFAS-free, and the pot is fully immersible for washing once the heat control is removed. The listing does not give the basket’s depth, so measure your tamales against it before relying on standing them up.

Why we like it

  • 10-quart liquid capacity, per Presto
  • 1800 watts, the most power here
  • Basket for steaming that hooks onto the rim
  • Glass cover lets you watch the steam
  • Immersible for washing with the control removed

Key specifications

Model 06009
Capacity 10 quarts liquid; 4 quarts oil
Power 1800 W, 120 V
Type Multi-cooker: steams, stews, roasts, boils, deep fries
Rack or basket Multi-use basket; hooks onto rim
Size Not stated
Cleaning Ceramic nonstick; immersible with heat control removed
Warranty 1-year limited

Why we recommend it

Choose it if you like the open-pot way of steaming, where you can check and top up the water, but want it on the counter instead of the stove. It also fries, which makes it handy for tostadas and churros.

Skip it if you need a deep basket for tall tamales; Presto does not state the basket’s depth.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Easy to check and refill
  • Powerful element
  • Also fries and stews

Cons

  • Basket depth not stated
  • Nonstick coating needs gentle utensils
  • Smaller than a stovetop tamalera

Check price on Amazon

5. Ball EasyCanner Electric Water Bath Canner – A Tall 21-Quart Pot With a Steaming Function

Best tall potBall EasyCanner Electric Water Bath Canner

Ball built this electric pot to process canning jars in a water bath, and a pot that holds upright quart jars is a pot with headroom for standing tamales. The listing gives a 21-quart capacity, room for seven quart jars or eight pints, and lists multicooker and steamer functions for pastas, soups, vegetables and seafood. Ball’s product information lists a rack and a steam tray with the pot, and a spigot for draining into the sink.

It is an open pot, not a pressure cooker, and it sits on the counter rather than the stove. Ball calls its controls Press & Forget: one button automates preheating and processing for canning, and heat sensors hold the temperature, according to the listing. Because the lid comes off at any time, you can add hot water or test a tamal whenever you like.

The automated program is written for canning, not tamales, so for steaming plan to set your own timer for the 60 to 75 minutes of open steaming in the University of Maryland Extension recipe. Ball rates the pot in jars, not tamales. Keep the water below the rack or tray and line it with husks, as you would in any tamalera.

Why we like it

  • 21-quart pot, tall enough for quart jars
  • Steamer function listed by Ball
  • Drain spigot, per Ball
  • Doubles as a water bath canner

Key specifications

Model 2177240 (per the listing)
Capacity 21 quarts; 7 quart or 8 pint jars
Power Not stated in the Amazon listing
Type Electric water bath canner with multicooker and steamer functions; push-button automation
Rack or basket Rack and steam tray, per Ball
Size Not stated in the Amazon listing
Cleaning Drain spigot; cleaning not stated in the listing
Warranty Not stated in the listing

Why we recommend it

It suits cooks who also can salsa or pickles, and anyone whose tamales are too tall for a 6-quart Instant Pot. It is the deepest pot on this list, and the open lid lets you check the water as you go.

Skip it if you want tamales done fast; this is open steaming at stovetop pace, in a large appliance that needs a home the rest of the year.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Most headroom of any pick here
  • Frees up the stovetop
  • Spigot makes draining easy

Cons

  • Automated program is for canning, not tamales
  • Wattage and size not stated in the listing
  • Bulky for occasional use

Check price on Amazon

6. Hamilton Beach 8.25-Quart Three-Tier Digital Food Steamer – Stand Tamales Up

Budget pickHamilton Beach Digital Electric Food Steamer

Hamilton Beach’s three-tier steamer has one feature that matters a lot for tamales: the bottoms of the bowls are removable. Hamilton Beach says you can take out the dividers between the bowls to stack taller food vertically, giving corn on the cob as the example. With the dividers out, the stacked bowls become one tall chamber where tamales can stand on end.

The three clear bowls hold 8.25 quarts together, and you can use one, two or all three. A digital touchpad sets the time, the steamer beeps when it is done and keeps food warm for an hour, and a delay start lets you load it and begin steaming up to 24 hours later. The bowls nest for storage, which helps in a small kitchen. Hamilton Beach lists the unit at 14.9 inches tall.

It is a light appliance, rated at 800 watts by retailers, and the maker does not state the longest time you can set. For a full steam of raw tamales, check the water at the hour mark and add more if it is low. It is especially good for reheating cooked tamales, which need far less time.

