Homemade Xmas pudding in microwave

[HannahHack]

I have offered puddings for our big family Xmas dinner and I am concerned about hob space. Basically, can you put a homemade christmas pudding in the microwave, and if so, for how long?
I want to make one as there are nut allergies in the family, but if it is too much hasle on the day will just be buying one from M&S.

(I use plastic microwavable pudding basins anyway)

They are much better steamed. I put ours in the steamer after the vegetables have cooked, so no extra hob space required. But I only make a smallish pudding, not a 2lb one.
If you do microwave, be warned that you have to be very careful that the pudding doesn't overheat as it could catch fire. Instructions taken from a BBC recipe:
"...the pudding should be covered loosely and heated in the microwave for about 6 minutes on high power, checking its progress every so often by inserting a skewer into the centre and leaving for a couple of seconds. If the skewer comes out piping hot, the pudding is ready to eat after standing for 1 minute. For more accurate timings it is best to check the manufacturer instructions."

Only time I tried to cook a Christmas pudding in the microwave, it sort of shrank and dried up. It was a good job that I'd made 2, so had a spare to steam for 9 hours.

If you have a slow cooker, you can steam it in that - it's easy because you don't have to keep topping up the water or checking it.