Posted by Jvl Classicware
on April 30, 2026
There are certain kitchen tools that belong so completely to a specific culinary tradition that understanding them is inseparable from understanding the food they make. The puttu maker is exactly such a tool. It is not a pan, not a pot, and not a pressure cooker in the conventional sense. It is a purpose-built steaming vessel that exists for one specific and deeply beloved reason. To make puttu. And if you have ever eaten puttu, the soft, crumbly, gently sweet, cylindrical steamed rice cake that is among the most iconic breakfast dishes in Kerala and across South India, you already understand why this tool has earned a permanent place in millions of Indian kitchens.
For anyone who grew up eating puttu, the sight of the puttu maker on the stove in the early morning, the sound of steam beginning to hiss through the cylinder, and the moment of turning it out to reveal a perfectly formed round of steamed rice and coconut are as much a part of the experience as the eating itself. For anyone encountering this tool for the first time, whether you are setting up a new kitchen, exploring South Indian cooking, or shopping for a gift for a Kerala household, this guide explains everything you need to know about what a puttu maker is, how it works, the different types available, and how to choose the right one for your kitchen.
What Is Puttu and Why Does It Have Its Own Dedicated Cooking Vessel
Before explaining the puttu maker itself, it helps to understand what puttu actually is and why it requires a specialised vessel rather than a standard pot or steamer. Puttu is a traditional Kerala breakfast dish made from moistened rice flour and grated coconut that are layered alternately inside a cylindrical mould and then steamed until the rice flour sets into a firm but crumbly, fragrant cake. The dish is deeply embedded in Kerala's food culture and is eaten daily across the state, served with kadala curry (a black chickpea curry), banana, or a simple papad.
What makes puttu unique as a dish, and what makes the puttu maker necessary as a vessel, is the specific way it needs to be cooked. The rice flour and coconut layers need to be cooked by steam that passes upward through the cylinder from below, cooking the contents evenly and gently without any direct contact with water. This upward steam movement is what sets the layers in place, creates the characteristic cylindrical shape, and produces the soft, non-sticky, crumbly texture that defines a well-made puttu. A standard steamer, pressure cooker, or any other kitchen vessel cannot replicate this specific upward steam flow through a narrow cylindrical column of layered ingredients. This is precisely why the puttu maker was developed and why it remains the essential dedicated tool for making this dish.
What Is a Puttu Maker – The Complete Explanation
A puttu maker, also called a puttu kudam in Malayalam (the language of Kerala), is a two-part cooking apparatus specifically designed to steam puttu. The name puttu kudam literally translates to puttu vessel, and this name captures both the function and the cultural significance of the tool accurately. It is a vessel made specifically for this one dish and it is considered an essential kitchen item in any Kerala household in the same way that an idli cooker is essential in a Tamil Nadu kitchen.
The Two Core Components of Every Puttu Maker
Every puttu maker, regardless of its size, shape, or material, consists of two essential components that work together to create the steaming environment the dish requires. Understanding these two parts and how they interact is the key to understanding how the tool works.
The Steam Base or Puttu Kudam
The steam base is the lower portion of the puttu maker. This is a closed vessel, typically shaped like a small pot or a rounded boiler, that holds water. When placed on the stove and heated, the water inside the base boils and generates steam. The base has a single opening at the top, which is where the puttu cylinder attaches. The base can be a standalone dedicated boiler that is part of the puttu maker set, or it can be an adapter that fits onto the spout of a standard pressure cooker, using the pressure cooker as the steam source. Both configurations are common and both work effectively.
The standalone puttu kudam base is the traditional format and is what most dedicated puttu maker products consist of. It is typically made from stainless steel or aluminium, has a rounded or slightly tapered body, and holds enough water for one or two rounds of puttu steaming before needing to be refilled. The pressure cooker adapter format is a more economical and space-saving option for households that already own a pressure cooker and want to make puttu without purchasing an entirely separate base vessel.
The Puttu Cylinder or Puttu Mould
The puttu cylinder is the upper component and the most distinctive visual element of the puttu maker. It is a hollow tube, usually between twelve and fifteen centimetres in length, that is attached to the top of the steam base and acts as the mould in which the puttu is assembled and cooked. The cylinder has a perforated base plate at its lower end that sits over the steam opening of the base vessel, allowing steam to pass upward through the holes and into the cylinder from below.
The puttu is assembled inside this cylinder by placing the perforated base plate at the bottom, adding a layer of grated coconut, then a layer of moistened rice flour, then another layer of coconut, and continuing until the cylinder is filled. The assembled cylinder is then attached to the steam base and the puttu cooks as the steam rises through the perforated base plate, travels upward through the layers of rice flour and coconut, and exits from the open top of the cylinder. This upward steam movement cooks the contents evenly and sets them into the cylindrical shape of the mould. When the puttu is ready, the cylinder is detached and the cooked puttu is pushed out using the perforated plate as a plunger, releasing it as a perfectly formed cylindrical cake onto the plate.
