You’re craving some chocolate, so you open your pantry and excitedly open a new bar of chocolate… only to discover it’s a melted mess! This disappointing situation has happened to the best of us. So how do you store and serve chocolate during the hot summer months? Keep reading to find out!
How to Store Chocolate During Summertime
Ideally, chocolate should be stored between 65 and 70°F, but that isn’t always possible in the summertime. If the room temperature is higher than that, you can store chocolate in the refrigerator or freezer. Just make sure to put it in an airtight container first, such as a food storage bag with most of the air squeezed out of it. This will reduce the chances of your delicious chocolate getting freezer burn.
How to Serve Chocolate During Summertime
If you’ve been keeping your chocolate in the fridge or freezer and now it’s finally time to devour it, first you’ll want to bring it back down to room temperature. It’s best to eat chocolate at room temperature so you can enjoy its flavor and texture to the fullest extent.
We’d recommend bringing chocolate back to room temperature slowly. If cold chocolate warms up too quickly, condensation can form and lead to sugar bloom, which is unsightly and rough.
First, transfer the chocolate from the freezer to the fridge for a while. Then take the chocolate out of the fridge and place it somewhere out of direct sunlight. If it’s over 80°F, wrap the chocolate in a hand towel to reduce condensation. Once the chocolate is room temperature, it’s ready to be enjoyed!
At Zotter Chocolate, we offer a wide selection of organic, fair trade chocolate. Shop our assortment of flavorful chocolate bars to find your new favorite!