how long to boil a Christmas pudding

[alissa]

I have boiled my small, medium and large sized puddings for 6 hours as per usual. They then require another 4 hours boiling on the day of eating. This is not possible this year on Christmas Day

Q1 can I boil them (is this to heat them through ? or to finish cooking process?) for a further 4 hours a few days before and then heat them in the microwave on the day?

Q2 the largest pudding still seems very sloppy - any suggestions?

[dzug]

Q1 - yes to the few days before/microwave. As few days as possible. Maybe best to heat the individual portions in the microwave, not the whole thing.

Q2 - putting it in the oven to dry out a bit might work - but might ruin it as well. No idea how long. No responsibility whatever taken for this suggestion

Just pretend you intended it that way.

[dzug]

Another suggestion - if you have or can borrow a pressure cooker you can cut the reheating down to half an hour or less.

Not actually sure whether the reheating is just that or whether it finishes the cooking as well. My pressure cooker book suggests the former - but it also assumes they've been cooked in the pressure cooker to begin with.

[funnywebsite]

I buy the ones that usually only take an hour to boil. Obviosuly yours sound home made. I would do as you said maybe boil them before Christmas Day and then heat it up on the day.