8 Best Tamale Steamers Of 2023 [Reviewed & Buyer’s Guide]
Love home-cooked meals, but feel too lazy to cook? A tamale steamer can be the best solution! Not only do they assist in trouble-free cooking, but they also prevent essential nutrients from escaping your dishes. Besides, they come in really handy when cooking a lot of food. Just set it on the steamer and forget […]
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Love home-cooked meals, but feel too lazy to cook? A tamale steamer can be the best solution!
Not only do they assist in trouble-free cooking, but they also prevent essential nutrients from escaping your dishes. Besides, they come in really handy when cooking a lot of food. Just set it on the steamer and forget it!
Sadly, buying one isn’t an easy job. With so many options up for grabs, don’t be surprised if you find yourself all confused. That’s why we’ve curated this list with the best tamale steamers. As a bonus, we have included a comprehensive buyer’s guide at the end.
So, let’s start!
Best Tamale Steamers
From capacity and material to ease of use and durability, we’ve considered all the important factors. So, if you’re ready to elevate your tamale-making game, here’s the list of the 8 best tamale steamers. Get ready to embark on a flavorful journey filled with mouthwatering tamales!
1. Hamilton Beach 37530A Digital Food Steamer – Best for User-Friendly Features
We’d like to begin with the Hamilton Beach 37530A Digital Food Steamer. Featuring a sleek yet effective design, it has a plethora of user-friendly features for trouble-free operation. What’s more, it won’t make you break the bank.
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Why Did We Like It?
For starters, we fell back on the customer reviews, and most of them didn’t disappoint. One of its biggest advantages is that there’s practically no preparation needed. The brand recommends handwashing all parts with warm water and soap before use, and that’s pretty much it!
On that note, the steamer comprises two stackable baskets and a small rice bowl for a combined capacity of 5.5-quart. Once it’s filled with food, set the timer using the digital control panel at the bottom.
Moreover, removing the divider will make more space for dishes like corn on the cob. It will automatically switch to the warm mode upon completion and run for an hour before shutting down.
We also liked the fact that it comes with a delay mode, meaning you can program it to Steam later. Just fill the water reservoir and set the delay timer. The LED indicator will notify you about low water levels.
What Could’ve Been Better?
While at it, we observed that the warm mode creates too much moisture to make the food mushy. Hence, you might want to take it out immediately after steaming. Other than that, we don’t have any other complaints.
- Nested storage design
- Timer function
- Delay start function
- Comes with a rice bowl and drip tray
- Warm setting turns food mushy
2. IMUSA MEXICANA-24 Aluminum Tamale Steamer – Best for Non-Plastic Option
Our next recommendation is another affordable unit, this time from IMUSA. The Aluminum Mexicana-24 Tamale Steamer has a durable design and is ideal for those wary of cooking food in plastic containers.
- Made of durable aluminum
- Removable steamer insert
Why Did We Like It?
At first glance, the humble appearance of this steamer didn’t assure high performance, but that was till we tested it. The heavy gauge aluminum construction makes it capable of withstanding long hours of cooking without sustaining heat-related damages.
Besides, the riveted handles on either side facilitate seamless handling. Similarly, the lid also has a handle to protect your hands from the heat.
Unlike its predecessor, this one has a single compartment that comes with a steamer insert. This feature makes it a multi-utility steamer as you can remove it for cooking taller food or making stock. We steamed a couple of mussels with the insert and corn on the cob sans it, and were pretty satisfied with the results.
Here, we should state that it comes in three quantity variants, viz., 12-quart, 20-quart, and 32-quart. And since there are no compact corners, you won’t have a tough time cleaning it post-use.
What Could’ve Been Better?
In the absence of a water level indicator or separate water reservoir, it can be challenging to keep an eye on the water level and refill it when required, especially with the steamer insert. But for its price, this inconvenience is far from being a deal-breaker.
- Silver interior and exterior
- Double side handles
- Can be used as a stockpot
- Durable
- Refilling water can be difficult
3. Oster Sangerfield 108132.03 Casserole Set With Steamer Basket – Best for Multi-Purpose Use
As you may have already guessed from the name, our next pick is also a multipurpose unit. The Oster Sangerfield 108132.03 Casserole Set With Steamer Basket is a lightweight and durable unit that solves all your cooking woes.
- 3.0-Quart Dutch Oven w/Steamer Basket
- Perfect for steaming vegetables and cooking rice at the same...
Why Did We Like It?
