# Hormel tamales in a can **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2017, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074 "2017-08-08T09:08:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/81 "2017-10-03T21:06:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Meh. I’d rather just get the frozen tamales from Trader Joe’s, and put some of their Dragon Sauce on them. For those lucky enough to live near Trader Joe’s. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/82 "2017-10-03T21:07:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I dump the can into a frying pan and then scramble a couple of eggs into it as I fry it. Then I pour ketchup and hot sauce on top. Because there’s no point in only going half white trash. > > My other canned favorite is Dinty Moore beef stew. With canned corned beef hash or roast beef hash, I fry in cast iron pan until there’s a really good crust on the bottom, then make a well or two and break eggs into the depressions. Cover the pan until the whites are set and the yolks still runny. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/83 "2017-10-04T04:54:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Meh. I’d rather just get the frozen tamales from Trader Joe’s, and put some of their Dragon Sauce on them. Well, yes. I’d rather dress up pretty ok tamales than almost edible tamales, too. There’s nothing to argue with here. Good tamales won’t need any dress up. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Tacos dorados. That’s basically the only kind I make at home, since Mrs. L.A. requests them. She calls them ‘double-fried tacos’ because I fry the meat, and then fry the meat-filled tortillas. Indeed. People sometimes try to tell me that somehow this isn’t “really” a taco, and unheard of in Mexico. But Texas used to be part of Mexico, and I doubt it was an invention created by some recent immigrants to the area. There’s even a Spanish name for it. Lots of folks don’t listen. My belly is still full and satisfied. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/84 "2017-10-04T13:33:26Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Meh. I’d rather just get the frozen tamales from Trader Joe’s, and put some of their Dragon Sauce on them. > … > [@scabpicker](#): > > Well, yes. I’d rather dress up pretty ok tamales than almost edible tamales, too. There’s nothing to argue with here. Good tamales won’t need any dress up. Exactly. No one is claiming that Hormel Tamales in a Can even remotely resemble real tamales. > [@](#): > > Indeed. People sometimes try to tell me that somehow this isn’t “really” a taco, and unheard of in Mexico. But Texas used to be part of Mexico, and I doubt it was an invention created by some recent immigrants to the area. There’s even a Spanish name for it. Lots of folks don’t listen. My belly is still full and satisfied. In this part of the world there is an endless debate about what constitutes “real,” “authentic” Mexican food. :rolleyes: So tiresome. Who cares? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/85 "2017-10-05T00:17:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Exactly. No one is claiming that Hormel Tamales in a Can even remotely resemble real tamales. Thank you. From my OP: “Don’t really taste like tamales …” They are good in a casual way, as long as you don’t compare them to authentic tamales… or TJs tamales for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/86 "2017-10-07T06:22:43Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > You people are gross. None of the food items mentioned in this thread are any good. > > In a case of art imitating life imitating a messageboard, I had an old coot ask me at the Kroger store in Harrison, OH where I work ask me just two days ago where the canned tamales were. Turns out we don’t carry them anymore, and Kroger is currently looking askance at it’s Spam collection… Cool, not that it matters to them, but they lost about $200/week in recurring grocery spending to Meijer. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/87 "2017-10-07T06:25:55Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > For those lucky enough to live near Trader Joe’s. > ☹ I’ve never seen a Trader Joe’s but I’ve bought decent frozen tamales from Target and seen them at several other grocery stores. ---
**Author:** ![JJOHNSON](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@JJOHNSON](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JJOHNSON)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/88 "2017-10-11T20:55:04Z")
I used to eat those all the time until my friend told me to look at the sodium content which I did and I will never eat them again. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/89 "2017-10-11T22:01:56Z")
Like others, I bought a can in response to this thread. And like some, it sits unopened on my kitchen counter. ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/90 "2017-10-12T02:20:14Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > In this part of the world there is an endless debate about what constitutes “real,” “authentic” Mexican food. :rolleyes: So tiresome. Who cares? I can’t emphasize enough how much I agree with this sentiment. Who cares? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/91 "2017-10-12T02:44:38Z")
Dang, here comes this thread again, reminding me that that can of Hormel tamales is still sitting in my pantry. The day is coming… I know it is. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/92 "2017-10-12T03:05:11Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Meh. I’d rather just get the frozen tamales from Trader Joe’s, and put some of their Dragon Sauce on them. Sure, but those are a different kind of tamale. Hormel tamales are kind of a riff on corn roll tamales. I guess I’m kind of used to this style, as Chicago has three major brands of these types of tamales: Tom-Tom, Supreme, and Veteran’s. (OK, _had_ three major brands. Veteran’s closed their doors earlier this year.) It’s just a tamale made with cornmeal (non-nixtamalized) instead of masa, usually wrapped in wax paper instead of a corn husk, and filled with a spiced ground meat product. [You can read about them here](http://www.diningchicago.com/blog/2009/12/18/the-unique-chicago-tamale-a-tuneful-mystery/). I love the damn things, but they are quite different than Mexican style tamales. Their greatest use, in my opinion, is dunked in a bowl of chili and eaten together in a dish we call a “tamale boat” here. Or a “chili tamale.” Or some places call it a “mother-in-law,” but typically a mother-in-law is a corn roll tamale on a bun with chili and condiments. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/93 "2017-10-12T03:51:44Z")
