Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (2024)

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd ~ turn any fresh citrus juice (including blood orange, tangerine, and Meyer lemon) into a luxurious, creamy spread in only minutes, right in your microwave!

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (1)

The microwave doesn’t get enough credit for all the amazing things it can do. Today I’m harnessing its awesome power to make an Easy Microwave Citrus Curd. I spent a very happy Sunday yesterday testing out all kinds of variations, and this simple recipe and technique will now be my go to from here on in. I’m really excited to share it with you because, if you love curds like I do, this is a real revelation…it’s practically instant gratification!

I made lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, and blood orange curd, and each one had its particular charms, but I will admit, my heart belongs to lemon. With this quick and easy method, you can try them all and judge for yourself.

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (2)

It is high citrus season here in Los Angeles, and while we were walking our dog yesterday we came across a box marked “free lemons, take some!” right there in the middle of the sidewalk. That’s not an uncommon sight here. People need to get the fruit off their backyard trees to make room for the new fruit! You’ll find the best selection of citrus in your supermarket right now. Each ‘flavor’ that I made had its own special personality. The lemon is, of course, the tangiest, the grapefruit has a sophisticated bitter/sweet taste, and the tangerine and the blood orange were more subtle, more sweet than tangy. I add a touch of lemon juice to the non-lemon curds to give them a little bit of that tang that only lemon can give.

Citrus fruits to use for curd

  • limes
  • pomelo
  • ruby red grapefruit
  • Meyer lemon
  • Cara Cara orange
  • blood orange
  • navel orange
  • tangerines

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (3)

I’ve pared the process of making citrus curd down to the quick and easy essentials.

The ingredients are sugar, fresh juice, and eggs. That’s it. I found that you do not need zest, or butter, to make a top notch curd. I like using the whole eggs so you won’t be left with unused whites. And I found that the zest didn’t impact the flavor enough to make up for the grittiness it gives the finished curd. This takes just 4 minutes in the microwave, no pots and pans, and the result is a silky rich curd. It’s to die for, actually.

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (4)

Don’t be afraid of this recipe, it’s really the same as making curd on the stove top, except that the microwave just does a more efficient job of heating the liquid — the same process is happening in both cases.The important thing is to stir it frequently, and after it is thickened, to strain it to catch any tiny bits of cooked egg.

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (5)

What to do with curd

I could give you a million suggestions for what to do with these lovely preserves, but to be honest, our favorite way to eat them is straight up. If you happen to have any leftover, here are a few suggestions…

  • you can slather it on scones
  • pile it on English muffins
  • hot biscuits,
  • or just plain toast
  • you can spread it into a baked shortbread crust and make a tart out of it
  • use it as the filling for crumble bars
  • spoon it into a pretty glass and top with berries for dessert
  • or just swirl it into your morning yogurt.

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (6)

Don’t wait to make this one, it’s fun and soooooo good.

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (7)

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (9)

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd

3.64 from 41 votes

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd ~ a quick, easy, and healthy method for making any type of citrus curd!

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Prep Time:10 minutes minutes

Total Time:10 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk the sugar and juice together in a medium sized microwave safe mixing bowl.

  • Whisk in the eggs, making sure to get them completely broken up and smoothly incorporated.

  • Put the bowl in the microwave and set for 4 minutes at full power.

  • Whisk the mixture after the first and second minute. Then whisk every 20-30 seconds.

  • The curd is ready when it has thickened. It will get lighter in color and be like the texture of a cooked pudding. It will puff up in the bowl, and when you whisk it it will settle down. You may not need the full 4 minutes.

  • Pour the curd through a mesh strainer and then into a jar or jars. Don't skip the straining step, even though you might not see any lumps in your curd, chances are there are bits of cooked egg white in there.

  • Let cool and then cap and refrigerate. The curd will thicken further as it chills.

Notes

I have a pretty standard microwave at 1000 watts. Your could be stronger or weaker, so adjust your cooking time if that is the case.

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Course: fruit preserves

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: breakfast, citrus, curd, dessert, jams, preserves

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you've made! Tag us on social media at @theviewfromgreatisland for a chance to be featured.

Make it your own ~

  • Try mixing and matching different fruits for a custom blend.

Don’t forget to pin this easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe!

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (10)

Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make curd in the microwave? ›

Did you know you can use your microwave for making curd? Yes, this method is used to form curd quickly. Boil ½ liter of milk and cool it down till it's lukewarm in temperature. Take a microwave safe bowl with a lid and beat 2 spoons of curd in it and add it to the milk.

