After cooking tamales do you have to let them cool before storing?

texas mom: After cooking tamales do you have to let them cool before storing?
I made tamales and cooked a pot full (8 dozen) after cooking them I ate one which was firm. We immediately removed them from the steamer and wrapped them in foil. We gave them to people and later they said they were mushy. I am sure they were cooked enough, what happened?
I’m sorry I mean when would I wrap them if I am giving them to people? I would like them to receive them hot and fresh.

Answers and Views:

Answer by *genius*
Yes, if you store them immediately they will become really mushy when you serve them. I usually wrap them in Ziploc bags to keep them fresh! Good luck next time though!

Answer by Tyler
The recommended temperature an item should be before storing is 70 degrees to ensure that you don’t overwork your cooling device which could work it too hard and make everything too warm. It’s also a good idea to follow this rule to make sure the quality of your food isn’t at risk either.

Answer by Shortstuff13
I think Tamales need to cool for a while before wrapping them.

Answer by Informer
after they have cooked, remove them from the pot and lay them out on a table fanned out like dominoes. after they’ve cooled, you can pack them tightly into good quality plastic bags and freeze. they will keep beautifully for months like that.

my mom bakes hundreds at a time and i’ve yet to taste one gone bad.

Answer by Jo M
Cool them down in the refrigerator as quickly as possible–setting them in a single layer on a baking tray would be best. Long slow cooling on the countertop is a recipe for food poisoning.