Tips to store your chocolate this summer

Although we all enjoy summer and we like the warm temperatures, the heat is a nightmare for chocolate!

True chocoholics (like us 😊), will most probably just keep eating chocolate during the summer months. So, we thought we would share with you some tips on how to store your chocolates safely these months.

• Keep in a cool and dry place. First is first, the goal is to avoid your chocolate from melting (or even softening). For this, make sure you keep your chocolates fresh in a cool. The ideal storage for chocolate is between 18°C and 25°C (approx. 65°F – 77°F).

• Keep them away from sun light and in a dry place.

• Keep them in air tight containers. Chocolate absorbs smells and odors. And you definitely want to avoid your chocolate smelling like onion or garlic.

• Don’t refrigerate! We know, we know… that sounds contra productive. But, we all have different strong odor foods in our fridge, like cheese, meat, and so many more. If  the fridge is your only option to avoid chocolate from melting, make sure you place them in air-tight containers, so they don’t absorb other smells near by. Check out this article by Guittard Chocolate , who recommends using plastic wrap or waxed paper to protect it.

• If you placed your chocolate in the fridge, let it come to room temperature before enjoying it. This way your chocolate will reflect its flavors nicely when you let it melt in your mouth.

If the worse happens and your chocolates do melt, don’t worry, your can still enjoy them. When chocolate melts, it losses its temper. It might not harden the same way and it might even get bloomed, which is when chocolate gets some white spots. These white spots are nothing else than the cocoa butter going to the chocolate’s surface. The chocolate is still ok to enjoy, it just doesn’t look that nice.

Chocolate can normally last many months. If stored the right way, you can enjoy your chocolate anytime you want. Just remember, keep your chocolates cool and have wonderful summer.