Custard powder

Custard powder is a product that is converted to custard with the addition of water, milk and heat.

History

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

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

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

References

  1. ^ "Retro delights: Bird's custard". The Independent. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "The explosive potential of custard powder". BBC News. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b "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.
  4. ^ "Edmonds Custard". Edmonds. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Cloake, Felicity (7 September 2025). "How to make perfect nanaimo bars – recipe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Foods that are better bought than made at home". Stuff. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Whatever happened to instant pudding?". The Spinoff. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
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