Custard powder
Custard powder is a product that is converted to custard with the addition of water, milk and heat.
History
[edit]Custard powder was invented in 1837 by Alfred Bird for his wife, who enjoyed consuming custard but was allergic to eggs. His product became known as Bird's Custard.[1]
Usage
[edit]When water, milk and heat is added to custard powder, it becomes custard.[2][3] Some custard powders require the addition of sugar.[4] Custard powder is made from cornflour, salt, flavouring and colouring. Some custard powders include egg, minerals and vitamins, while others do not.[5] The cornflour acts as a thickening agent.[3]
According to BBC News, custard powder is a common kitchen staple.[2]
Custard powder is sometimes used as flavouring without being converted to custard, such as in some recipes for nanaimo bars.[6]
Reception
[edit]Writing for Stuff, Ewan Sargent has said that "There is no point making custard with custard powder when custard from a carton or bottle at the supermarket tastes so right."[7]
Custard powder is similar to instant pudding.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Retro delights: Bird's custard". The Independent. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- 1 2 "The explosive potential of custard powder". BBC News. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- 1 2 "Custard: Pudding Power The popular pudding is easy to make today compared with the methods used in the long history of custard arts". The Guardian. 13 November 1992. ProQuest 293329550 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "Edmonds Custard". Edmonds. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ Awoyale, Wasiu; Sanni, Lateef O.; Shittu, Taofik A.; Adegunwa, Mojisola O. (9 April 2015). "Effect of storage on the chemical composition, microbiological load, and sensory properties of cassava starch-based custard powder". Food Science & Nutrition. 3 (5): 425–433. doi:10.1002/fsn3.235. ISSN 2048-7177. PMC 4576966. PMID 26405528.
- ↑ Cloake, Felicity (7 September 2025). "How to make perfect nanaimo bars – recipe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ↑ "Foods that are better bought than made at home". Stuff. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ "Whatever happened to instant pudding?". The Spinoff. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2026.