Can I waterbath can lemon curd to make it shelf stable?

[mariadnoca]

I've wanted to gift curd (add to my holiday baskets), but I only see recipes say to keep in the fridge which has kept me from gifting. However, when you buy it's canned (but may be filled with all kinds of junk I don't know).

 

[mistral]

If you know how acid your lemons are (like you pH test your lemon juice) . . .

you can home-can you home-made lemon curd. Fresh lemons vary in acidity, and since lemon curd has LOTS of butter and egg in it (at least the good ones do!!!) you need to have lemon juice acid enough to preserve it properly.

If you DON'T know the acidity of your lemons, please use this recipe

http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_02/lemon_curd.html

 

[mistral]

and here is a link from Utah State University Cooperative Extension. . .

that will pull up an Adobe file ( .pdf file; you will need Adobe Reader) and it uses bottled AND fresh lemon juice, so you get the fresh of your home-grown lemons and the guaranteed acidity of the bottled lemon juice:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CGIQFjAJ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fextension.usu.edu%2Fhtm%2Fpublications%2Ffile%3D9714&ei=n0zlU9WqIpDZoATSwIGAAQ&usg=AFQjCNGlMGMVPbZ5E2DK3hJxW0NiQlgBMw&bvm=bv.72676100,d.cGU

 

[karennoca]

And this explains why I have never found a decent lemon curd the was commercially made

It tastes like it has chemicals in it. I always make it fresh. Never even thought about the possibility of canning it

 

[mariadnoca]

I can test for PH, but where do I find the recommended acid levels?

 

[mariadnoca]

I make it fresh for me, but when gifting (and mailing) that won't work.

 

[mistral]

Get some bottled lemon juice, and check to see if if mentions strength of acid? . . .

The acidity has to be up there to hold the growth of clostridium botulinum spores through the fat and egg of the curd.

 

[marsha-tbay]

I think it was at Williams Sonoma's website where I saw a chef using a Vitamix to make Lemon Curd.

I saved the video on my desk top but it doesn't tell where it's from. I hope if you have a Vitamix and search at Williams Sonoma that you will find it.

 

[luisa_calif]

I freeze it. You could add at last minute to gift bag with instructions to fridge or freeze it >>

upon receiving.

 

[marsha-tbay]

Here's the link for the Lemon Curd in the Vitamix

http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/how-to-make-lemon-curd-in-a-vitamix-and-a-tartlet-recipe/