On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 20:12:59 -0000, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

"Peter Parry" wrote
Spotted Dick, Apple Dumpling, any steamed sponge puddings, Christmas
pudding. All much better than any other method of making them

Have you done a comparitive test?

Oh yes - many. The microwave version is, quite simply, better.
Having been brought up on such delicacies steaming them was the usual
way of cooking them and when I graduated to making them by this
means, whilst not wishing to be forward in such things, the results
were never criticised.

I was introduced to the microwave method some 20 years ago and
extensive testing since then has proven conclusively that the
microwave produces lighter (a comparative rather than absolute term
with suet puddings obviously) and tastier offerings without any
doubt. The cooking time is reduced to minutes rather than hours -
but the real bonus is the higher quality. As far as Christmas
puddings are concerned I still prefer to do the first steaming in the
usual way but the second is always done in the microwave.

That depends on wht else you're cooking at the same time. I wouldn't be
without my tiered electric steamer.

Which was the way I was brought up to cook them, and I still have the
"Radiation" cookery book which came with every gas stove and the
three tier steamer with valves to burn your fingers on. However,
there really is little comparison. The microwave version is superior
in all respects

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/