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Can I Steam The Ultimate Christmas Pudding For Longer On Christmas Day?

Asked by christmaspudfan. Answered on 19th December 2023

Full question

I made 3 1-pint Ultimate Christmas Puddings and had to take them off the heat after 2 hours steaming, instead of 3. They look and smell fine to be but should I steam them for more time ahead of Christmas Day or will another 3 hours on the day be okay?

Ultimate Christmas Pudding
Photo by Lis Parsons
Ultimate Christmas Pudding
By Nigella
  • 14
  • 2

Our answer

Nigella's Ultimate Christmas Pudding (from NIGELLA CHRISTMAS) usually goes through a 3-5 hour initial steaming (depending on the size of the pudding), and then is steamed for a further 3 hours on Christmas Day to make sure that the pudding is fully cooked and completely heated through. Steaming the pudding for a long period also helps to develop the colour and flavour of the pudding.

If you have steamed a smaller pudding for only 2 hours then it is probably cooked but it may not have developed its full flavour. The pudding also becomes noticeably darker on its second steaming. So we suggest that on Christmas Day, if at all possible, that in this particular case you steam the pudding for 4 hours rather than 3.

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