Black pudding is one of those classic British ingredients that people seem to either love or loathe and I do agree that it is a bit of an acquired taste.  If you can’t quite stomach it on its own then it’s actually quite nice when used as part of another dish – for example as part of stuffing to fill a chicken breast or added to a pasta dish to give it an interesting twist. This post will talk you through the various methods for how to cook black pudding.

Black Pudding Bon Bons Recipe

What is Black Pudding?

Black pudding is made from pigs blood, pig fat or beef suet and other ingredients including cereal such as oats and barley as well as seasonings such as salt and pepper and herbs. It is a type of blood sausage which is originated from and is still popular in Great Britain and Ireland.

Using the blood of slaughtered animals was originally a way to make sure every single part of the animal was used up. Blood goes off pretty quickly so black pudding was made to ensure nothing was wasted.

Black Pudding has a high protein content so may sometimes be described as a superfood – however, the high fat and salt content mean that in reality it isn’t actually that good for you and should be enjoyed as an occasional treat.

How To Cook Black Pudding

There are lots of different ways to cook black pudding including grilling, frying and deep-frying.

Black pudding typically takes six to eight minutes to cook.

As it is cooked during production it can be eaten as it is should you wish to do so (without being cooked).  Black pudding is typically cut into thick slices before cooking although in most supermarkets it can be bought ready-sliced.

Cooking Tips For Black Pudding

Black pudding cooks pretty quickly and can be easy to burn. As it’s black it can be hard to see when it’s starting to burn and become overcooked so always keep a careful eye on it during the cooking process, especially when frying or grilling. Always remove all packaging before cooking.

If you’re worried about whether the middle is hot enough you could use a meat thermometer to check the core temperature is over 82 degrees – as the blood sausage has been previously cooked, cooking it again at home is technically reheating it rather than cooking from raw which means a higher temperature is required.

If you don’t have a thermometer to hand, try placing the tip of a knife in the centre of the black pudding for a few seconds then testing the temperature of the knife on the back of your hand. If it’s scalding hot then the black pudding is cooked through.

If frying the Black Pudding have some kitchen towel in a dish ready to place the cooked product onto – this will absorb any excess fat.

Once cooked, the black pudding should be crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Cooking times may vary slightly with different appliances.

The cooking times below are based on a slice of black pudding as shown in the breakfast above. Smaller pieces used for starters, for example, will require slightly shorter cooking times.

Too much Black Pudding? See this full guide on How To Freeze Black Pudding.

What Is The Best Way To Cook Black Pudding?

The best way to cook Black Pudding will depend on lots of factors including what you are cooking it to go with. For example, if you’re making a traditional English Breakfast then you can cook the Black Pudding in a frying pan along with all the other ingredients.

If you need to cook Black Pudding for say 20 plus people, cooking slices in the oven is probably the best method.

Personally, my favourite way to cook Blacking Pudding is this Black Pudding Bon Bon Recipe. 

How To Cook Black Pudding – 6 Different Methods

1. Deep Frying Black Pudding

Deep-fried black pudding is delicious but will cook fast so will need to be watched closely.

1. Remove all packaging from the black pudding and slice into half-inch thick rounds if not using ready cut.
2. Ensure the fryer is up to temperature – 180 degrees C.
3. Place the slices into the basket and gently low into the oil. Give the basket a gentle shake to prevent sticking.
4. It will only take three to four minutes to cook so keep a close eye on it.
5. Once cooked allow to rest in the basket for a minute or two so excess fat can drip off.
6. Serve immediately.

2. Shallow Frying Black Pudding

1. Add a little oil to a non-stick pan and heat on medium heat.
2. Once the oil is smoking add the Black Pudding using tongs, taking care to place away from you to avoid hot oil splashing.
3. Cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes before using tongs to turn over the black pudding so the other side can cook.
4. Once cooked, place on a kitchen towel to absorb any excess fat.
5. Serve immediately.

3. Oven Baking Black Pudding

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees c or gas mark 5.
2. Place the black pudding on a lightly oiled baking tray – even if the tray is non-stick this will help it crisp up.
3. Cook for 8-10 minutes turning once during cooking. Ensure the Black Pudding is piping hot all the way through.
4. Serve while hot.

4. Grilling Black Pudding

1. Preheat your grill on the highest setting.
2. Place the pieces of black pudding on a tray and grill for 3-4 minutes on each side. Do not add oil as it will spit during cooking.
3. Serve hot.

5. Boiling Black Pudding

This method is only suitable for a whole Black Pudding still in its skin. It is not suitable for ready sliced black pudding.

1. Bring a pan of water to a boil and then turn down the heat until it’s gently simmering.
2. Do not remove the Black Pudding from its skin – gently place the whole sausage into the water.
3. Do not allow the water to boil as this will break the skin and the sausage will become waterlogged.
4. Cook for 6-8 minutes in simmering water until piping hot all the way through.
5. Remove from the water and slice to serve.

6. Microwaving Black Pudding

Did you know you can microwave black pudding?

Microwaving black pudding is one of the quickest ways to cook it and although you don’t get the nice crispy edges that come with frying, it definitely works in a pinch.

1. Place the Black Pudding slices in a microwave-safe container.
2. Microwave on high for 45 seconds.
3. Check the internal temperature (see below) and repeat until piping hot.
4. Serve immediately.

What Should The Internal Temperature Of Black Pudding Be After Cooking?

Using a digital food thermometer* check the internal temperature of the Black Pudding is at least 75°c for at least 30 seconds or 80°c for at least 6 seconds.

If the black pudding hasn’t reached this internal temperature, cook for a further few minutes.

Can You Cook Black Pudding From Frozen?

Have you ever wondered if you can cook black pudding from frozen? The good news is that you absolutely can cook Black Pudding from frozen – the main thing to remember here is that it needs to piping hot all the way through before serving and cooking times may need to be adjusted slightly.

While some folks don’t like to cook black pudding from frozen, I’ve never found it to be a problem.

How To Cook Black Pudding From Frozen

The best results come from deep-frying the black pudding rather than oven-cooking or shallow frying. This method produces a very crisp black pudding slice.

1. Place the frozen black pudding slice in the deep fat fryer basket, ensuring any wrap or cling film has been removed.
2. Ensure the fryer is up to temperature – 180 degrees
3. Gently lower the slices into the oil and give the basket a gentle shake so the black pudding doesn’t stick to the wire basket.
4. It will only take around five minutes to cook so keep a close eye on it.
5. Once cooked allow to rest in the basket for a minute or two so excess fat can drip off.
6. Check the temperate is up to 75c before serving. If not hot enough return to the oil for a further minute or two.
7. Serve. Do not refreeze or reheat.

Where To Buy Black Pudding In The U.K

In the UK, Black Pudding is readily available at most supermarkets and usually comes ready sliced in packs of four or six pieces.

Larger Black Puddings can sometimes be found at your local butchers and extra large catering-sized Black Pudding sausages can be found at catering suppliers such as Bookers cash n carry.

And there we have it, how to cook black pudding five different ways.