Christmas Pudding Steaming Times.

Asked by Vickilou. Answered on 3rd December 2011

Full question

I am hosting my first Christmas dinner this year and plan to make your lovely looking Christmas pudding (Christmas, p138). Being a relative novice to the cooking world, I would like to ask one question. The recipe is for a 3 pint pudding basin but I only have a 1.5 pint basin. By how much, if any, should I reduce the steaming time by? Also, would I have to reduce the steaming time on the big day? Thanks in advance!

Our answer

A 1.5 (0.9 litre) pudding will take a shorter tine to cook but unfortunately not half the time of the larger 3 pint (1.5 litre) size. We suggest that you steam the pudding for 4 hours initially then 2 hours before serving, giving a total of 6 hours steaming time. After the initial steaming unwrap the pudding and then rewrap it, store it in a cool place and it is all ready to go on Christmas day.

We have also found that the larger puddings can be steamed for an initial 6 hours followed by 2 hours before serving. The total steaming time is still 8 hours but it gives a little more flexibility on the big day.