How to store chocolate? For how long can I store it? Well, I love chocolates and am always looking for ways to keep them with me. Moreover, there are a lot of treats that you can keep fresh for longer. How so? Well, with proper storage. So, why not chocolates? There must be a way or ways to store them for prolonged freshness. Besides, my wish to stock them for munching had me doing thorough research for the right way to store these treats. And what I found was really helpful. So, here I am sharing all my findings on how to store chocolate. Keep reading to learn and store your chocolate.
How to Store Chocolate? Your Guide
Undoubtedly, chocolate is the most delicious sweet treat of them all. Whether it’s a special occasion or just a normal day, chocolate lights up the moments in the most delightful way. Moreover, this treat is just the perfect choice as a pick-me-up snack or to surprise your loved ones. This is the reason why many people, including me, want to know how to store chocolate.
Moreover, the packaging of the chocolate matters a lot in this case. At J. Patrice, we pay special attention to the packaging of our hand-crafted chocolates to make sure you receive them fresh and delicious as ever. Whether it’s bonbons or our gift boxes, we pack everything with perfection. Well, here we are, with some of the most efficient ways of storing chocolates properly.
Keep it in an airtight container
When it comes to – how to store chocolate – the most important thing is the container in which you are keeping them. Besides, you should know that chocolates are hygroscopic. Therefore, they can absorb different odors in your surroundings. Therefore, it is always better to store them in an airtight container.
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Did You Know? Hygroscopic foods tend to take up moisture in the surrounding. Moreover, they also absorb the surrounding odor. This can alter their freshness and taste. |
Besides, not keeping chocolates or even vegan chocolates in an airtight container can lead to oxidation. And believe me, you don’t want that. After all, this is how chocolate starts developing its stale flavor. So, be smart and get your sweet treats in an airtight container.
Store it in a Cool Dry Place
After the container, what matters the most are the conditions – mainly temperature – you are keeping your treats in. Wondering how to store chocolate? Well, you should always keep them in a place where the temperature is consistent, low and very less humid. After all, humidity gets the best of chocolate’s freshness. Moreover, a humid atmosphere can lead to instability or separation of the mixture of cocoa solids and cocoa butter.
The ideal temperature for storing chocolates is below 70°F (preferably between 65 and 68°F), and the humidity should be less than 55%.
Keep them away from Sunlight
Another thing that makes the taste of chocolate go stale is its exposure to sunlight. This is why you should always keep them away from it. And not just sunlight, artificial light too. Yes, that’s right! Exposure to all sorts of lighting is bad for your chocolatey treats. Moreover, they have the same effect on its freshness as oxidation. Therefore, always select a dim lit place to store your chocolates. Otherwise, they’ll have to wither before even serving their purpose – to delight their eater.
Don’t Refrigerate Them
As aforementioned, the hygroscopic nature of chocolate makes it prone to moisture absorption. And not just that but also the odors lingering in the fridge. Do you want your chocolatey treat to taste like leftover pizza? No, right? (Eww, though!) So, it’s better to avoid keeping your chocolates in the fridge for as long as you can. However, sometimes, there is no other choice than to keep them in the fridge or freezer. After all, chocolates melt. So, you have to refrigerate them. The key here is to keep them airtight.
Shelf Life of Different Chocolate Types
We’ve talked about how to store chocolate but do you know how long it lasts? You should know that even if you take the proper measures, your chocolatey treats won’t stay fresh forever. They have a shelf life and won’t last after that.
“The main reason why chocolates perish is the dairy content in them. The more the dairy content, the lesser is their shelf life.” – Puratos
Anyways, here is the shelf life of different types of chocolate:
Dark Chocolate
The best thing about dark chocolates is that they have a longer shelf life as compared to white or dark chocolate. Why so? Because they have no or very low amount of dairy in them. Moreover, dark chocolate can last up to 2 years if you store them properly. Don’t know how to store dark chocolate? The above tips have you covered.
Milk Chocolate
You should know that milk chocolate goes stale faster than dark chocolate because it has more dairy content. If unopened, it can stay fresh for around one year. However, if you have opened your milk chocolate but store it properly, it can last for up to 6 to 8 months.
White Chocolate
White chocolate has the highest amount of dairy content among all the types of chocolate. Therefore, its lifespan is the lowest of them all. You should know that white chocolate can last around 4-6 months when stored properly, in a cool dry place.
Ending Thoughts on How to Store Chocolate?
Knowing how to store chocolate is important especially if you want to enjoy your treats to the fullest. Undoubtedly, they won’t cover. However, with the above guide on your side, you are covered in keeping your treat fresh and high-quality. Keep them in an airtight jar and a cool and dry place. Moreover, do not put them in the freezer or refrigerator until they are melty. Also, it’s important to keep them away from sunlight. Otherwise, they’ll get stale way before they are meant to.