how to make custard without lumps

[mamacoffee]

hi

please can someone give me your fool proof method fo rmaking custard without lumps?

now please dont flame me for this but i'm talking about the birds eye powdered kind. with 2 small kids i don't have time to make the real stuff plus i think recipes that involve just egg yolks or just egg whites are a bit of a waste (iunless you're making one of each at the same time and then it's definitely in the realm of too complicated for a mama with a nearly 3 year old and 9 month old!)

i made it yesterday and followed the recipe on the tin to the letter and the result was shameful

please help soon as we have school cake that we made yesterday that NEEDS yummy custard tonight!

I do birds custard in the microwave as per the tin and it works out fine - have you tried this instead of on the hob?

Oh and birds custard is the real stuff as far I'm concerned!

The secret is to stir it properly and take your time. Use a whisk if you have one, or a wooden spoon and just keep stirring over a low heat until it thickens.

Or do it in a large bowl in the microwave.

Open a carton...

I love Birds custard
make sure the paste is really smooth and use a hand whisk in the pan.
Works for me.

In fact I think we'll have some for pudding tonight,

thank you for all being gentle with me!

i might try the microwave method- thanks!

those of you who do it in a pan though, do you add everything in one go? the tin had a convoluted method of heating milk separately then making paste then adding hot milk to the paste- id never done that before and yesterday's results make me think that was probably a good thing! (haven't made it the all in one way either for ages, hence me still asking for tips :) )

If its lumpy just pass it through a sieve

Yes, mix paste in a jug/bowl. Heat milk to just below boiling in a pan. Add hot milk to bowl, whisking. Tip whole lot back into pan over low-ish heat and whisk/stir until thickened.

If you use microwave, please use a larger jug/bowl. I made a pint in a pint jug on Sunday and it erupted over the top, down the sides, across the turntable...no lumps though

I make a runny paste, heat the rest of the milk, then add the "paste" to the hot milk whilst stirring it on the hob - never had lumps... but continual stirring whilst juggling kids is probably the problem - mine are 10 and 12 now... bliss......

You could try making the paste with one of these little handheld milk frothers (very cheap in IKEA).
And then you could tell me how not to burn custard. Mine is lump free but burnt. Always.

Heat the milk in the pan, make a paste with the custard powder and a small amount of cold milk, add to warming milk on hob while whisking continuously.

The trick is to whisk it continuously, not just leave it. If there are lumps just use a handheld blender to smooth it out again. Easy.

DieWild just turn the heat down low and watch it continuously, while whisking.

Only neglected custard goes lumpy or burns.

If you're using the powder, why not buy it in a carton? Is it not the same?

Stir it!

thanks i'm going to try putting it all in at once and keep stirring. i read the microwave method via google and it seems to be not much easier than standing at the hob (stirring every minute)? not had a chance to look at the tin and see if theres another way in the microwave, maybe there's something i'm missing?

Mix powder/sugar/couple of tbsp milk in a jug and make sure that is smooth. Heat rest of milk to nearly boiling but not actually boiling. Add a little of the hot milk to the paste and stir. Add a little more of the hot milk to the paste and stir. Add the rest of the hot milk to the paste and stir. Return to pan and heat until it boils/thickens, making sure you keep stirring and don't let it stick on the bottom.

It's not massively convoluted and in 30 years or so of making custard that way i've never had lumpy custard (and I've had plenty of other culinary disasters, so that's not down to inherent talent on my part).

If it does turn out lumpy I just liquidisers it!

Do not add the cold paste to the hot milk, you need to add some of the hot milk to cold paste stir, add a bit more, then stir into the milk in pan and keep stiring.

Tesco Finest. You can't beat it .

best microwave method
make paste with sugar, custard powder and a bit of milk, add a full pint of milk and stir still disolved
put in microwave on full for 40 seconds take out and stir stir
put back for 40 more and take out and stir
repeat last step till custard is right thickness (don't forget it will set a bit as it cools)

Ok so I tried the microwave method, the one on the tin says you only have to stir half way and it takes 6 minutes in total. Ihave to say, much to my surprise, it was very impressive! ! Admittedly a couple of lumps, im sure more regular stirring would have avoided that, but I can live with a couple of lumps (just not loads!). It was so easy, which ia perfect for when you have v young babas. :D

Excellent, glad you're sorted for custard now!

I'm told on other threads that microwave white sauce is also very successful, not tried it yet though.

Oh that is interesting about white sauce I will try that one day :)