How to Keep Chocolate From Melting

(Last Updated On: March 28, 2023)
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Few things can be as disheartening as picking up a bar of chocolate and realizing it’s already melting away. However, there may be times when you can only enjoy a portion of the chocolate and don’t want it to turn into a sticky mess.

Whether you have milk chocolate, chocolate chips, a chocolate bar, white chocolate, dark chocolate, or couverture chocolate, all the chocolate can melt due to a lower melting point.

Properly storing chocolate is essential to maintaining its quality and taste. Opening a box of delicious chocolate products can be a pure pleasure, and savoring them doesn’t have to be a one-time indulgence.

Here are some tips that can help you keep chocolate from being completely melted:

1. Keep It Somewhere Cool and Dark

The ideal spot to keep chocolate is somewhere away from direct sunlight. Pantries and cabinets are ideal since they are dark, dry, and cool. You should maintain the storage area at a constant temperature of 65-70°F (18.33-21.11°C), and humidity should not exceed 55%.

Although it may be tempting to keep chocolate in the freezer, you should only do it for short-term preservation. If you need something more permanent, like a solution to your clutter, you should use your pantry and cabinet space.

As per Cadbury Chocolate, the recommended storage temperature for chocolate is 69.8°F (21°C), and it should be regarded as a “pantry item.”

2. Keep It Below 70 Degrees Fahrenheit

Keeping chocolate near direct sunlight or a heat source may hasten the chocolate melting process. Any source of light that emits temperatures higher than 70°F (21.11°C), the temperature at which chocolate must be kept, will melt chocolate.

The cocoa butter will develop a fatty structure similar to coconut oil if it becomes too warm, just as it will if it becomes too cold or too wet.

3. Put Your Chocolate in the Refrigerator

Storing your chocolate in the refrigerator is one of the best things you can do to prevent your chocolate from melting. First, ensure that the chocolate is wrapped in a sealable bag or stored in an airtight container to prevent it from overheating and absorbing the strong odors from other foods in the fridge. Afterward, you can place it in the refrigerator and give it time until it gets cold to prevent the chocolate from melting.

4. Use Melt-Proof Chocolate

If you know that you will be traveling to a location where it is impossible to keep chocolate goods at a cold temperature, then you should take this preventative action. You can carry some items more quickly if you use chocolate that is resistant to melting or candy melts with a chocolate taste.

Let’s assume that you baked chocolate cookies to bring to a wedding celebration held outside in the summer. These cookies will have a more extraordinary ability to keep their form and structure longer if you use imitation chocolate with a higher melting temperature.

5. Seal Using Cooler Packs

You can also temporarily keep your chocolate inside an insulated cooler bag with cold packs. The ice packs will aid in maintaining the bag’s temperature and stop the chocolate from melting due to the cooling and tempering process. This technique is only possible with small chocolate pieces, like chocolate bars.

You can also use a cooler, but they are better for hiking. A three-tier chocolate wedding cake with ruffles is an obvious example of something that won’t work for this manner of transportation.

6. Keep It in an Airtight Container

You’ve probably seen that when chocolate is left too long near specific fragrance sources, it absorbs those distinct smells, and the flavor changes. The culprit behind this phenomenon is butter and cocoa solids, one of chocolate’s primary constituents.

Chocolate butter can absorb scents from its environment like a sponge. Naturally, a little exposure won’t hurt the chocolate, but it will begin to taste like the food you keep nearby after a while.

7. Use a Double Boiler to Melt Chocolate

If you need to melt chocolate for a recipe, it’s best to use a double boiler rather than direct heat. A double boiler allows you to melt the chocolate slowly and evenly without exposing it to high heat, which can cause it to burn or melt too quickly.

To use a double boiler, fill a pot with a few inches of water and place it on the stove over medium heat. Bring the water to a simmer, and then place a heatproof bowl on top of the pot. Make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Add the chocolate to the bowl and stir it gently until it melts.

8. Use Chocolate Coating Instead of Chocolate Chips

If you’re making a recipe that requires chocolate chips, consider using chocolate coating instead. Chocolate coating has a higher melting point than chocolate chips, making it more stable in warmer temperatures. You can find chocolate coating at most baking supply stores.

9. Avoid Exposing Chocolate to Sudden Temperature Changes

Sudden temperature changes can cause chocolate to melt or develop a white film on the surface. Therefore, it’s best to avoid exposing chocolate to sudden temperature changes. For example, if you take the chocolate out of the fridge, let it come to room temperature slowly before using it. Similarly, if you need to cool chocolate quickly, place it in the fridge for a few minutes rather than in the freezer.

10. Choose the Right Type of Chocolate for Warmer Temperatures

If you live in a warm climate, it’s important to choose the right type of chocolate to prevent it from melting. Dark chocolate has a higher melting point than milk chocolate, making it more resistant to heat.

You can also choose to buy chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa butter, which makes it more stable in warmer temperatures.

Final Words

Most chocolate melts fast, especially when exposed to direct heat or left at room temperature during hot weather. That is why it is critical to remember these tips to avoid chocolate melting; preventing chocolate from melting necessitates proper storage and temperature control. The ideal storage location for chocolate is in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or cabinet, with a constant temperature of 65–70°F and humidity below 55%.

Storing chocolate in the refrigerator is also effective, but it should be wrapped in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing odors. Melt-proof chocolate or cooler packs can be used for transportation purposes.

Leave a Comment