Can You Freeze Chocolate?
Chocolate, when you hear that, you must already be craving a bite, or maybe a whole chocolate bar, right? Of course, that ought to happen. Chocolate is something that you and I cannot resist. I mean, who does not love chocolate?
Chocolates are for every occasion, every family gathering, and every holiday party. Be it homemade or store-bought, you must be thinking about storing them for longer at your home. Store-bought chocolate has a use-by date and so you have to finish it within that time. On the other hand, homemade chocolate can be kept for longer.
But how? How can you store chocolate for longer? Can you freeze them? Yes, you can freeze chocolate. Freezing chocolate will extend its shelf-life, but you need to make sure it is very tightly wrapped before freezing.
How To Freeze Chocolate?
Freezing chocolate is relatively straightforward. But you need to keep in mind that you do not ruin the texture of your chocolate. The texture is everything when it comes to chocolate. The reason for texture changes is the sudden temperature shifts, so be careful while freezing it.
If your chocolate package is unopened, you cannot just put it in the freezer and freeze it. You need proper freezing steps to ensure the appropriate freezing of your chocolate. Freezing will be beneficial only if you follow particular steps. Check out the step-by-step approach to freezing chocolate below.
- Flash-freeze the chocolate bars in the refrigerator overnight or for a maximum of 24 hours before actually freezing them. This will allow a gradual temperature shift upon freezing and thus protect the texture of your chocolate.
- Wrap the chocolate in several layers of cling film. If you have large chocolate bars, you can cut them into smaller pieces before wrapping them. But make sure you wrap each piece adequately.
- Transfer the wrapped chocolate bars into an airtight container. You can also use a freezer bag, but an airtight container will give better results and prevent any breakage of the chocolate. Close the lid tightly and seal them.
- Label and date the container appropriately. Once all of the steps are fulfilled, put the airtight container with the wrapped chocolates in the freezer. And your chocolate is ready to freeze for a long time.
Tips For Freezing Chocolate!
Now that you know how to freeze chocolate, check out the tips here for the best results of freezing chocolate.
- Stack the chocolates one over the other in the container. Do not just put them randomly as this will increase the chances of breakage.
- Chocolate acquires food scents very soon. Therefore, along with adequate wrapping, it is also important that you keep the chocolate away from strong-smelling foods in the freezer.
- Chocolate undergoes crystallization upon freezing and therefore turns white. This will not harm the flavor of the chocolate. It is safe to consume.
- You can freeze different varieties of chocolate- dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate chips, chocolate truffles, and others. But do not freeze them all in the same container.
How Long Can You Keep Chocolates In The Freezer?
Chocolates can be kept for about 12 months in the freezer when wrapped properly before freezing. However, the shelf life in the freeze depends on the type of chocolate you are freezing. Dark chocolate lasts the longest in the freezer, among other varieties.
However, you can keep chocolate for more than 12 months as well, but that might lead to texture changes. Therefore, it is best if you consume your frozen chocolate within a year for the best results, otherwise, it can degrade.
How To Defrost Chocolate?
Defrosting chocolate is easy. All you have to do is remove the chocolate from the freezer, and keep it in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight for thawing. This will promote gradual temperature change and thus protect the texture of the chocolate during defrosting.
You can directly consume the defrosted chocolate, or use it further in baking recipes. If you want to melt the chocolate, you can do so after it reaches room temperature. Whatever you prefer, just make sure the chocolate has been defrosted adequately.
Can You Refreeze Chocolate?
While it is technically possible to refreeze chocolate, it is not recommended to do so. This is because repeated temperature changes might lead to substantial impacts on both its flavor and texture.
The chocolate bar has already undergone crystallization once upon freezing and another crystallization will impact the texture. Therefore, it is not recommended to refreeze chocolate once it has been defrosted. However, you can keep defrosted chocolate in the refrigerator for about 3 days before consumption.
Is Chocolate Freezer-friendly?
Yes, chocolate is freezer-friendly and can be kept for 12 months in the freezer. However, for the chocolate to maintain its taste and texture, you need to follow appropriate freezing guidelines. If not, it will show texture and flavor changes.
Also, store-bought chocolates come with an expiry date, so whether you are freezing them or not, consume the chocolates within the use-by date. You can keep homemade chocolate frozen for up to a year without any texture alterations.
Is It Better To Keep Chocolate In The Fridge Or Freezer?
While you can keep chocolate in the fridge, it is always better to keep chocolate in the freezer. This is because keeping it in the freezer extends its shelf life by a year. On the other hand, the chocolate will keep well in the fridge for a month or two. After that, it will show texture alterations.
However, if your chocolate is unopened, it can be stored in the fridge for some time. But to keep it for longer, store it properly in the freezer.
How To Preserve Chocolate For Longer?
Freezing is one of the best ways to preserve chocolate for longer. However, you can also store chocolates in a dry and cool place at room temperature. Make sure to keep away from the heat and wrap the chocolates adequately. This method works for both homemade and store-bought chocolates that are unopened.
Can You Freeze Milk Chocolate?
Yes, you can freeze milk chocolate, the same way you are freezing chocolate. Milk chocolate is a type of chocolate; therefore you need to follow the same guidelines and precautions while freezing them. They can be kept frozen for about a year.
How To Store Chocolate Effectively?
If you are planning to store chocolates in your kitchen cabinet or pantry, you can do so. Yes, you can also keep chocolate effectively by not freezing it. You just need to wrap the cocoa properly with cling film and seal them in airtight containers. This way the chocolate will last for months.
However, you need to keep in mind that the place you are storing the chocolate is cool, dry, and away from heat. Also, ensure there are no strong-scented food items near it, such as garlic or spices, because then the chocolate will acquire these scents and ruin its original taste. Lastly, do not let chocolate come in contact with oxygen as it will oxidize it and hamper the flavor.
Summing it up, that was all about freezing chocolate and increasing its storage life. You can also use the stored chocolate as gifts for your loved ones. The taste will be the same as fresh homemade chocolate. However, it’s your duty to follow guidelines, so that it freezes well.