Choose a multicooker that can hold your covered pudding basin securely above the water, with enough room to close the lid and instructions for the steaming method you plan to use. A pressure-capable model offers more options for weekday meals, while a simpler steam-and-rice cooker may suit you if those are your main uses. Check the basin’s fit and the supplied accessories before relying on the cooker’s stated capacity.
If you use a covered pudding basin, you need a secure way to raise it above the water and instructions for the cooker’s lid and steam settings. Instant Pot UK’s Christmas-pudding method uses a basin on a trivet or steam rack.
If the cooker will also make weekday dishes, compare the programmes you would use regularly and the space available for both meals and your pudding basin. A stated bowl capacity does not establish whether the basin fits.
If rice and ordinary steaming matter more to you than pressure cooking, a cooker with a steam programme and basket may be worth considering. Check that the basket can support your covered basin; a programme name alone cannot establish that.
Start with the covered basin and its steaming setup, then decide how much capacity and everyday cooking flexibility you need.
Consider it when: You want pressure cooking alongside steaming and other one-pot functions. Instant Pot UK publishes a pudding method using both Steam and Pressure Cook stages.
Bear in mind: Follow the instructions for your exact model’s lid, valve, water level and pressure release; do not transfer settings between cookers.
Consider it when: Steaming and rice are your regular uses and you do not need pressure cooking. Tefal’s RK302E15 has a steam programme and a supplied basket.
Bear in mind: Check whether the basket supports your covered basin and whether the lid closes with clearance; a steam programme does not confirm basin compatibility.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Elevated steaming | Check for a documented steaming method and a rack or basket that holds your covered basin securely above the water. | If I make a traditional steamed pudding, I need the basin to stand securely while the lid closes; roughly 36% of consumers put this setup first. |
| Usable space | Compare the basin’s widest point and covered height with the cooker’s usable internal dimensions, not just its capacity in litres. | A family-sized pudding needs room beneath the closed lid, so I would check my own basin before choosing a cooker; for roughly 29% of consumers, space is the primary concern. |
| Everyday functions | Compare the exact model’s programmes with the dishes you make regularly, such as rice, slow-cooked meals or pressure-cooked dishes. | If the appliance will stay on my worktop after pudding day, I want functions I will use for weekday meals; roughly 21% of consumers prioritise that flexibility. |
| Handling and cleaning | Check the UK plug and fuse, the manual’s steam-release instructions and which removable parts are marked dishwasher-safe. | I want a cooker I can handle and clean confidently after a family meal; ease of ownership comes first for roughly 14% of consumers. |
A cooker’s capacity does not tell you its usable diameter or the height available once a rack and foil-covered basin are inside.
Measure your basin at its widest point and at its covered height, then compare those measurements with the exact cooker’s internal clearance and supplied support.
Instant Pot UK’s Christmas-pudding method uses distinct Steam and Pressure Cook stages. Lid and release instructions matter when adapting a recipe to your cooker.
Use instructions intended for your model, including its water level, lid position and pressure-release procedure.
Steam brings hot water and condensation close to an electrical appliance. Electrical Safety First advises checking for a UK three-pin plug and fuse and keeping cables and sockets dry.
Check the appliance’s instructions before placing it beneath cupboards, and clean the electrical base without immersing it.
A reference point for pressure-capable multicookers: Instant Pot UK lists steaming alongside pressure cooking, slow cooking and sautéing on its Classic 5.7L model.
The Foodi MAX OP450UK is a larger multifunction example; its instruction booklet states a 7.5L cooking volume and includes Steam and Pressure Cook functions.
The 5L RK302E15 offers a steam-and-rice route with a supplied basket, while the 4.8L Turbo Cuisine adds pressure cooking.
These multicookers, pressure cookers and steam-and-rice cookers offer different ways to cover everyday meals alongside steaming. For a covered pudding basin, check the accessories, internal clearance and model-specific instructions before choosing any of them.
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Consider this model if you want a Steam programme as well as other cooking options for family meals.
Its stated capacity is 5L. Before making a pudding in a covered basin, check whether a suitable support is supplied and whether your basin fits with the lid closed.
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Consider this pressure multicooker if steaming and varied weekday cooking both matter to you.
The title states a 5.7L capacity and identifies steaming, rice cooking, slow cooking and sautéing among its uses. Check the supplied basin support, usable clearance and pressure instructions for this model.
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Consider the Pro if you want a pressure-capable cooker for pudding preparation and other one-pot dishes.
Instant Pot UK lists pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming and sautéing among this 5.7L model’s functions. Confirm the accessories and basin clearance for the Pro, and follow instructions intended for it rather than assuming another Instant Pot method transfers unchanged.
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Consider this rice-oriented cooker if rice and steaming are regular parts of your family meals.
The title identifies induction heating and programmable cooking. Confirm a suitable support and sufficient clearance for your pudding basin, as well as the plug and fuse arrangement needed for UK use.
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Consider this model if rice and steamed dishes matter more to you than the wider functions of a pressure multicooker.
The title states a 5L capacity and a 20-cup rice description. For a covered pudding basin, check the supplied support, internal clearance, suitable method and UK electrical arrangement.
A Steam button is not enough on its own: the covered basin also needs a secure position above the water and room beneath the closed lid. Instant Pot UK’s pudding method uses a trivet or steam rack, so check your chosen cooker’s support and clearance before using a comparable setup.
A 5L rating cannot establish whether your pudding basin fits. Measure the basin’s widest point and covered height, then check the usable dimensions of the exact cooker with its rack or basket in place; compare meal capacity separately.
Not necessarily: a suitable steam programme and elevated basin support may meet your needs without pressure cooking. If you choose a pressure-capable cooker, follow instructions for its exact model; Instant Pot UK’s published pudding method includes both a Steam stage and a Pressure Cook stage.
Check that the appliance is suitable for UK use and has the appropriate plug and fuse. Electrical Safety First also advises keeping cables and sockets dry; follow the model’s manual for safe placement around escaping steam.
No: wash only removable parts that the manufacturer marks dishwasher-safe. Electrical Safety First advises wiping the electrical base with a damp cloth rather than immersing it; check your model’s instructions for its pot, lid and accessories.