To preserve the flavor and quality of chocolate truffles, bonbons, and other treats, keep them in a cool, dry, dark place in a sealed container. Avoid heat, moisture, and strong smells that can ruin them. Sometimes, you may notice a white layer on the chocolate when you open it. This is called sugar or fat bloom and it happens for different reasons. Let’s find out what causes it and how to prevent it.
Sugar Bloom
Sugar bloom occurs when chocolate is exposed to humidity for an extended period of time, and fat bloom occurs when chocolate is exposed to heat. Moisture draws out sugar, and when it evaporates, white sugar crystals rise to the surface of your bar. While it is safe to eat chocolate with sugar bloom, it’s way more fun to enjoy shiny, beautiful chocolate confections!
Fat Bloom
Fat blooming mostly occurs when chocolate has gone through some heat fluctuation during storage. For example, on a hot day, chocolate can reach its melting point and later cool down, which can cause the cocoa fat to release from its tempered stage and seep to the surface. It will taste almost the same if it is with a fat bloom, but its appearance is definitely impaired.
Store chocolate within the proper temperature range. Chocolate melts close to body temperature and thus needs to be stored at a cool ambient temperature. If your environment allows it, ideally you should store chocolate between 15°C to 21°C (58°F – 70°F). Also, be mindful of moisture and humidity. Water causes sugar bloom, but to add to this, lipid oxidation is the leading cause of spoilage and off-flavor formation in chocolate. Besides, remember the cocoa butter in chocolate takes on the aromas of nearby objects. That’s why it’s a bad idea to keep your chocolate where you keep your coffee.
If the ambient conditions are not ideal, a pantry might not be enough. The best kinds of storage are the kind that can control both temperature and humidity levels, like specialized wine cabinets, though those can get expensive. But if you are running a gourmet chocolate business, air-tight storage containers are a must, though vacuum sealing would be ideal.
This chocolate fridge (the name says it all) has been especially designed for chocolate and pastries and cakes; it stores chocolate at the perfect temperature and prevents it from absorbing ‘alien’ smells. More and more chocolate & candy stores are using chocolate fridges not just for preservation, but more for chocolate display and brand promotion which can ensure that your chocolate will not be overwhelmed and stand out from competitors. A successful chocolate display fridge can catch consumers’ eyes for the first time and generate impulse sales quickly.
Next, let’s take about how to get the right chocolate fridge for your business.
1. Good energy efficiency
The energy-efficient commercial chocolate fridge will bring you savings on lower electricity bills. If your display refrigerator needs to be used for a long time, then it is worth spending more money on an energy-efficient device, because lower operating costs will reduce its life cost over time.
2. Correct climate rating
In order to keep your storage appropriately and consistently cool, your display refrigerator should match the immediate weather conditions in which your storage is being used. The climate scale was created to help with this. If your display refrigerator is used on the Cafe floor, then a standard climate rating should be appropriate. But if you’re in a busy commercial kitchen, where the temperature is usually higher than 32℃, then you need to be topical.
3. A clear glass door with a damper hinge
It is worth choosing a clear glass door that allows you to quickly see what you have in supply and stock; especially when your refrigerator is customer-facing like most cases, it will make your salesperson’s job easier because they can easily view the items they are displaying. Damper Hinges have a unique mechanism built in which allows them to suppress some of the momentum created during closing. This has the benefit of creating a soft close effect. This has the further benefit of preventing slamming. This is especially important if you’re selling food and drinks to the public from a chocolate fridge, as it ensures that customers don’t accidentally jam their fingers after choosing a product and closing the door.
Chocolate fridges are very important to stay at the top of the competition. Always buy an appliance that can give your chocolate confections the best preservation. Having a nice display unit gives an advantage over all the other shops which increases the customer influx of the shop. If you are looking for a way to showcase your exquisite chocolate creations and attract more customers, you may want to consider the Smeta chocolate fridge. This fridge is specially designed to store and display chocolate at the optimal temperature and humidity, ensuring that your chocolate stays fresh and delicious. With Smeta chocolate fridge, you can impress your customers with your stunning chocolate assortment and boost your sales. Smeta chocolate fridge is the perfect choice for any business owner who wants to make their chocolate stand out.