Steaming Christmas pudding in a slow-cooker

[Tinkjon]

How do you do this - do you just put water in the bottom of the slow-cooker as you would with a saucepan? How long should I steam it for; presumbably a lot less than the time listed for steaming on the hob? And does it matter whether the basin comes into contact with the water ie. should it be true steaming, or does it matter if some of the water comes up the sides of the bowl?

And last question - can I do this with a plastic pudding basin, if I make sure the plastic doesn't touch the base of the slow-cooker?

Sorry, that was an awful lot of questions about steaming

[paisleyleaf]

I've not actually tried it myself, but my book says....
select a pudding basin that fits comfortably without raising the lid (doesn't say about plastic).
Cover with foil.
Stand in the cooking pot and add enough boiling water to come ⅔ up the sides of the basin.
Cook on HIGH 13 hours
Allow to become cold, remove foill and cover with greaseproof paper and fresh foil.
(to reheat approx 5 hours).

[Tinkjon]

That's fab, thanks Paisleyleaf!

[paisleyleaf]

My special characters not worked ⅔ means 'two thirds'

[Dorothyredboots]

I always cook my Christmas puddings in the slow cooker so ask away!!!
I use plastic bowls (the type with the matching plastic lids). I put greaseproof paper and foil over the top & the squish the lid on. I pre heat the cooker on high, pour in boiling water from the kettle to come half way up the pud. After an hour or so I turn the cooker down to medium. I usually do mine all evening & overnight. Don't fret about harming them if left to long - it's all very gentle.I have come to the conclusion that they are pretty indestructible. I reheat in the same fashion on Xmas day as saves a ring on cooker and no steam. I put it on in the same fashion - usually when I get up and put turkey in...I use Delia Smith's recipe. Any leftovers for Boxing Day get wrapped in foil & heated in oven as per Ms Smith's instructions.
Simples - as the Meerkat says!

[Tinkjon]

That's great Dorothy, muhc appreciated! I'm getting excited about it already

[ritchy99]

Thank you so much for the advice....I think I over did the quantities and have ended up with 7 small and 1 large Christmas puddings!! Faced with the prospect of steaming for days I decided to see if I can use my slow cooker...I will let you know if they were a success!

[nannyl]

can i ask if / how it worked?

I have made 3 Xmas puds this year, BIG, normal and smaller! was going to do the smaller one in my slow cooker

have already cooked it properly but was wondering about doing the Xmas day cooking in slow cooker

My slow cooker low and high. (not medium)
Im supposed to steam it on the hob for 2 hours i think.
how long in slow cooker

will use boiling kettle water.... How much do you think i should put it?

TIA

[Threalamandaclarke]

Revived in time for "stir up Sunday"
I'd love to hear about anyone having done this too.

[Threalamandaclarke]

I read on a site this morning that you can place a folded up tea towel under the pudding basin if you're worried about the basin touching the base of the crock pot.

[Threalamandaclarke]

Sorry. I didn't read properly.
Great post Dorothy. Thanks so much.

[Threalamandaclarke]

Does anyone put coins in their pudding?

[Stillinwest]

Hi
I have just made Christmas puddings in the slow cooker. 1 pint pudding bowls. On high for 10hrs. They look cooked,smell delicious but have flecks of uncooked suet all around the puddings. I've made 6 for gifts all have suet visible...Help!! Should I put them back in the slow cooker and re cook? If so,for how long?