Keeping Chocolate Steamed Pudding

Asked by TheFlyingScotsman. Answered on 10th June 2016

Full question

I would like to make a few of the chocolate steamed puddings with chocolate sauce for the family. I'm going to steam them in plastic pudding bowls, let them cool then seal them with a proper air tight pudding lid. Could you tell me how long they would last for unopened?

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Pudding For Christmas Pudding Haters With Hot Chocolate Sauce (from NIGELLA CHRISTMAS) is a steamed chocolate pudding that is at its best when it is freshly cooked. Unlike a traditional Christmas pudding the sponge does not improve over time and also does not keep for that long. So we would not recommend cooking the pudding in advance and would prefer only to reheat leftovers. The sauce can be made a week in advance and stored in the fridge, or frozen for up to 3 months, in a suitable container.

If you have to steam the pudding in advance then you should let it cool fully uncovered. When the sponge is completely cold cover the basin tightly in a double layer of clingfilm (plastic wrap) and keep in a cool place, or the fridge, for up to 5 days. For any longer than this it is best to freeze the pudding adding an extra layer of foil over the top of the clingfilm layers. The sponge will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months and should be thawed overnight at cool room temperature. We would suggest reheating the pudding in slices in a microwave, following the manufacturer's instructions.