Steaming Xmas Puds

[shivvy]

I have made 3 xmas puddings and now have to steam each of them for 3.5 hours. I only have one steamer so I want to be inventive so that I can steam them all at the same time rather than taking 10.5 hours to do them one after the other.
I have had a look online and seen different options but notice that many have the pudding bowl in contact with the water. When I have steamed puddings before I use the steamer that sits on top of the saucepan so the pud is never in contact with the water. So if I used this alternative option would I need to make any other changes eg reduce the cooking time?
I am using disposable foil pudding bowls in case that is relevant.
PS I know that whatever method I use that the bowl shouldn’t be in contact with the saucepan.

[EDDIE51]

No extra time , once the steamer is hot and 'steaming' to the top pan start the timing .

[ethandron]

I havent steamed my xmas puds for about fifteen years. I microwave mine, takes much less effort and faff and they come out exactly the same.

[EDDIE51]

I would use Microwave as well , but the question was about steaming.
Microwave is far quicker but don't use a foil bowl.

[shivvy]

I didn't think I would need to add extra time Eddie - if anything I thought the time could be reduced because the pudding would actually be partially submerged in the water?

I don't plan to put the metal containers in the microwave any time soon !!

[ethandron]

Neither would I, that's why I use plastic ones. Worth investing in some for next year shivvy, save yourself a load of faff.

[EDDIE51]

It is the steam/ heat which cooks the pudding so being part in the water would not make a difference, the water is the same temperature as the steam. But buy plastic or ceramic pudding bowls and do it in the microwave next time, MUCH! faster and tastes the same!

[shivvy]

Ah, understood Eddie.

So if I put the mixture into plastic/ceramic bowls next year ethandron and Eddie, how long do I microwave them for? To cook them and then to reheat them?

[EDDIE51]

5 to 25 minutes only depends on the recipe
http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/136992/Microwave-Christmas-pudding
A LOT faster than 3 & 1/2 hours in a steamer!!! A a lot less electricity used.

[EDDIE51]

This one takes all of 25 mins!
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2715/lastminute-christmas-pudding

[shivvy]

In both those recipes the pudding is served straight away Eddie. If I wanted to cook it in advance, how would I reheat it on xmas day? ie would I microwave it in the same way again?

[EDDIE51]

Just microwave it for a very short while. We do it for individual servings just 20 - 30 seconds or so each . A whole pudding would only take about 3 minutes to reheat. But in future you can cook the pudding by microwave on the day as it only takes 25 mins.

[ethandron]

These are the timings I use based on an 800w microwave:
To cook:
2lb pud...micro 3 mins, stand 4 mins, micro again 4 mins 10 seconds.
1lb pud...micro 1min 40 seconds, stand 4 mins, micro again 2 mins 20 secs.
To reheat on Christmas Day:
1 min 40 secs for 1lb pud
2 mins 40 secs for 2lb pud

[shivvy]

Thanks to both of you for your ideas :o)

[EDDIE51]

Beware of leaving a Christmas pud too long in the microwave!
My son put a portion in and left it too long, it caught fire and set off our smoke alarms. The high sugar content means a Christmas pud can overheat to the point where it catches fire!

[dunnitall]

Have never steamed mine...cooked with bowl in boiling water for allotted time...then stored and fed with alkamaholics...rum..sherry et al...then heated with bowl in water in saucepan for an hour or so on the day...deeee-lishious yum. Sadly now I cannot eat Xmas pud...how cruel is that...sigh.

[EDDIE51]

dunnital, Cooking in a basin in boiling water is just another way of streaming.
It is the heat and steam from the water that does the cooking.Instead of boiling for an hour or so , just do it 4 or 5 minutes in the microwave. Result and taste is exactly the same. The microwave heats the moisture in the pudding and produces steam that cooks it from the inside out. Much more efficient and much quicker .