Looking for quick professional help ~ Foamheart

[foamheart]

No my 12 gauge is my best therapy! LOL.....

So looking for some wisdom here. Decided I had scrubbed my last pot from burning steaming tamales! I am making them these days enough now that I want a pot! I deserve it by golly!

I have used others pans to know some things I’d like.

Glass lid so I don’t have to keep digging out the shucks and kitchen towel to check the water level

A bottom reservoir, Large enough so I don’t have to refill every 20 to 30 mins.

Insulated handles to save pain to my hands.

Decent sized whole to allow the steam up. Maybe it will hurry the process, seems 2+ hours is a bit long to me.

Large enough to also use for canning also (no need for seafood, have plenty bigger pots for that).

Am I missing anything?

Now my question, I pretty much decided on an IMUSA 424 but what size?

They come 10, 12, 16, 20, 24 & 28 qt. I am sure my stove can handle all sizes. I am thinking 24 qt.. I think probably 5 doz. Would be the most I’ll do at one time. So chefs what am I missing, what do you think?

BTW the price has gone up 30% since last month, must be getting closer to tamale season….LOL

 

[Weaverspitbbq]

Use a pressure cooker

 

[chef jimmyj]

Just a guess but, I would think 24 Qt will handle 5 doz or more, depending on the size you make them and how you stack them. 1" thick, standing up, 5 dozen should fill a single layer.Tamales, laid flat and stacked to fill the pot, maybe 10 doz?
I prefer Hot Tamales, simmered in a spiced Pork Broth, so my 20 Qt. Stock Pot holds a lot, never really counted...JJ

 

[Hawging It]

I use and love Magnalite cookware however, the lids are not glass.

 

[foamheart]

Use a pressure cooker

I actually looked at a steam pot/can cooker. I understand they can cook the tamales in 30 mins. Nice but the ones I have seen say they will only hold about 2 doz and they are shorties.

I have a small and a large pressure cooker and a huge pressure canner but none of them really fits my need. The pressure caner is too big even if I had a steam tray for it. That would be one big perforated plate.... LOL

BTW I do often have to use the large pressure cooker now for tamales.

 

[foamheart]

Just a guess but, I would think 24 Qt will handle 5 doz or more, depending on the size you make them and how you stack them. 1" thick, standing up, 5 dozen should fill a single layer.Tamales, laid flat and stacked to fill the pot, maybe 10 doz?
I prefer Hot Tamales, simmered in a spiced Pork Broth, so my 20 Qt. Stock Pot holds a lot, never really counted...JJ

My tamales are approx. 1 1/2 in thickness and they about 1/2 the corn shuck long. I like thick tamales with a lot of masa!! I use the pork liquid with lard to make my masa (with lots of Tex-Mex spices). Why? Because its how I like 'em. Probably because that's the best ones I found in West Texas at a little Day Care center in Pecos, Tx. In Mexico they like lots of meat and a very large thin masa. I am just the opposite.

Like I said, I was thinking 24" but it sort of worries me about how many tamales I'll have to make..... LOL!! It gets old standing there making them! Another good reason to like 'em thick....LOL you finish faster!

 

[Weaverspitbbq]

Mom bought a special order..pressure cooker 1966 ..sears catalog makes 25 dozen at a time....cooks a whole hog head in it ...dolls them as a kid 35 cents a dz ...

 

[Weaverspitbbq]

Made so many..wore lid out ..had to order a lid from sears .....lol dang

 

[foamheart]

I use and love Magnalite cookware however, the lids are not glass.

I agree, I use magnalite a lot, cajun cast iron.

I have what I would guess is about all the magnalite that's been produced. I have tried the large pots already but even though they are aluminum ( My mom would buy it when ever she saw something new or different and it was always great for Christmas), and I still don't like picking 'em up anymore. All the dutch oven sizes are too short when you add a steamer basket in the bottom. And the big one takes a round serving tray with holes drilled in it sitting on top of 4 coffee cups. LOL Then since its so tall, when you lean in to check the tamales, it singes the pit hair! Not a good smell on the tamales LOL.

 

[foamheart]

Mom bought a special order..pressure cooker 1966 ..sears catalog makes 25 dozen at a time....cooks a whole hog head in it ...dolls them as a kid 35 cents a dz ...

Made so many..wore lid out ..had to order a lid from sears .....lol dang

Yes sir good old Sears had everything thru the catalog, with a guaranty and parts & service. I miss that.

 

[tropics]

Kevin I used my Pasta pot last week to make just under 2 doz.
https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/pork-brisket-tamale.291493/
Richie

 

[Hawging It]

I agree, I use magnalite a lot, cajun cast iron.

I have what I would guess is about all the magnalite that's been produced. I have tried the large pots already but even though they are aluminum ( My mom would buy it when ever she saw something new or different and it was always great for Christmas), and I still don't like picking 'em up anymore. All the dutch oven sizes are too short when you add a steamer basket in the bottom. And the big one takes a round serving tray with holes drilled in it sitting on top of 4 coffee cups. LOL Then since its so tall, when you lean in to check the tamales, it singes the pit hair! Not a good smell on the tamales LOL.

I have 2 sets. My first set was passed down to me from my grandmother. She is the one who taught me to cook when I was a young boy.