Puttu Cylinder Meaning and Why the Shape Matters
The cylindrical shape of the puttu mould is not arbitrary or purely traditional. It is functional in a very specific way that directly affects how the puttu cooks. A narrow cylindrical column of layered ingredients is ideal for upward steam cooking because the steam has a short lateral distance to travel from the centre to the outer edge of the mould. This means every part of the rice flour mixture receives an equal amount of steam exposure and cooks at the same rate. A wider, flatter mould would require steam to travel a much greater lateral distance to reach the outer edges, resulting in uneven cooking where the centre sets before the edges or the edges dry out before the centre is fully cooked.
The length of the cylinder also matters. A cylinder that is too short produces puttu that is too thin and falls apart when removed. A cylinder that is too long may produce puttu where the bottom layers are overcooked by the time the top layers receive sufficient steam. Standard puttu cylinders are designed with dimensions that have been refined through generations of daily use to produce the ideal ratio of height to diameter for consistent, well-cooked puttu.
Types of Puttu Makers Available in India
One of the most common sources of confusion for anyone buying a puttu maker for the first time is the number of different types available in the market. The core function of every puttu maker is the same but the variations in design, shape, material, and size serve different practical purposes and suit different kitchen requirements and preferences.
Traditional Round Puttu Maker
The traditional round puttu maker is the classic format that has been used in Kerala kitchens for generations. It consists of a rounded steam base and one or more cylindrical tubes. The round cylinder produces the classic cylindrical puttu shape that most people associate with this dish. This is the format shown in most traditional Kerala recipes and food content and it remains the most widely used format across South Indian households.
Round puttu makers are available in a range of sizes, from compact versions with smaller cylinders that produce individual serving portions to larger versions with wider or longer cylinders for family-sized servings. The JVL 3 Puttu Maker is a dedicated round puttu maker designed for everyday use in Indian kitchens. It comes with three cylinders, giving you the ability to make three portions simultaneously, which is ideal for families who eat puttu regularly and want to prepare breakfast efficiently without making multiple rounds. You can explore this product here: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/3-puttu-maker
Square Puttu Maker
The square puttu maker is a modern variation that produces puttu in a square or rectangular cross-section shape rather than the traditional round cylinder. This design innovation serves a practical purpose that goes beyond aesthetics. Square puttu is easier to cut into even portions and serves more neatly on a plate, particularly for households where puttu is served as part of a more elaborate plated meal rather than the traditional informal style of breaking it apart by hand.
The square format also makes the puttu slightly more compact when assembled in the mould, which some cooks find produces a slightly denser and more cohesive texture than the round version. The choice between round and square is ultimately a matter of personal and family preference, but the square puttu maker has gained significant popularity in recent years among urban South Indian households who appreciate its modern aesthetic and practical sliceability.
The JVL Square Puttu Maker is a beautifully designed square format puttu maker built from quality stainless steel for everyday use. If you prefer a modern take on traditional puttu making, this is the product for your kitchen. Explore it here: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/square-puttu-maker
Multi-Purpose Puttu Maker
The multi-purpose puttu maker is the most versatile option in the category and the one that offers the greatest value for households that want their kitchen tools to do more than one job. A multi-purpose puttu maker is designed to function both as a traditional puttu maker for steaming puttu and as a steaming vessel for other dishes that require steam cooking. This might include idiyappam, kozhukatta (steamed rice dumplings), modak, or any other South Indian or Indian steamed preparation that requires a gentle, consistent steam environment.
For households that cook a wide variety of South Indian steamed dishes but have limited storage space for kitchen equipment, a multi-purpose puttu maker eliminates the need for multiple dedicated single-use tools and consolidates them into a single, well-designed vessel. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone setting up a new kitchen or for anyone who wants the most practical and space-efficient approach to South Indian steaming equipment.
The JVL Multi-Purpose Puttu Maker is designed precisely for this kind of versatile daily use, combining puttu-making capability with broader steaming functionality in a single quality stainless steel product. Explore this product here: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/multi-purpose-puttu-maker
Kerala Puttu Maker – The Cultural Context Behind the Tool
To fully understand what a puttu maker is, it helps to understand the cultural context in which it was developed and in which it continues to be used daily. Kerala, the southernmost coastal state on India's western coast, has one of the most distinct and celebrated regional food cultures in the entire country. The cuisine is built on rice, coconut, and a specific set of cooking techniques that emphasise steaming, slow cooking, and the use of coconut oil as the primary cooking fat. Puttu is one of the most representative dishes of this culinary tradition and it is eaten for breakfast in Kerala households across every community, every social class, and every region of the state.
