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It’s hard to believe a person would have Chocolate around long enough to worry about how to store it, BUT it does happen.
Sometimes!
So, if you ever hit the jackpot and have a crap load of Chocolate laying around the house, here’s some tips for storing your Chocolate so it will last longer.
Cool & Dry
The key words are cool and dry! Chocolate should be stored at temperatures between 65* and 75*F and at less than 50% relative humidity.
Wrap Tightly
It’s not necessary to refrigerate Chocolate. If you do, make sure it’s wrapped tightly. This prevents moisture from forming on the Chocolate as it warms to room temperature and keeps odors from being absorbed. As you know, Chocolate becomes hard and brittle when it gets cold, so allow it to come to room temperature before using it. (Geez, who wants to wait for it to warm up? I happen to like throwing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Chocolate Chips in the freezer now and then! YUMMM!)
Chocolate Fact
Chocolate has a high cocoa butter content, so if it’s stored where temperatures fluctuate, it may form a “bloom” or gray film on the surface. This bloom is simply softened cocoa butter that has moved to the surface and re-solidified. Although this dulls the rich brown Chocolate color, it DOES NOT affect the flavor.
Did you hear that? IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE FLAVOR!!!
Interesting! I’m SOOO glad I found out about this since I’ve been known to throw out Chocolate that looks a little, shall we say “damaged”. You know, like Hershey’s Kisses that have been heated in a coat pocket, then taken out, set on a counter and opened at a later date and discovered to have “bloomed”. So now that I know the taste isn’t affected, I’ll have to try a small bite next time to see if this is true.
Again, interesting!
Another interesting fact is when you melt the Chocolate after it’s bloomed, it regains its lustrous color.
Huh, I didn’t know that either. Cool!
So remember – keep your Chocolate stash in a dry and cool place, wrap it up tightly, and don’t let a little Chocolate “bloom” scare you from enjoying your Chocolate!
Do you have any tips for storing Chocolate? Perhaps I missed one. Don’t be shy. I LOVE COMMENTS!!!
Great post! The only chocolate that gets “white ” is the white chocolate or the colored candy melts…I prefer dark chocolate and there isn’t usually much of it lying around that long
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MsWonka replied: — March 22nd, 2010 @ 8:39 PM
VERY interesting Diane! Thanks for the White Chocolate an candy melts info.
Funny post. I’ll bet your daughter has learned to hide her Halloween candy every fall
[Reply]
MsWonka replied: — March 22nd, 2010 @ 8:38 PM
Pretty much Lynn!
Wow, great post.Much thanks again. Cool.
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