Can you microwave citrus before juicing? ›

One way to maximize the amount of juice you will get is to microwave the fruit before juicing it. Romanoff says that he suspects that the microwave warms up the cell walls in the fruit, making it easier to juice. We recommend starting with 20 seconds and adding time as needed.

How to make curd faster? ›

But with this pro tip, you will be able to set curd faster. “Keep the curd bowl in a flour container and you will be able to set it faster,” MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria said. According to Chef Sharma, using whole-fat milk, or standard pasteurised milk helps retain less water and thickens the curd faster.

How long does citrus curd last in the fridge? ›

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.

Is it OK to microwave curd? ›

Microwave treatment will kill the bacteria( used for fermentation ) and content will curdle ( acid pH) with whey separating out. It will not taste the same. From health stand point , Yogurt ( properly made) is not unsafe and it has some beneficial effects. So why do you want to microwave yogurt?

How to make curd without boiling? ›

Take lukewarm milk in a bowl and squeeze out juice of half a lemon into the milk. Give a gentle stir and cover the bowl with a lid. Wrap it with a cotton cloth and set it aside for 12 hours. Wrapping the bowl with a cloth will keep the bowl warm for longer.

What fruit should not be microwaved? ›

Putting fruits in the microwave is never a good idea as they will lose a bit of their taste and texture if you put them in the microwave. Some fruits might withstand the heat, but others like grapes, apples, peaches and pear will explode.

How long to microwave citrus? ›

To get the most out of lemons, limes, and oranges, heat up the fruit in the microwave until it is warm, but avoid cooking it. This should only take 30 seconds at the most. After that, just give the citrus a little roll on the counter and squeeze it as you normally would.

Does microwaving orange juice destroy vitamin C? ›

Exposure to sunlight, heat temperature and microwave radiation destroyed vitamin C content in foods. The rate of destruction of vitamin C in different juices for different effects was not uniform. In some cases, the rate of destruction was slower initially but increased later for longer duration readings.

What not to add in curd? ›

  • May 11, 2023. ​6 foods you should avoid combining with curd​ ...
  • Fish. Protein rich fish should not be combined with curd as it gets difficult for digestion. ...
  • Fried food items. ...
  • ​Onion​ ...
  • ​Mango​ ...
  • ​Milk​ ...
  • Tea. ...
  • ​Curd is definitely a wonder food; one should be careful about what food you pair it with.​
May 11, 2023

How to make curd at home in the USA? ›

Instructions
  1. Rinse a pot well. ...
  2. Pour milk and bring it to boil on a medium to low flame.
  3. To get thick curd, once it comes to a boil simmer the milk for 15 mins on a very low flame.
  4. Keep stirring in between else the milk will get burnt and smell bad.
  5. Simmering step is to get a very thick curd.
Aug 20, 2023

How to make curd at home without curd? ›

Introducing lemon juice into a bowl of lukewarm milk results in the reduction of its pH level. Consequently, the protein molecules present in the mixture stop repelling each other, and begin coming together; they begin coagulating, forming into thick chunks that can be classified as curd.

Why did my lemon curd turn green? ›

When this acid comes into contact with certain metals, notably copper or aluminum, a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction causes the metal to oxidize and release ions, and when these ions mix with the lemon curd, it results in a greenish tint to the mixture.

Can you freeze citrus curd? ›

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.

How to know when lemon curd is done? ›

Dip a spoon into the curd then run your finger over the back of it. If it leaves a clean line in the curd, it's cooked enough and ready to cool. Curd will thicken up more once cooled completely. Spoon into a container, cover and refrigerate.

How long to heat milk in microwave to make yogurt? ›

Step 1: Heat the milk

Measure out four cups of milk and heat it over the stove or in the microwave until it reaches 180 degrees. Heating the milk beforehand will improve the texture of your yogurt. It should take around five minutes for the milk to reach 180.

Can you heat milk in microwave to make yogurt? ›

Heating the milk.

You can do this in the microwave or on the stovetop. I prefer the stovetop, since it allows for more hands-on control, but you also have to be careful that you don't scald the milk by a.) turning the stove on too high or b.) neglecting to stir the milk often.

Can you cook cheese curds in the microwave? ›

Socially accepted. Having your curds at room temperature or popping them into the microwave for 15 seconds makes them even better.

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