The puttu maker, or puttu kudam, is therefore not just a kitchen tool. It is a cultural artefact that carries the daily food habits and culinary identity of an entire state. Understanding it this way helps explain why it has maintained its dedicated design over so many decades without being simplified into a generic steamer or replaced by more versatile equipment. The puttu maker exists in its specific form because puttu requires it in its specific form, and both the dish and the tool have been refined together over generations to produce the best possible result.
Puttu Beyond Kerala
While puttu originated in Kerala and remains most strongly associated with Kerala cuisine, it is eaten and loved across Tamil Nadu, coastal Karnataka, and among South Indian communities throughout India and the global diaspora. The dish has also seen a recent resurgence of interest among urban Indian food enthusiasts who are rediscovering traditional South Indian breakfast foods as part of a broader trend toward heritage cooking and regional cuisine appreciation. This wider interest has driven demand for puttu makers well beyond the traditional South Indian household base and made them increasingly available in kitchen stores and online across India.
What Material Is Best for a Puttu Maker
Puttu makers are available in several different materials, each with its own set of characteristics, advantages, and considerations for daily use. Understanding the material differences helps you make an informed choice when selecting a puttu maker for your kitchen.
Stainless Steel Puttu Makers
Stainless steel is the most recommended material for a puttu maker for daily household use and the material that quality Indian cookware brands including JVL Classicware use across their entire puttu maker range. Food-grade stainless steel is completely safe for steam cooking, does not react with any of the ingredients used in puttu (rice flour, coconut, water), and does not leach any compounds into the food regardless of how frequently it is used or how long steam is applied.
Stainless steel puttu makers are also extremely durable and easy to maintain. They do not rust, do not stain from regular use, and can be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water after every use. A quality stainless steel puttu maker will last for many years of daily use without any meaningful degradation in its performance or appearance. This makes it the best long-term investment for any household that plans to make puttu regularly.
Aluminium Puttu Makers
Aluminium puttu makers are lighter in weight than stainless steel and are commonly available, particularly in traditional and budget-oriented kitchenware markets. They heat up faster than stainless steel, which can slightly reduce the time needed for the water in the base to reach boiling point. However, aluminium is a reactive material and there are established concerns about repeated cooking of acidic or alkaline foods in aluminium vessels over time. For a dish like puttu where no strongly acidic ingredients are used and the cooking time per batch is short, aluminium functions adequately, but stainless steel remains the more hygienic and longer-lasting choice for daily use.
How to Use a Puttu Maker – A Basic Overview
While a full detailed puttu recipe is beyond the scope of this guide, a basic overview of how the puttu maker is used helps illustrate exactly how its design serves the cooking process it is built for.
Preparing the Rice Flour
Puttu is made from rice flour that has been moistened with water to reach a specific consistency. The flour should be damp enough to hold its shape when pressed in your fist but crumbly enough to break apart when you release the pressure. Getting this moisture level right is the most critical preparation step and it determines whether the final puttu will be soft and crumbly or hard and compact.
Assembling the Puttu Cylinder
Place the perforated base plate at the bottom of the clean, dry cylinder. Add a layer of grated fresh coconut approximately one centimetre thick. Add a layer of moistened rice flour approximately two to three centimetres thick. Continue alternating layers of coconut and rice flour until the cylinder is filled, finishing with a layer of coconut at the top. Do not press the layers down. The key to soft, light puttu is keeping the layers loose and airy so steam can pass through them freely.
Steaming the Puttu
Fill the steam base with water and bring it to a boil on the stove. Attach the filled cylinder to the steam base, securing it firmly so no steam escapes from the connection point. Steam on medium heat for eight to ten minutes until a steady stream of steam is visible emerging from the top of the cylinder and the rice flour is fully cooked through. Detach the cylinder, hold it over a plate, and use the perforated base plate to push the puttu out from below. It will emerge as a perfectly formed cylindrical cake, ready to be served immediately.
Choosing the Right Puttu Maker for Your Kitchen
With several types and sizes available, choosing the right puttu maker for your specific kitchen and household requires considering a few practical factors.
Family Size and Serving Frequency
If you have a large family and plan to make puttu regularly for breakfast, a puttu maker that comes with multiple cylinders, such as the JVL 3 Puttu Maker with three cylinders, is the most practical choice because it allows you to steam multiple portions simultaneously rather than making them one at a time. For a smaller household or for someone who makes puttu occasionally, a single-cylinder version is sufficient and takes up less storage space.
