Lemon Curd For Canning Food

LEMON CURD FOR CANNING

Steps:

• Wash 4 half-pint canning jars with warm, soapy water. Rinse well; keep hot until ready to fill. Prepare canning lids according to manufacturer's directions.
• Fill boiling water canner with enough water to cover the filled jars by 1 to 2 inches. Use a thermometer to preheat the water to 180°F by the time filled jars are ready to be added.
• Caution: Do not heat the water in the canner to more than 180°F before jars are added. If the water in the canner is too hot when jars are added, the process time will not be long enough. The time it takes for the canner to reach boiling after the jars are added is expected to be 25 to 30 minutes for this product. Process time starts after the water in the canner comes to a full boil over the tops of the jars.
• Combine the sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl, stir to mix, and set aside about 30 minutes. Pre-measure the lemon juice and prepare the chilled butter pieces.
• Heat water in the bottom pan of the double boiler until it boils gently. The water should not boil vigorously or touch the bottom of the top double boiler pan or bowl in which the curd is to be cooked. Steam produced will be sufficient for the cooking process to occur.
• In the top of the double boiler, on the counter top or table, whisk the egg yolks and whole eggs together until thoroughly mixed. Slowly whisk in the sugar and zest, blending until well mixed and smooth. Blend in the lemon juice and then add the butter pieces to the mixture.
• Place the top of the double boiler over boiling water in the bottom pan. Stir gently but continuously with a silicone spatula or cooking spoon, to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a temperature of 170°F Use a food thermometer to monitor the temperature.
• Remove the double boiler pan from the stove and place on a protected surface, such as a dish cloth or towel on the counter top. Continue to stir gently until the curd thickens (about 5 minutes). Strain curd through a mesh strainer into a glass or stainless steel bowl; discard collected zest.
• Fill hot strained curd into the clean, hot half-pint jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened, clean paper towel; apply two-piece metal canning lids.
• Process in the prepared boiling water canner using only halfpint or smaller jars,.
• Process 15 minutes (elevation 0-1,000 feet), 20 minutes (1,000-6,000 feet), 25 minutes (above 6,000 feet).
• See http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_02/lemon_curd.html.
• Note: ** Bottled lemon juice is used to standardize acidity. Fresh lemon juice can vary in acidity and is not recommended.

LEMON CURD

Steps:

• Using a carrot peeler, remove the zest of 3 lemons, being careful to avoid the white pith. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the sugar and pulse until the zest is very finely minced into the sugar.
• Cream the butter and beat in the sugar and lemon mixture. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.
• Pour the mixture into a 2 quart saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly. The lemon curd will thicken at about 170 degrees F, or just below simmer. Remove from the heat and cool or refrigerate.

MICROWAVE LEMON CURD (WITH CANNING INSTRUCTIONS)

Steps:

• Wash lemons, rinse well and dry. Finely grate the thin yellow rind of the lemons. Be careful not to get any of the white pith, it is very bitter.
• Microwave the lemons on high for 20 seconds. Cut in half and ream out the juice. Strain out the seeds and any pulp. Measure the juice - you'll need 1/2 cup.
• Put the 1/2 cup juice, grated rind, butter and sugar into a microwaveable 4 cup container (I use a pyrex measure). Stir to wet the sugar.
• Microwave 1 1/2 - 2 minutes on High or until butter is melted and mixture is hot. Stir.
• Beat eggs with an electric mixer. With mixer running, gradually add the hot lemon mixture. Return the mixture to the microwaveable container.
• Microwave, uncovered, on MEDIUM (50%) for 1 - 2 minutes, STIRRING every 30 seconds, until it will coat the back of a metal spoon and a line drawn through the mixture coating the back of the spoon does not fill inches The curd will thicken more when it cools. DO NOT ALLOW IT TO BOIL.
• Pour into a tightly sealed container. REFRIGERATE and use within 2 weeks.
• For canning: Pour hot into hot sterilized canning jars, leaving 1 inch headspace. Wipe rims, top with hot lids, add rings and adjust. PRESSURE CAN half pints 10 minutes at 10 lbs. pressure. Allow pressure to reduce naturally. NOT SAFE FOR WATER BATH CANNING.

HOMEMADE LEMON CURD

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, whisk eggs, sugar and lemon juice until blended. Add butter and lemon zest; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a metal spoon. Transfer to a small bowl; cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate, covered, until cold.

PERFECT LEMON CURD

Steps:

• In a 2 quart saucepan, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, eggs, and butter. Cook over medium-low heat until thick enough to hold marks from whisk, and first bubble appears on surface, about 6 minutes.