Ina Garten Lemon Curd Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does lemon curd last in the fridge? ›

Store the curd: Lemon curd will keep in your refrigerator for up to a month according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 1 year. To thaw, transfer your curd from the freezer to the fridge 24 hours before you need it.

Shelf Life: Prepared lemon curd can be frozen for up to 1 year without quality changes when thawed. To thaw, place container in a refrigerator at 40°F or lower for 24 hours before intended use. After thawing, consume within 4 weeks.

If your lemon curd hasn't thickened, it may not have been heated enough. It can take up to 30 minutes of constant stirring to cook lemon curd, especially if it's a large batch. Remember that curd will thicken more once cooled. If your cooled curd is not thick enough, you can reheat it to thicken.

Let's peel back the layers of this zesty enigma. It all comes down to chemistry. Lemon juice, a primary ingredient in lemon curd, is rich in citric acid. When this acid comes into contact with certain metals, notably copper or aluminum, a chemical reaction occurs.

Whether you dollop it on top of a biscuit, scone, or toast, scoop it up with graham crackers or, my personal favorite — eat it straight off a spoon — Lemon Curd is easy, elegant, versatile, and make ahead. Prepare then store for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Just be sure to put it in a tightly sealed glass or plastic container so it doesn't pick up any aromas from other things in your fridge. Fresh lemon curd will keep for one to two weeks when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

If you anticipate needing to store lemon curd for longer than two weeks, it is best to freeze it to increase its longevity; you won't have to worry about the curd changing in flavor or texture as long as it is frozen properly.

Use it to add a tart, creamy lemon flavor to anything you'd like! Does lemon curd in a cake need to be refrigerated? The curd in this lemon curd cake does not need to be refrigerated within the first 24 hours but should be after that.

If you just place all the ingredients in a saucepan without beating the butter and sugar with the eggs first, the curd tends to taste eggy.

How do you know when lemon curd is set? ›

Don't be tempted to use bottled lemon juice of any kind as it'll be far too acidic and will ruin the flavor. You'll know the curd is ready when it noticeably thickens in consistency and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Keep the heat low, don't turn it up to quicken the process or the eggs will scramble.

Lemon curd's texture is smooth and silky, similar to a very smooth, creamy custard, and thick enough to be spread on scones and other foods. In Britain, lemon curd is also known as "lemon cheese," and other fruit curds are known as "[name of fruit] cheese."

Slather it on toast or stir it into yogurt.

It's a mixture of eggs, butter and lemon juice & zest. You'll usually find it near the jams in the store, sealed in a jar but it's never, ever as good as homemade. You can spread it on toast, pancakes, french toast, scones, english muffins, etc. – it goes well with most breakfast (and dessert!) dishes.

Once opened, a jar of lemon curd should be refrigerated and used within six months for best quality, according to the folks at the J.M. Smucker Co., maker of the Dickinson's brand of lemon curd. Unopened, the jar should have a best-if-used-by date on the label that you should follow.

Once you've activated the starter culture and started making yogurt, your homemade yogurt is generally good for eating for up to 2 weeks, when stored in the refrigerator. For re-culturing, we recommend using the yogurt within 7 days to make a new batch.

Buy the freshest curds that you can. Eat what you want, but if you can't finish the bag right away or if you intend to keep it for a while put it into the refrigerator. Once refrigerated, you can usually keep the curds about two weeks.

It will keep for several weeks sealed in the fridge and for up to a week in the fridge once opened. Yes, you can freeze lemon curd. Perhaps in small practically sized freezer boxes or bags for up to 3 months. Thank you so much.