Perhaps they should seek a media tie-in with Rick & Morty. “Morty! Morty, go out and get me some Hormel tamales. The ones in the can. (burp) I gotta have some before our next adventure!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/94 "2017-10-12T04:09:32Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > There was not, in mid-1960s Ohio, a preponderance of available Mexican food of any quality. Today in Longueuil, 66km north of the U.S border, one (1) frozen microwave burrito was selling for $3.99CAD. We have Hormel products here IIRC, I’ll be looking for these particular canned tamales. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/95 "2017-10-12T04:16:21Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > In this part of the world there is an endless debate about what constitutes “real,” “authentic” Mexican food. :rolleyes: So tiresome. Who cares? It’s true that the stuff we call Mexican or Italian or Chinese food doesn’t exist back in Mexico, Italy, or China. So what? It was invented by Mexican, Italian, and Chinese immigrants living in America. Call it Mexican-American, Italian-American, and Chinese-American food. It’s as authentic a cuisine as any other. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/96 "2017-10-12T05:43:46Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Dang, here comes this thread again, reminding me that that can of Hormel tamales is still sitting in my pantry. The day is coming… I know it is. And then the regret, the horrible regret. Don’t think about it all day, just do it. Then, buy frozen tamales next time. You owe it to yourself – if you don’t get good, fresh ones that are _right over there_. No, I don’t live in Houston, but I know they’re there. They’re all over the place here. Gas stations have them. Eat those canned tubes of almost shameful meat product, get over it, and don’t look back unless you’ve really got to. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s true that the stuff we call Mexican or Italian or Chinese food doesn’t exist back in Mexico, Italy, or China. So what? It was invented by Mexican, Italian, and Chinese immigrants living in America. Call it Mexican-American, Italian-American, and Chinese-American food. It’s as authentic a cuisine as any other. Yeah, only in this case the border moved more than the people did, in comparison to the non Mexican-American cultural mixing. A series of wars happened, and what was considered Mexican or American was decided by politics, not what fed who when. So, people get worked up about who/what/when was really which culture. I’m not even sure the argument on the other side of this divide is even coherent as to who’s culture they want to freeze and contrast with. Angel Martinez’s mom might have been born in Texas, or been born in Mexico city – my four year old brain didn’t care when I was served the first breakfast taco I ever had. It was magic in a flour tortilla. WAIT! **pulykamell** these things aren’t using nixtamalized corn meal? Your cite doesn’t seem to back that claim up, but I’d be both personally offended by the manufacturer (c’mon how else is it a tamale) and firm in my belief in the southern tamale’s superiority if it were to be proven true. Do you have more info? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/97 "2018-01-25T00:34:44Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I bought a can of Hormel beef tamales today. I will report back. I’m back three months later with my report _\_. I live in the heart of excellent tamale country, so I feel I’m qualified to critique. I pronounce them not only not awful but somewhat palatable. The mushy texture of the masa closer to that of canned pasta (think: canned ravioli) than to the firm masa of a real tamale, but it’s not disgusting or anything. The filling resembles the filling in a real beef tamale. Sort of. Tastes okay. The “gravy” is unremarkable with little flavor. These tamales are no substitute for good homemade, restaurant, or even supermarket tamales, but if you’re desperate… I managed to eat three of them. Threw the other three away, as I suspect they would not make good leftovers. Unless you rinsed them off, rolled them in panko and grated cheese and deep-fried them. I probably will not buy them again, because I have some really good local tamales in the freezer and ready access to lots more. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/98 "2018-01-28T20:24:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m back three months later with my report… Thanks for this. The old school scientific rigor is sorely missed on these boards. For my part, no luck so far in finding these mythical treats. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/99 "2018-01-28T20:43:39Z")
> [@eunoia](#): > > Thanks for this. The old school scientific rigor is sorely missed on these boards. \ > [@](#): > > For my part, no luck so far in finding these mythical treats. You can get them from [amazon](https://smile.amazon.com/Hormel-Tamales-Chili-Sauce-15-Ounce/dp/B000OU5EFW/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1517171775&sr=8-1&keywords=hormel+canned+tamales), but they only have a 12-pack (from $19.44 to $54.99) and an 8-pack (for $36.99). This reader review is not encouraging: > [@](#): > > I like Hormel chili and I like Tamales so i thought this would be good, big mistake this is not fit for human consumption and the truth is the dog rejected it too. This nasty stuff, we opened one can tasted it and we are throwing 11 cans away. Skip this one! Amazingly, there are 140 5-star reviews. Those are probably from people in prison. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074/100 "2018-01-28T20:44:25Z")
> [@eunoia](#): > > Thanks for this. The old school scientific rigor is sorely missed on these boards. > > For my part, no luck so far in finding these mythical treats. I see them in my store, in the aisle next to the canned chili. I think next time I go shopping, I’ll pick up a can. They have an extra spicy style. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormel-tamales-in-a-can/793074.md?page=6)