5 Best Tamale Steamers of 2023

Photo: Hamilton Beach

Cooking tamales can take a considerable amount of time even for professionals. However, this does not have to always be the case as you can make the cooking process a breeze if you would consider investing in the best tamale steamer.

A tamale steamer turns the labor-intensive tamale cooking process into an enjoyable and fun task. To ensure you get the best from the market, you should make sure that you invest in one that features high quality and the perfect size.

Hence, if you are looking for a valuable tamale steamer, below is a buying guide and 5 tamale steamer reviews that will help you make up your mind.  

5 Best Tamale Steamers – Review

IMAGE	PRODUCT	FEATURES
	1. Oster 108132.03 (Pocket-Friendly)	Pocket-friendly makes it affordable Perfect for any kitchen Versatile hence cooks numerous meals Glass lid allows clear view
	2. Hamilton Beach 37530A (Versatile)	Versatile hence cooks numerous meals Nested storage makes it compact Safe plastic material Expandable design to accommodate large meals
	3. GasOne ST-32 (Large Capacity)	Large capacity 32 Quart Premium quality stainless steel Heavy duty construction
	4. Imusa MEXICANA-420 (Multi-Purpose)	Multi-purpose hence gives you great value Large capacity-20 Quart Removable steamer insert Heat resistant knob and handles
	5. Granite Ware 6257-1 (Chip-Resistant)	Chip-resistant hence remains in good condition for long Easy to clean and maintain  Glass like surface hence no reaction with food

1. Oster 108132.03 – Pocket-friendly

Photo: Oster

• Size: 3 Quart
• Material:  Stainless Steel

Here is a reliable tamale steamer that you can buy at a pocket-friendly price, making it highly affordable. Moreover, in spite of its high affordability, this cookware does not compromise on quality.

What makes this Oster product the best commercial tamale steamer on the market is the fact that it is has a versatile nature that allows you to cook different meals including preparing rice and steaming vegetables at the same time making it is a perfect investment for a business.

The steamer is also perfect for any kitchen implying that it can fit in traditional settings or in modern kitchen settings, making it a great purchase.

It comes with a glass lid that allows you to clearly watch your food as it cooks. To add to its user-friendly design, this product is designed in such a way that it regulates its temperatures as food cooks to prevent overcooking.

This steamer also comes with a compact design that allows it to fit in limited spaces. Therefore, if your kitchen has tight space, this is the product that you need as it will offer you great convenience with its space-saving design.

However, its compact nature means that it has limited capacity and so it can only cook for a few people. Hence, it is not suitable for large occasions and events.

Pros:

• Perfect for any kitchen setting
• Allows perfect view for cooking food
• Highly affordable as it has competitive price
• Space-saving making it ideal for tight space kitchen

Cons:

• Not dishwasher friendly
• Unsuitable for large gatherings

2. Hamilton Beach 37530A – Versatile

Photo: Hamilton Beach

• Size: 5.5 Quart
• Material: Plastic

This is the best tamale steamer pot because it is highly versatile in such a way that it features stackable 2-tier steaming design that allows you to cook numerous meals at once. You can use the 1st tier to cook small food quantities and use the second tier to prepare whole meals.

It comes with nested storage that allows you to comfortably store it in the cabinet. Additionally, its compact and space-saving design allows you to effortlessly move it around the kitchen without experiencing fatigue.

The product is made using safe plastic material that makes it healthy for use where food is involved. Its material is BPA free and so you can be sure that it will not affect the quality of your food or interfere with your health and that of your family and friends.

The product features an expandable design in such a way that you can use it to steam large meals like a broccoli head or corn. You can expand its capacity by removing the divider placed between the bowls.

However, users are encouraged to hand-wash this product as it is not dishwasher friendly.

Pros:

• Large capacity steams to cook tamales upright
• Comes with versatile functionality
• Space saving design for convenient storage
• Turns to warm once meals are ready

Cons:

• Not dishwasher safe
• A lot of care is required when removing the bottom piece

3. GasOne ST-32 – Large Capacity

Photo: GasOne

• Size: 32 Quart
• Material: Stainless Steel

Here is a large capacity that comes with 32 quartz size. With its large size, this product is perfect for steaming a large amount of food.

The product also comes with a premium quality stainless steel material that is long-serving, hence saving you a lot of money in the long run. Additionally, this material is easy to clean and maintain.

What makes this the best stainless steel tamale steamer is that it features heavy-duty construction due to the 1.0 mm thickness it comes with and yet easily heats up when steaming because it features excellent heat conduction.

Additionally, this product comes with a satin finish that will always light up your kitchen with its sleek. It comes with a classic look that makes it visually appealing for any setting.

This steamer is designed in such a way that it does not rust, stain, get marks or show scuffing. Therefore, it maintains its shine for as long you use. However, this product is slightly expensive but is worth every coin of your cash.

Pros:

• Does not rust or stain
• Visually fits and appeals in any setting
• Commercial grade material
• Excellent heat conduction
• Easy to clean and maintain

Cons:

• Slightly expensive
• Unstable when using the flat-topped range top

4. Imusa MEXICANA-420 – Multi-Purpose

Photo: Imusa

• Size: 20 Quart
• Material: Aluminum

This Imusa steamer comes with a multi-purpose and durable design. It, therefore, comes with the ability to stream and cook numerous meals including lentils, pastas, stocks, soups, sauces, stews and beans among others.