Why we like it

  • Removable dividers let tall food stand upright
  • Three bowls, 8.25 quarts in all
  • One-hour keep-warm and 24-hour delay start
  • Bowls nest for compact storage

Key specifications

Model 37545
Capacity 8.25 quarts in three stackable bowls
Power 800 W (retailer listing)
Type Electric food steamer, rice and egg cooker
Rack or basket Three clear bowls; removable dividers
Size 14.9 x 13.8 x 7.3 in (Hamilton Beach)
Cleaning Not stated; described as easy to clean
Warranty 1 year

Why we recommend it

It suits small households, first-time tamale makers and anyone who mostly reheats tamales bought from a neighbor or a tamalería. It is the lightest and simplest appliance here.

Skip it if you want a stainless steamer or a long unattended steam; the bowls are plastic and the maker does not state a maximum time.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Tamales can stand upright
  • Compact storage
  • Delay start and keep warm

Cons

  • Plastic bowls
  • Maximum timer not stated
  • Low power for a big batch

Check price on Amazon

7. Proctor Silex 18-Quart Roaster Oven with Rack – Keep a Crowd’s Tamales Hot

Best for holding a crowdProctor Silex 18 Quart Electric Roaster Oven with Self-Basting Lid

Roaster ovens show up at a lot of family tamaladas, and for good reason: they are big, they plug in anywhere, and they hold a steady temperature for hours. This Proctor Silex roaster has an 18-quart capacity, a lift-out rack, a removable cooking pan and a single knob that sets the temperature from 125 to 450°F, according to the listing.

To steam in a roaster, cooks pour hot water into the pan, set the rack in place, stand or lay the tamales on the rack above the water and cover it with the lid. We should be clear that Proctor Silex does not mention steaming or tamales in its listing, and the rack sits low, so the water must stay shallow. That is why we recommend a roaster mainly for reheating and holding cooked tamales rather than for cooking raw ones.

For reheating, the target is temperature, not time. The USDA advises reheating leftovers to 165°F, and Del Real Foods, a tamale maker, gives the same minimum in its food service reheating instructions. Check a tamal from the middle of the pile with a thermometer before serving, then turn the dial down to keep the batch warm; the USDA says hot food should be held at 140°F or warmer.

Why we like it

  • 18-quart capacity
  • Lift-out rack and removable pan
  • Temperature dial from 125 to 450°F
  • Frees the oven and stove on a busy day

Key specifications

Model 32211
Capacity 18 quarts
Power Not stated in the listing
Type Roaster oven, 125 to 450°F, self-basting lid
Rack or basket Lift-out rack
Size Not stated in the listing
Cleaning Removable cooking pan
Warranty Not stated in the listing

Why we recommend it

Choose it if you host parties where tamales arrive cooked, from your own stovetop tamalera or a tamalería, and need to be reheated and kept hot for hours on a buffet table.

Skip it if you want an appliance designed to steam raw tamales; the maker gives no steaming instructions, and a shallow water layer needs watching.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • Holds a steady warm temperature
  • Roasts turkey and ham too

Cons

  • No steaming guidance from the maker
  • Low rack, shallow water
  • Bulky to store

Check price on Amazon

How to choose an electric tamale steamer

Five things decide which appliance suits you. Start with how many tamales you make, then work through the rest.

1. Batch size and height

No maker on this list states a tamale count, so think in recipes. One batch in a pressure cooker is about a recipe’s worth, 12 to 16 in Williams-Sonoma’s version, which does not name a pot size; a 6-quart pot holds fewer tall tamales than an 8-quart. Deep pots, such as the Masterbuilt or the Ball canner, let tamales stand upright. Food steamers with trays hold them lying flat unless, like the Hamilton Beach, they let you remove the dividers.

2. Pressure or open steam

A pressure cooker cooks tamales in roughly 40 minutes at high pressure, plus the release time, against 60 to 75 minutes of open steaming in the University of Maryland Extension recipe. The price of speed is that you cannot open the lid to add water or test a tamal until the pressure has dropped. An open steamer or multi-cooker lets you check as you go, which many cooks prefer for their first few batches.

A pile of ears of corn still wrapped in pale, dried husks
Corn husks, the usual wrapper and rack lining for tamales.

3. Water capacity and timer

Open steaming runs for an hour or more, so the water supply matters. A large tank, like the Euro Cuisine’s 4.5 quarts, or a pot you can top up easily, like the Presto, saves you from a dry pan. Check that the timer runs long enough: many food steamers stop at 60 minutes, while the Euro Cuisine runs to 90.

4. Materials that touch the tamales

Stainless steel racks and trays are the easiest to keep clean and will not stain from chile-red masa. Plastic bowls, as on the Hamilton Beach, are lighter and cheaper. Nonstick pots, as on the Presto, need wooden or silicone tools, not metal tongs dragged along the base.