Versatility Requirements
If you cook a wide variety of South Indian steamed dishes and want a single vessel that can handle all of them, the JVL Multi-Purpose Puttu Maker is the smartest choice. It gives you the full puttu-making capability of a dedicated puttu maker while also functioning as a general-purpose steaming vessel for other dishes.
Preference for Traditional or Modern Format
If you prefer the classic, traditional experience of round cylindrical puttu, any of the standard round puttu makers in the JVL range will serve you beautifully. If you prefer a more contemporary approach to puttu making, the JVL Square Puttu Maker offers the same authentic steamed puttu in a modern form that is easier to portion and serves elegantly on a modern dining table.
Why JVL Classicware Puttu Makers Are the Right Choice
JVL Classicware has designed its entire puttu maker range with the needs of the modern Indian household firmly in mind. Every product is made from food-grade stainless steel that is safe for daily steam cooking, durable enough to last for years of regular use, and easy to clean after every cooking session. The designs are practical, the materials are honest, and the products are built to perform consistently every morning for as long as you own them.
Whether you are buying your first puttu maker and want the reliability of a trusted Indian brand, replacing an old aluminium puttu kudam with a quality stainless steel upgrade, or buying a puttu maker as a gift for a South Indian household, JVL Classicware offers the right product for every need.
Explore the full JVL puttu maker range below and choose the one that is right for your kitchen.
The JVL 3 Puttu Maker for families who make puttu regularly and want three simultaneous servings: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/3-puttu-maker
The JVL Multi-Purpose Puttu Maker for households who want versatile steaming capability beyond puttu: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/multi-purpose-puttu-maker
The JVL Square Puttu Maker for those who prefer a modern, contemporary take on traditional puttu making: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/square-puttu-maker
Frequently Asked Questions About Puttu Makers
What is a puttu maker used for?
A puttu maker is a dedicated steaming vessel used to make puttu, a traditional Kerala steamed rice cake made from layered rice flour and grated coconut. It consists of a steam base that holds water and a cylindrical tube into which the ingredients are layered and steamed. Multi-purpose puttu makers can also be used for steaming other South Indian dishes such as idiyappam and kozhukatta.
What is a puttu cylinder?
The puttu cylinder is the upper component of the puttu maker. It is a hollow tube, typically between twelve and fifteen centimetres long, with a perforated base plate that allows steam to pass upward through the layered ingredients inside. The cylindrical shape serves as the mould that gives puttu its characteristic round form when it is turned out after steaming.
What is a puttu kudam?
Puttu kudam is the Malayalam name for the puttu maker. The word kudam means vessel in Malayalam and puttu kudam therefore literally means puttu vessel. The term is used interchangeably with puttu maker in South Indian households and in kitchenware retail contexts.
Can I make puttu without a puttu maker?
While there are improvised methods that use idli steamers or pressure cookers with makeshift cylindrical moulds, none of these replicate the specific upward steam flow through a narrow cylindrical column that a dedicated puttu maker produces. The result from improvised methods is often either overcooked, unevenly steamed, or lacks the characteristic cylindrical shape and crumbly texture that a proper puttu maker delivers consistently.
What material is best for a puttu maker?
Food-grade stainless steel is the best material for a puttu maker for daily household use. It is non-reactive, completely safe for steam cooking, rust-resistant, easy to clean, and durable enough to last for many years of regular use. JVL Classicware puttu makers are made from food-grade stainless steel and are designed for the demands of daily Indian kitchen use.
How many cylinders does a puttu maker need?
A single-cylinder puttu maker is sufficient for a small household or for occasional puttu making. For families of four or more who eat puttu regularly, a puttu maker with multiple cylinders such as the JVL 3 Puttu Maker is more practical because it allows you to produce multiple portions simultaneously rather than making them sequentially. Explore the JVL 3 Puttu Maker here: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/3-puttu-maker
Final Thoughts – The Puttu Maker Is More Than a Kitchen Tool
Understanding what a puttu maker is, is really understanding a small but significant piece of South Indian food culture. This simple two-part vessel, a steam base and a perforated cylinder, is the reason that millions of Kerala households wake up to the same breakfast every morning and have done so for generations. It is purpose-built, culturally specific, and beautifully effective at the one job it was designed to do.
For anyone who wants to bring the tradition of puttu into their kitchen, whether for the first time or as an upgrade from an older vessel, the JVL Classicware puttu maker range offers the quality, reliability, and thoughtful design that this important breakfast ritual deserves.
Explore the complete JVL puttu maker range and find the right one for your kitchen today.
The JVL 3 Puttu Maker: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/3-puttu-maker
The JVL Multi-Purpose Puttu Maker: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/multi-purpose-puttu-maker
The JVL Square Puttu Maker: https://jvlclassicware.com/products/square-puttu-maker