How to steam a pudding

Steaming a pudding is easy when you know how

Cover the bowl with a sheet of baking parchment with a pleat folded down the centre.

Then cover with a sheet of foil with a pleat down the centre. This allows the pudding room to expand during cooking.

Fold the foil and paper down around the basin, pinch the foil in around the rim,  and secure with string

Adding a string handle as will make lifting the pudding in and out of the pan easier.

Place the pudding in the top of a steamer or, if you don't have a steamer, put the pudding in a large saucepan with about 3–5 cm of boiling water in the bottom, and cover with a tight fitting lid. Allow the water in the pan to simmer gently for the required cooking time. Remember to check the water level from time to time to ensure that the pan does not boil dry. Top up with water as necessary.