Steaming Pudding: Using A Pressure Cooker For Quick Desserts

Steaming pudding in a pressure cooker is a great way to save time and effort. Traditional steamed puddings are cooked in a large pan of water on the stove top for several hours, but a pressure cooker can drastically reduce this time. The process involves pre-steaming the pudding without pressure and then cooking it with pressure. This can be done in an electric or stove-top pressure cooker, and the pudding can be steamed in a bowl, mould, or even a coffee can. The pressure cooker also requires less water and releases less steam into the kitchen than traditional steaming methods.

Prepare the steamer basket and trivet

Preparing the steamer basket and trivet is an important step in steaming pudding in a pressure cooker. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

Firstly, ensure you have a steamer basket or trivet that fits your pressure cooker. Most pressure cookers come with a trivet, which is a wire rack that sits inside the cooker. If you don't have one, you can use a steamer basket or even a folded piece of cloth to elevate the pudding basin above the water.

Next, add water to the base of your pressure cooker. The amount of water will depend on the size of your cooker and the recipe you are following. Generally, you'll want to add enough water to reach just below the steamer basket or trivet.

Now, prepare your pudding basin. A pudding basin is a container used specifically for steamed puddings. You can use a heat-proof bowl or even a coffee can. Grease the basin with butter or oil to prevent the pudding from sticking. Some recipes may also call for lining the basin with greaseproof or baking paper.

Once your pudding basin is ready, it's time to assemble everything in the pressure cooker. Place the steamer basket or trivet inside the cooker, ensuring it is securely positioned. Carefully lower the pudding basin onto the steamer basket or trivet. If using a folded cloth, place it in the centre of the cloth and lift it into the pressure cooker.

At this point, you can add any additional ingredients or toppings to your pudding, such as syrup, dried fruit, or nuts. Follow your specific recipe for guidance.

Finally, secure the lid of your pressure cooker. If using a traditional stovetop pressure cooker, ensure the lid is locked and the valve is set correctly. For electric pressure cookers, follow the manufacturer's instructions for securing the lid.

Your steamer basket and trivet are now prepared, and you are ready to begin steaming your pudding! Remember to follow the timing guidelines provided by your recipe for the best results.

Use a heat-proof bowl

Using a heat-proof bowl is a great way to steam a pudding in a pressure cooker. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Prepare the Pudding Basin

Grease a 1-litre pudding basin with butter. If your basin doesn't have a lid, cut a piece of baking parchment and foil to size, and set aside. Alternatively, you can use a 5-cup capacity heat-proof bowl.

Prepare the Pudding Mixture

The pudding mixture will depend on your recipe, but a traditional steamed pudding includes dried fruit, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and flavourings such as lemon or vanilla extract. Mix the ingredients, following your recipe, and spoon the batter into the prepared basin.

Prepare the Pressure Cooker

Place the trivet that comes with your pressure cooker into the inner pot and pour in just-boiled water to around the 2-litre mark. You can also add a steamer basket or rack to the base of the cooker.

Cover the Pudding Basin

If your basin has a lid, pop it on. Otherwise, cover the basin with the disc of baking parchment and then a piece of foil. Scrunch the foil up under the rim of the basin and secure it with string or an elastic band.

Steam the Pudding

Carefully place the covered pudding basin onto the trivet in the pressure cooker. Close the lid, ensuring the valve is open, and set the cooker to Steam. Set a timer for 15 minutes to pre-steam the pudding.

Pressure Cook the Pudding

After 15 minutes, close the valve, press Cancel, then press Manual. Adjust the cooker to High Pressure and set the timer for 25-30 minutes, depending on your recipe. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully remove the hot pudding with oven gloves.

Serve the Pudding

Remove the lid/foil and run a knife around the edge of the pudding before turning it out onto a serving plate. Serve immediately with custard, cream, ice cream, or brandy butter. Enjoy!

Pre-steam without pressure

Pre-steaming without pressure is an important step in the process of steaming a pudding in a pressure cooker. This step ensures that the pudding has a more cake-like crumb and a consistent texture throughout. Here is a detailed guide on how to pre-steam your pudding without pressure:

First, prepare your pressure cooker by adding two cups of cold water to the base and placing a steamer basket or trivet inside. While you do this, you can also start preparing your pudding batter by mixing the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then adding the wet ingredients.

Next, you will need a heat-proof bowl or a pudding mould. Grease your chosen vessel with a drop of olive oil and spread it evenly with a paper towel. If your bowl doesn't have handles, create a foil sling that will help you lower and lift the pudding from the pressure cooker safely.

Now, it's time to fill your bowl with the pudding batter. Lower the uncovered bowl onto the steamer basket and close the pressure cooker lid. However, make sure not to lock the lid or apply any pressure just yet.

For electric pressure cookers, turn on the browning or sauté setting. For stovetop pressure cookers, turn the heat to the highest setting. Wait for about 10 minutes until steam starts to escape from the valve, then start timing.

For the next 15 minutes, steam your pudding without pressure. Maintain a medium heat for stovetop pressure cookers to prevent a rapid escape of steam. After 15 minutes, carefully remove the lid, tilting it away from you to guide the condensation away from the pudding.

