Ina Garten's Lemon Bars - Something Swanky Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you leave lemon bars out overnight? ›

Baked goods like lemon bars are acidic enough and contain enough fat and sugar,which exclude water from bacterial use, that there is no problem keeping them at room temperature for up to 24 hours; well wrapped.

The combination of the tender crust, creamy lemon curd center and the crispy top with a dusting of powdered sugar make these lemon bars the ultimate sweet treat. Try them room temperature or frozen!

To avoid them being too gooey make sure you allow them to set completely when you take them out of the oven. You know when lemon bars are done when you move the pan a bit and they don't jiggle. You should cut the lemon bars when they are completely cool.

The crust forms when the sugar in the lemon bar mixture caramelizes and browns during baking, creating a slightly firm, crispy layer over the bars. The top crust isn't always visible, as we all enjoy sprinkling powdered sugar on top of the bars before serving.

To Keep Powdered Sugar from Melting, Add Cornstarch

So go slow and be conservative with the amount of cornstarch you add. A good rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of cornstarch for every 1/4 cup of powdered sugar used.

To store lemon bars, simply place in an airtight container and seal tightly, then put them in the fridge. If you're stacking lemon bars, insert a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. According to the USDA, lemon bars will last in the refrigerator up to 7 days.

The USDA says that you can safely keep lemon bars in the fridge for seven days, but The Kitchn recommends consuming the bars in three days. If you've made a whole batch just for yourself and can't finish all your lemon bars in a few days, another option is freezing them.

Reprinted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Copyright 1999 by Ina Garten, Clarkson Potter/Publisher.

Do lemon bars need to be refrigerated? Yes, it's best to store lemon bars in the refrigerator. To store them, simply cover them with plastic wrap and pop them in the fridge. Stored this way, your lemon bars should keep for about 1 week.

If your lemon bars have a strong eggy taste/smell, it's likely due to the lemon curd being overbaked. Be sure to take the lemon bars out of the oven as soon as they're done.

Why do my lemon bars look like scrambled eggs? ›

Why do my lemon bars look like scrambled eggs? If your lemon bars look like scrambled eggs, it's because you've overcooked them. The key to perfect lemon bars is to cook them until the filling is set, but not too long. You want the filling to be firm but still have a little bit of jiggle to it when you shake the pan.

This will keep them from spreading and becoming sticky. Can you rebake undercooked lemon bars? Results may vary, but it's worth a shot! Throw them back in the oven at the original temperature and rotate every 5 minutes until it appears done.

Set a timer for 5 minutes after pulling the crust from the oven to ensure it doesn't cool too much—if the shortbread is allowed to reach room temperature, the uncooked lemon curd will slip off the top and pool in the bottom of the dish, turning your lemon bars upside down (sounds bananas until it happens to you!).

Brown spots vary in appearance and can indicate a range of problems. Uniform spots with clear boundaries often point to fungal issues, while irregular blotches could signal bacterial infections. Spots with a yellow halo might be citrus canker, and those that look like tiny scabs could be a sign of lemon scab disease.

I have found that a hot, wet, very sharp knife helps quite a bit. Also, make sure the bars are completely chilled before cutting.

Serving: Lemon bars are fine to keep out at room temperature for up to 6 hours or so. Storing: Store cooked lemon bars or leftovers in the refrigerator. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store for up to 2 days. Make-Ahead: You can make lemon bars up to two days in advance.

While you can leave some baked goods like banana bread in an airtight container on your kitchen counter, lemon bars always need to go in the fridge. According to Allrecipes, bacteria can grow in lemon bars when kept between 41 and 153 degrees Fahrenheit because of the eggs in the custard filling.

Do lemon bars need to be refrigerated? Yes. Because the filling is basically a custard, you will want to keep them in the fridge. However, if you have a party and are serving them, they will be fine at room temperature for a couple hours.

Whole lemons can last up to a week if you store them at room temperature on the countertop. 2. Store lemons in the refrigerator. Whole lemons can last for a month in the refrigerator if you store them in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag in the crisper drawer.