5. Space and what else it will do

Tamale season is short. An appliance that also pressure cooks beans, fries churros, cans salsa or roasts the turkey earns its cupboard space the rest of the year. A dedicated food steamer is the most compact; a roaster or a fryer-boiler is the bulkiest.

How we chose these seven appliances

We started from what a Mexican kitchen asks of any tamale steamer: a rack or basket that holds the tamales above the water, steady steam for as long as the recipe needs, enough room for a useful batch, and a way to add water or know when it is running low. We then looked for electric appliances from named makers sold on Amazon in the United States and in stock when we checked. Specifications come from each maker’s listing and, where they publish one, the maker’s own product page or manual: Instant Pot’s Duo Plus manual, Masterbuilt’s, Presto’s and Hamilton Beach’s product pages, Euro Cuisine’s product sheet; for the Ball canner, the Amazon listing and Ball’s product information. Cooking times come from the University of Maryland Extension’s tamale recipe and Williams-Sonoma’s Instant Pot tamale recipe; reheating temperatures from the USDA and Del Real Foods. We looked for a dedicated electric tamalera and found none from an identifiable maker in stock, so there is none here. We left out unbranded steamers, listings that were nearly sold out, and food steamers whose trays are too shallow to say anything useful about tamales. We have not cooked tamales in these appliances ourselves; where we describe how one handles tamales, we say whose information that is.

Broccoli florets in a bamboo steamer basket with steam rising
Tiered steamers hold food in shallow layers above the water.

How to steam tamales in an electric appliance

  1. Read the fill lines first. For a pressure cooker, never fill past the two-thirds line, and use at least the minimum liquid your manual gives. For an open steamer, fill the tank or pot to its maximum line, keeping the water below the rack.
  2. Line the rack. Lay a few soaked corn husks on the rack or tray. They cushion the tamales and stop masa sticking.
  3. Stand them up if you can. In a deep pot, stand the tamales on end, open end up, packed closely enough to hold each other. On shallow trays, lay them flat in one layer, seam side down.
  4. Cook by method. Under pressure, Williams-Sonoma’s recipe uses 40 minutes at high pressure and about 10 minutes of natural release. With open steam, the University of Maryland recipe gives 60 to 75 minutes.
  5. Check the water. In an open steamer, look at the level every 20 to 30 minutes and add hot water.
  6. Test one. A tamal is done when the husk pulls away cleanly from the masa. Let them rest a few minutes; they firm up as they cool.
A stainless pot with a glass lid steaming on a stovetop
A glass lid lets you see the steam without lifting it.

Electric tamale steamer questions, answered

Can you steam tamales in an Instant Pot?

Yes. Set the steam rack in the pot with water underneath, stand the tamales on it, and cook at high pressure. Williams-Sonoma’s recipe uses 40 minutes at high pressure with about 10 minutes of natural release and makes 12 to 16 tamales. Keep below the two-thirds fill line, as Instant Pot’s manual requires.

How many tamales fit in an electric steamer?

None of the makers here states a number. As a guide, one pressure-cooker batch is about a recipe’s worth: Williams-Sonoma’s Instant Pot recipe makes 12 to 16. For comparison, Concord rates its 20-quart stovetop steamer for 30 to 60, which is why big batches still belong on the stove.

Is there an electric tamalera?

We did not find a dedicated electric tamale steamer from an identifiable maker in stock on Amazon in the United States. The appliances above are general steamers, cookers and roasters that work for tamales.

Can you steam tamales in a roaster oven?

Many cooks do, with hot water in the pan and the tamales on the rack, but roaster makers, including Proctor Silex, do not give steaming instructions. A roaster is most reliable for reheating cooked tamales and keeping them hot. Reheat until a tamal from the middle reads 165°F.

How long do tamales take in an electric steamer?

Without pressure, about as long as on the stove: 60 to 75 minutes in the University of Maryland Extension recipe, longer for big or tightly packed batches. Under pressure, about 40 minutes plus the release time.

Our final pick for electric steaming

Buy the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-quart if you make a small batch of tamales at a time and want them done fast in an appliance you will use all year. Choose the Masterbuilt XL for a big batch in a lift-out basket, the Ball canner for the tallest pot, the Euro Cuisine for a plain steamer with a long timer, and the Proctor Silex roaster for keeping a party’s worth of tamales hot. For several dozen, put a tamalera on the stove: our guide to the best tamale steamer covers those pots.

A steamer is one part of the kit. Our guide to Mexican cooking tools covers the rest, our look at Mexican Christmas food explains why December is tamale season, and for leftovers, see how to reheat Mexican leftovers.

And if you would rather someone else did the cooking tonight, see the menu or call to order.

Call Menu Directions