Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe (2025)

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

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.

NEW FEATURE! Click here to add your own private notes.

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.

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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 (2025)

FAQs

Can we make curd in microwave? ›

You can also use whole milk for even thicker and creamier yogurt. But, using lighter milks such as 1% or skim do not work as well.) Microwave the milk for 18 min. Take it out of the microwave and let cool for approximately 20-30 minutes.

Does microwaving lemons make them juicier? ›

Use the Microwave

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 long does citrus 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.

Why do you put lemons in the microwave? ›

A simple trick: Put your citrus in the microwave. The fruit will be easier to squeeze and the process will reap more juice for whatever you're cooking up. This nifty move works for pretty much any kind of citrus that you'd juice: Think lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits.

How to make curd without boiling? ›

Remove this cold milk from the fridge, mix the starter with it. Cover the bowl and let the mixture ferment for 5 to 6 hours or as needed. This saves a bit of time as you don't need to heat the milk. But note that this method only works in a hot or warm climate.

Why lemon should not be heated? ›

It's best to drink it at room temperature. Here's why: While drinking hot lemon water is marginally better than taking it ice cold, the hot water may be bad for the lemons. It can destroy some of the enzymatic and energetic properties in them.

How do you make citrus fruits juicier in the microwave? ›

Heat your citrus in 20-second intervals

If you need a lemon or lime perfectly squeeze-worthy, throw it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. If the lemon is large, add 10 seconds. It shouldn't be hot to the touch.

Why lemon should not be added to hot water? ›

A potential drawback is that the citric acid in lemon juice could erode the enamel on your teeth. To prevent damage make sure the water is lukewarm, not steaming hot. You can also drink through a straw so it bypasses your teeth, and rinse your mouth with water immediately after drinking.

Why did my lemon curd turn green? ›

If your lemon curd turned green, it likely had a reaction to something metal. Avoid using a copper or aluminum pan as those will react with the lemon juice and cause the discoloration in the lemon curd, and could even cause a slightly metallic aftertaste.

What happens if you add lemon to curd? ›

Adding lemon juice to curd/yogurt does not make it less healthy. In fact, it can actually improve the health benefits of yogurt. Lemon juice is a good source of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can help to protect cells from damage. It can also help to boost the immune system and improve digestion.

What's the difference between curd and custard? ›

While curd resembles pudding or custard, the difference lies in the way it's thickened. Custards and puddings rely on cornstarch, milk and cream, while eggs are the primary thickener for curd, making it lighter and brighter.

Can you put whole lemons in the microwave? ›

Place the fresh lemon in the microwave for 20 seconds to warm the fruit. If you need to microwave it longer than that, I suggest doing it in 5-second batches.

Why do people order hot water with lemon? ›

It's thought to kick-start the digestive system. The water added to the lemon juice should be warm but not uncomfortably hot.

Can we heat curd rice in microwave? ›

No. You cannot heat it as curd proteins get denatured by heat. You cannot heat it in microwave too. But curd rice kept in fridge, which is extremely cold but not frozen can be slightly warmed up in a microwave using a few seconds or one or two minutes of defrosting.

What happens if we heat curd? ›

The answer is NO! Well, not just Ayurveda but modern science also agrees that if you heat the curd, it can alter its properties which can lead to suffocation and swelling in your body. Thus, the Ayurvedic principle is to avoid eating heated curd.

What happens if you heat yogurt in microwave? ›

Heating of yoghurt samples by microwave oven caused a dramatic reduction in all microorganisms tested.

How do you make curd without a refrigerator? ›

Tips to make curd in cold weather
  1. If you stay in a place with cold weather conditions, cover the bowl/pan of the curd mixture with a warm towel/blanket and keep in a warm place in the kitchen.
  2. You can also use the Instant Pot yogurt function for making curd.
Feb 26, 2024

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