How Long Does Lemon Curd Last: Lemon curd also known as fruit curd is generally made up of fruits that belong to the citrus family like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, vines, etc.
Lemon curd is one of the most demanded desserts of people who love baked food dishes and all these fruits are alluring enough to make any mouth-watering. How Long Does Lemon Curd Last? is a common query for everyone to clear your confusion we have come up with this guide.
In this article, we are going to share with you the shelf life of lemon curd and also discuss how you can effectively store them so that they can last fresh for the longest time possible. Now, without wasting any more time, let’s see Preparing and Preserving Lemon Curd and what we have got here.
- What is Lemon Curd Used For?
- How Long Does Lemon Curd Last?
- How long does lemon curd last at room temperature?
- Does Lemon Curd Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Can you freeze lemon curd?
- How to store lemon curd properly?
- How to Tell if Lemon Curd Is Bad?
- FAQs on How Long Does Lemon Curd Last Unopened
What is Lemon Curd Used For?
Lemon curd is amazingly famous for desserts and toppings. You can try it with cookies, cakes, biscuits, or even scones. Just put one scoop of this lemon curd on your ice cream and I promise you you are going to be a fan of it. Lemon curd can also be used as whipped cream which when blended with ice cream and mixed with fresh fruit will taste like heaven. Lemon curd can also be used in milkshakes and muffins as a bonding agent to give a burst of flavor. Lemon curd may also be used in pancakes, french toast, waffles, cakes, pies, etc.
Do Check: Can Lemons Go Bad
How Long Does Lemon Curd Last? – Lemon Curd Shelf Life
| Conditions | Pantry | Fridge |
|---|---|---|
| Store-bought lemon curd, unopened | Best-by + 1 – 2 months | |
| Store-bought lemon curd, opened | ~7 – 10 days | |
| Homemade lemon curd | ~7 – 10 days |
Store-bought, unopened lemon curd stays fresh for about 12 months in a pantry, and if it is opened then it can remain for about one to two weeks if stored properly. Homemade lemon curd can be fresh if it is inside the freezer. Homemade lemon curd lasts for about 7 to 10 days from the moment you have made it. But if you want to store it longer for up to a couple of months then the best possible method will be to freeze it.
Also Refer: Can Lemon Juice Go Bad
Lemons last for up to a month so if you only need a bit of lemon curd, you can simply swipe up a small batch and plan another week or two. So if you are wondering How long lemon curd lasts unopened then store-bought lemon curd comes with a printed shelf life of a year or more which can easily last until the best-buy date on the label if not opened. Since commercial lemon curds come with preservatives, it lasts for a really long time and stays safe to use for about 6 months.
How long does lemon curd last at room temperature?
The sourness of your lemon curd completely depends on the temperature of the room it is kept in. If you are ok with your curd lasting a little longer then you can easily keep it outside the fridge at room temperature for about 5 to 6 hours.
Lemon curd generally lasts for 24 hours at room temperature if you properly keep it in the right conditions necessary. It is always recommended to have your lemon curd within the first two hours of being kept out of the fridge.
This is because if you keep it any longer bacteria and fungi may start to grow to decompose your curd and you won’t be able to use that thereafter. With the addition of preservatives, you can make your lemon curd last overnight at room temperature. You can also use an ample amount of sugar as a natural preservative.
Does Lemon Curd Need to Be Refrigerated?
Homemade lemon curd requires refrigeration all the time but for store-bought lemon curd, you can store it at room temperature if it is unopened. If you can store your lemon curd properly inside the freezer then it can stay good for a pretty long time, sometimes even a couple of months.
So when you freeze your lemon curd make sure it is sealed tightly and refrigerated when not in use. While scooping, make sure that you always use clean spoons to not contaminate and encourage bacterial activity in your curd.
Also, make sure that you are using steel, glass, or plastic containers to store your lemon curd so that it does not pick up any rumors from other food items inside your fridge.
Can you freeze lemon curd?
Of course yes, if you are wondering how long does lemon curd last in the freezer then lemon curd can be stored inside the freezer for up to one year if stored properly. For freezing lemon curd appropriately inside the freezer, there is one thing that you need to be very careful about and that is freezer burn. You must keep your fresh curd inside the regular refrigerator in a freezer-safe air-tight container wrapped with a second layer of aluminum foil. Once frozen, limit your habit of opening the freezer door again and again.
How to store lemon curd properly?
Here are some of the steps that you can follow to store your lemon curd properly to make it last longer:-
- You can store your lemon curd in an air-tight glass container for refrigerating or freezing.
- In order to store your lemon curd for a longer period, you can place a little jar of lemon curd in boiling water for about 15 minutes and then put it inside the refrigerator. In this way, your lemon curd will remain fresh for about three months inside the freezer until it opens.
- As a precautionary measure, your lemon curd must be taken out within two weeks to prevent it from going bad.
- Another good way of storing lemon curd is using the water bath method ie., the Canning method. The acidic level of your lemon curd can be revived with fresh lemon juice which is shelf stable and helps keep your curd fresh for a long.
- This method includes jars that are completely filled with lemon curd, loosely covered with a lead, and then boiled completely in vigorous boiling water for a precise amount of time indicated by the respective recipe you are using. This minimizes the risk of food spoilage for higher acidic food items.
How to Tell if Lemon Curd Is Bad?
If your lemon curd has gone bad then you can easily make it out by having a closer examination of its smell, taste, and appearance.
- Taste-
The taste of your lemon cut will be way sourer than it is supposed to be.
- Smell–
Curd generally has a significant sour taste to it, but it might also smell pungent or significantly rotten if it turns bad.
- Colour–
The yellow color in your lemon curd is due to the presence of eggs, so if you see any discoloration in your lemon curd it is probably a clear indication that the eggs have turned bad. In such a situation if you still consume the lemon curd it will be harmful to your health.
- Texture–
If you notice that your lemon curd has a bumpy texture then it is an indication of overcooked eggs that have been spread improperly and have gone bad. Two easy ways to get rid of them are to pass the spread through a sieve to catch all the lump until it is smooth or to simply discard it and replace it with a fresh one.
- Metallic Aftertaste-
Lemon juice is generally acidic and you probably know that acid reacts with metal. So while having your lemon curd, if you feel a kind of metallic aftertaste or all of your spread has turned greenish then throw them away along with the container immediately.
FAQs on How Long Does Lemon Curd Last Unopened
1. How do you know when lemon curd has gone off?
Examine your lemon curd very closely, if you see a pungent smell, a slight metallic aftertaste, a lumpy texture due to rotten eggs, or a greenish-black color then your lemon curd has probably decomposed.
2. How long does homemade curd last in the fridge?
If stored properly, both store-based and homemade lemon curd can stay fresh for about a couple of months inside the fridge and about one year inside the freezer.
Yes, lemon curd does expire. Lemon curd is made up by mixing a number of ingredients together and it does expire after some time when those ingredients lose their potency. Lack of proper storage and exposure to moisture or air can also cause the lemon curd to expire faster.
Final Thoughts
Well, now you have all the important tips and tricks to store your lemon curd and maximize its shelf life to enjoy it for the longest time possible. Lemon curd is one of the most loved ingredients used in a variety of desserts, cookies, pancakes, and other bakery dishes. For more information on How Long Does Lemon Curd Last visit canfoodgobad.com website.