Flat Yorkshire pudding! (2024)

FAQs

Flat Yorkshire pudding!? ›

It is almost always because the oil wasn't hot enough. Yorkshire Puddings rise because the water molecules in the milk turn to steam and as they rise, they force the batter upwards to make the puddings grow.

One of the main reasons why Yorkshires don't rise is because the oil isn't hot enough, so make sure it's bubbling and sizzling as you pour your batter in. Make sure you aren't over-filling the tin – fill each hole about a third or halfway up, any more and they may collapse through the weight of batter.

Resting the batter overnight is key for developing better flavor. Forget about cold batter: letting it rest at room temperature helps it rise taller as it bakes. A combination of milk and water gives the Yorkshire puddings extra rise and crispness.

For Yorkshire puddings to soar, the temperature must too – so never open the oven door when they are cooking, to keep the oven as hot as possible. If opening the oven door is absolutely essential your Yorkshire puddings won't be ruined, but they just won't rise as much as they should.

A common fault that results in flat yorkshires is not having things hot enough. The oven needs to be very hot, and you need to use a metal dish with fat or oil that is hot enough to sizzle when you pour the mixture in. Get it straight into the oven and do not open the door for the duration of the cooking time.

While it doesn't need to be cold, your batter should have time to rest. Our no-fail yorkies recipe recommends transferring your batter to a jug after mixing, then leaving it to rest for at least 15 minutes.

This is about the oil. As mentioned, you need the oil to be very hot before adding your batter, but it's also important to use the right amount. Too much will make the bottom of your Yorkshires greasy, while too little could see your puds stick to the pan.

Yorkshire puddings don't need baking powder or other raising agent, the secret to a good rise is plenty of eggs, hot fat and a hot oven.

Remember to (carefully) flip

Another top tip from Adam: to avoid soggy bottoms, try flipping your Yorkshire puddings two-or-three minutes before the end of cooking time. It will dry the bottoms out and ensure you get a nice, even crunch.

And room temperature batter is ideal

Room temperature vs cold batter: if your batter is at room temperature when it hits the hot pan, you will get a better rise with a crispier hollow pudding. If your batter is cold, your Yorkshires will be slightly more dense inside but with that perfect gravy-pooling cup shape.

How to get a good rise on Yorkshire pudding? ›

In Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, they make the Yorkshire pudding recipe batter the night before and leave it at room temperature until it's needed the following day. You don't need to do this, but make sure you rest yours for at least an hour before you cook to ensure a good rise and deliciously light puddings.

Don't Open the Oven Door

Avoid opening the oven door during cooking because the cooler air will make the puddings collapse. Sometimes they make a recovery but will never rise quite as high as they should.

Should Yorkshire pudding batter be thick or runny? The batter should be about as thick as double cream (so easily pourable but with some body).

What consistency should Yorkshire pudding mix be? For perfect Yorkies, you need a consistency of heavy cream, so really quite runny but not milk-runny. To make sure you achieve this I suggest pouring half of the liquid in and then slowly adding more until you reach the consistency.

Plain flour is key, according to the Brits. The addition of bicarb or baking powder should not be added to the mix at all, and can even cause the puds to become flat, dense, or even burn.

Most recipes will advise you to get the fat scorching hot before adding the batter, some even advising to put the tin on the hob while you pour in the batter. While this does cause a rapid expansion of the batter, it's in an uncontrolled way, meaning your puds can end up looking like misshapen asteroids.