One of the first things that got us hooked was the lightweight steel construction that makes it easy to move around without compromising durability. Its two-tier structure consists of a casserole with a glass lid and a steamer, both of which can be used separately on the stovetop. With a 3-quart capacity, it’s pretty suitable for cooking large meals at once.
The encapsulated stainless steel base ensures proper heat distribution for uniform cooking. Considering it isn’t the biggest vessel that you’ll find, it’s a good feature for cooking with less water. The vented tempered glass lid facilitates easy monitoring throughout the entire cooking process.
Once the steamer insert is removed from the top of the bottom pan, it becomes shorter than standard stock pots for hassle-free storage in compact spaces. We’d suggest avoiding putting it in the dishwasher to prevent the color from fading.
Last, but not least, it comes in three other sizes and vessel variants to suit different customer needs.
What Could’ve Been Better?
Since it’s not dishwasher-friendly, hand cleaning may add to the maintenance time and effort. The lid tends to rattle when steaming for a long time, but turning it slightly should make it stable.
- Lightweight and durable
- Transparent glass lid with handle
- Riveted side handles
- Doubles as Dutch oven with lid
- Lid may rattle
4. BELLA 13872 Two Tier Food Steamer
The Bella 13872 Two-Tier Food Steamer is a heavy-duty unit that can well be your go-to cookware when cooking for many people. With a user-friendly control panel, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options on the market.
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Why Did We Like It?
At first glance, its similar appearance to the Hamilton Beach 37530A Digital Food Steamer compelled us to try it. And the performance wasn’t too different either.
The two-tier cooking system has twin steaming baskets for a combined cooking capacity of 7.4-quart. We used the lower basket for cooking vegetables and the upper one to steam salmon, and both dishes turned out extremely juicy. Thanks to the quick heating system, it can start steaming in as little as 30 seconds.
The control panel mainly comprises a timer knob, LED power indicator, water level indicator, and water reservoir. Not only that, but it also has a picture guide to help you with the steaming time of 6 different dishes. Talk about being user-friendly!
In tandem with the water indicator, the clear baskets allow users to keep a close eye on the cooking. Finally, the auto-shutoff feature and boil dry protection account for a safe cooking experience.
What Could’ve Been Better?
Despite cleaning with warm water and soap, it took us some effort to eliminate all the grease and smell from the baskets. Some people may find the lack of a digital panel inconvenient, but we can’t crib about it for the price.
- Quick startup mechanism
- Transparent baskets
- Includes plastic tray with indents for eggs
- Auto-Shutoff
- Cleaning may take longer than usual
5. Granite Ware 6257-1 Tamale Pot With Steamer Insert
Halfway through the list, we’d like to introduce the Granite Ware 6257-1 Tamale Pot With Steamer Insert. Sporting an all-black construction, it has one of the biggest cooking capacities on our list.
- Durable, chip resistant
- Glass like surface is inert and does not react with food
Why Did We Like It?
Before taking you through the details, allow us to shower some praise on its stylish appearance. The black ceramic steamer complements most kitchen counters and cooking tops. Furthermore, its large 15.5-quart cooking capacity means you can steam a lot of food in one go, especially for parties or get-togethers.
The glass-like surface employs a distinct technology for applied porcelain that apparently makes for a durable and chip-resistant vessel. On top of that, the inert properties prevent it from interfering with or altering the taste of food even during long hours of steaming.
Unlike the Bella 13872 Two Tier Food Steamer, it didn’t take us a lot of effort to clean the pot with warm water and soap. The steamer plate sits at the bottom and elevates the food up to 8 inches. You can also remove it to create a large pot for regular cooking. Complete with a handle-equipped lid and side handles, it’s quite versatile cookware.
What Could’ve Been Better?
There are a couple of things that we’d like to improve. Firstly, the lid handle gets very hot after some time, so we’d strongly recommend wearing mittens while using it. Secondly, it’s not suitable for glass stovetops, which somewhat limits its utility.
- Chip-resistant surface
- Easy to clean
- Holds large amounts of food
- Lightweight design
- Side handles for portability purposes
- Lid handle gets hot
- Not for use on glass stovetops
6. Advanced Royal Challenge S24S Tamales Steamer
The Advanced Royal Challenge S24S Tamales Steamer is a premium multi-utility unit that comes in different cooking capacities. It has a durable steel construction for prolonged service life. Plus, you don’t need to strain your nerves to figure out the operation.
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