Now, you can begin pressure cooking. Place the pressure cooking lid on the cooker, ensuring the valve is set to the pressure cooking position. For electric pressure cookers, cook at high pressure for 35 minutes. For stovetop pressure cookers, cook at high pressure for 30 minutes.

Once the cooking time is up, open the pressure cooker using the natural release method. Move the cooker off the burner and wait for the pressure to release naturally. This process will take about 10 minutes for stovetop pressure cookers and around 20 minutes for electric ones.

After releasing the pressure, leave the pressure cooker closed for an additional 10 minutes. This step is crucial, as opening the cooker too early can cause the pudding to turn hard and dry.

Finally, test the pudding by inserting a toothpick into the centre. If it comes out clean, your pudding is ready to be served!

Cook with pressure

Cooking with Pressure

Steaming puddings in a pressure cooker is a great way to save time and energy. The traditional method of cooking steamed puddings involves simmering them in a large pan of water on the stove top for several hours. In contrast, pressure cookers can drastically reduce cooking time by up to two-thirds. For example, a steamed pudding that would normally take two hours to cook can be ready in just 45 minutes with a pressure cooker.

Preparing the Pudding

Before cooking your pudding, you will need to prepare your pressure cooker base by adding water and a steamer basket or trivet. The amount of water you need to add will depend on the size of your pressure cooker. For a 6-litre Instant Pot, for instance, you would add around 3 cm of water to the base.

Next, prepare your pudding basin. Pudding basins come in various sizes, such as 750 ml, 1 litre, and 1.5 litres. It is important to choose a basin that is the right size for your pressure cooker. The basin should be at least 2 centimetres smaller in diameter than the inner pot of your pressure cooker to allow for the steam to circulate safely. The basin should also not be too tall, as it must not touch the valves for safety reasons.

Grease your pudding basin with butter or another type of fat. Some recipes also call for lining the basin with greaseproof or baking paper. If your basin does not have handles, you can create a foil sling by folding a long length of foil twice lengthwise to form a sturdy strip. This will help you lower and lift the pudding into and out of the pressure cooker.

Cooking the Pudding

Once your pudding basin is ready, it's time to add the ingredients. The specific ingredients will depend on the recipe you are following. For a traditional British steamed pudding, you might use ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter, eggs, dried fruit, and spices. Combine the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, following the recipe's instructions for mixing and folding.

After mixing the ingredients, spoon the batter into your prepared pudding basin. Cover the basin with a lid, disc, or foil, securing it with string or an elastic band if needed. Carefully lower the basin into the pressure cooker, placing it on the trivet or steamer basket.

Now it's time to start cooking! Close the lid of your pressure cooker. If you are using an electric pressure cooker, turn it on and select the desired settings. For stove-top pressure cookers, turn on the heat.

Most recipes recommend pre-steaming the pudding without pressure before applying any pressure. This step helps to ensure a more even and cake-like crumb. To pre-steam, wait until steam starts to escape from the valve, then start timing. For electric pressure cookers, pre-steam for about 10 minutes. For stove-top pressure cookers, pre-steam for about 10 minutes on high heat, then lower the heat to medium and continue for the remaining time.

After pre-steaming, it's time to apply pressure. Close the pressure valve and bring the cooker up to pressure. The cooking time will depend on the size of your pudding and the recipe you are following. For a medium pudding, cooking times can range from 1.5 to 2 hours. For mini puddings, cook for around 40 minutes.

Once the cooking time is up, release the pressure slowly. You can do this by moving the cooker off the burner and waiting for the pressure to come down naturally. For electric pressure cookers, you may need to disengage the "keep warm" mode or unplug the cooker and wait for the pressure indicator to go down. Leave the pressure cooker closed for an additional 10 minutes after the pressure has been released to allow the pudding to cool gradually.

Finally, carefully lift the pudding out of the pressure cooker using the foil sling or handles on the basin. Serve the pudding while it's still hot, and enjoy!

Natural release

The natural release method is important for steamed puddings because it helps to prevent the pudding from drying out or becoming rubbery. It is recommended that you use the natural release method for at least 10 minutes after the pressure cooking is complete. This gradual release of pressure allows the pudding to cool down slowly and helps to maintain its texture.

For example, when making a steamed syrup sponge pudding in an Instant Pot, you would first steam the pudding without pressure for 20 minutes and then use low pressure to cook for a further 30-40 minutes. Once the pressure is released, you can check if the pudding is done by inserting a skewer into the centre—it should come out clean. If not, you can cook it for a further 5-10 minutes using low pressure. After pressure cooking, you should use the natural release method and then leave the pressure cooker closed for an additional 10 minutes to allow the pudding to cool gradually.

Similarly, when making a pressure cooker Christmas pudding, you would pressure cook the pudding for the recommended time (depending on the size of your pudding basin) and then use the natural release method. After the pressure has released, you can remove the pudding basin carefully using a long-handled trivet or a foil sling. The pudding can then be left to cool down completely at room temperature before storing.

The natural release method is an important step when making steamed puddings in a pressure cooker, as it helps to ensure that the pudding retains its moisture and texture. By allowing the pressure to release gradually and giving the pudding time to cool down slowly, you can avoid ending up with a dry or rubbery dessert.

Frequently asked questions