Imusa steamer comes with a large capacity and so it is perfect for preparing large batch foods. As a matter of fact, the product is big enough for cooking tons of corn on the cob. It is also ideal for boiling lobsters and steaming tamale while upright.

The product comes with a steamer insert that is removable which comes in handy when it comes to keeping your meals up and out of hot liquids.

In addition, the knob and the handles of this steamer are heat-resistant, and so they are always cool to touch. This makes the product highly ergonomic, enhancing the product’s user-friendliness. Moreover, this steamer features a glass lid that allows you to view its content.

What makes it the best electric tamale steamer is that in spite of having premium quality and superior durability, this cookware piece is fairly priced. Therefore, you can now afford it and still enjoy top-notch steaming and cooking experience.

However, the product’s lid feels loose and so you should handle it with care when moving or storing it.

Pros:

• Lightweight – aluminum material
• Excellent heat conduction saves you time when cooking
• Cool to touch knob and handles
• Large capacity of 20 Quartz

Cons:

• The lid loosely fits hence requires a lot of care when moving

5. Granite Ware 6257-1 – Chip-Resistant

Photo: Granite Ware

• Size: 15.5 Quart
• Material: Apply Porcelain

This is a chip resistant tamale steamer that you will find on the market. For this reason, the product features amazing durability and so it serves you for as long as you need it. Moreover, its longevity saves you a considerable amount of money as it does not require regular replacement.

This is the best tamale steamer because it is easy to clean and maintain and this implies that you only need warm soapy water to have it sparkling clean after every user making it one of the ideal tamale steamers for daily use.

The product is made using apply porcelain that gives it a glass-like surface. This surface is inert and so it does not react with any food or even interfere with the taste or quality of your meals. Nonetheless, this product is not recommended for use on glass stovetops.

Pros:

• Easy to clean and maintain
• Lasts a lifetime due to amazing durability
• Perfectly sized for tamales
• Does not react with any foods

Cons:

• Not ideal for use on glass stove tops
• A little heavy

How to Buy the Best Tamale Steamers

Photo: Hamilton Beach

1. Size

The size of the best tamale steamer matters, and it is actually one of the critical factors that you must consider when buying one. To determine the perfect size for you to buy, you need to consider the number of people you are about to serve.

Hence, if you are feeding numerous people, you need a steamer of larger capacity. However, if it is a normal family size, a tamale steamer of 8 to 10 quarts is big enough. Nonetheless, it is wise to invest in a tall cookware as it allows you to steam tamale while positioned upright.

2. Lid

The best steamer for tamale should come with a lid that is heavy, and it should also fit tightly. This way, heat, and steam will not escape from the pot, reducing your cooking time.

Otherwise, if your lid is not tight enough, you can use a clean towel on the top to prevent steam from escaping as you cook.

Additionally, it is wise to buy a steamer that features a glass lid as it allows you to view the food as it cooks without necessarily having to open it and release steam.

3. Steamer Rack

This is a critical factor that you must consider when buying a tamale steamer. Mainly, because this is the feature that makes any pot a steamer. In most cases, it is an insert that prevents tamales from soaking in water.

It features perforations which create avenues through which steam accesses the tamales. Therefore, always make sure that a tamale steamer comes with a steamer rack to prevent any inconveniences.

4. Material

This is a major consideration when buy a tamale steamer because it determines the performance, durability and how fast a steamer heats when cooking or steaming food. In most cases, top-rated tamale steamers feature aluminum or stainless steels materials.

Aluminum

Aluminum made tamale steamers are great when it comes to heat conduction hence they save you a lot of cooking time. Additionally, they are lightweight making them easy to transport them from one place to another.

Nonetheless, one of their major drawbacks is that aluminum loses heat rapidly making them unsuitable for outdoor use.

Stainless steel

A tamale steamer made of stainless steel is highly durable and so it gives you lasting service. In addition, steamers featuring steel material are impact resistant hence remains in good condition for long. They are also known to be corrosion and rust resistant hence food grade material.

However, their major drawback is that they are heavyweight hence requires extra effort to transport it from one place to another.

5. Budget

This is an important point that you must consider when buying a tamale steamer. On the market today, tamale steamers are fairly priced and this implies that you can easily access them at a pocket-friendly price. Additionally, you can also access large capacity tamale steamers for less than $50.

However, it is very critical to make sure that you do not compromise quality for a low price. Therefore, invest in a tamale steamer that is between $20 and $50 as such models will definitely come with decent quality. 

Conclusion 

This in-depth tamale steamer review will definitely help you make a wise decision when investing in one. Whether you need one for home or commercial use, the above products will definitely give you great options to pick from.

They all feature high-quality material and amazing durability to ensure that you get value for your money. Additionally, they feature different sizes and therefore, you will definitely find one that matches your needs, taste, interest, budget, and lifestyle.

Make your order today, and experience a whole new difference when steaming or cooking.