Can i freeze chocolate?

[KennesawNemo]

I am ordering a big batch of boxed chocolate for an occasion later this year. I don't have enough space in my fridge and am afraid it'll melt if kept in the pantry. I do have an extra freezer. Do you think it'll be ok if I freeze it? Thank you!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

You shouldn't freeze chocolate. It kills the crystal structure of the chocolate and makes it taste worse.

 

[Kies99]

You can freeze chocolate, but you have to take precautions.

Make sure you wrap it nice and tight in freezer bags. If you can vacuum seal it, do this. DON'T immediately put it in the freezer. Put it in the fridge for a few hours to a couple of days and then put it in the freezer. When you remove it, place it back in the fridge first for a day or two so that it slowly defrosts.

You may still end up with white residue on the chocolate if you store it too long.

 

[Alesia]

My advice: Don't order the chocolate in advance. If it was for yourself, it might be worth the risk, but I wouldn't attempt it if the chocolate is for others - even if you do everything right, there's a good chance that it will bloom. Here's a good explanation from joepastry.com:

But to the question: can chocolate be frozen? The answer is that it can be, but it must be frozen carefully, and even when it is frozen carefully, it can still be damaged (at least cosmetically). The reason is because freezing accelerates the crystallization process. Certainly for water, but also for other key chocolate components like fat and sugar. It’s crystallized fat and sugar that’s responsible for the “bloom” one find on chocolate that’s been stored for too long.

Fat bloom really isn’t a big deal in terms of what it does to a chocolate’s taste and texture. Sugar bloom is another matter entirely, since it makes chocolate chalky and bitter tasting. You can tell the difference by sight. Fat bloom looks more like a film, sugar bloom creates crystals of a size you can actually see.

The trick to freezing chocolate is to try to bring its temperature down slowly. Wrap the chocolate as tightly as you can in heavy-duty freezer bags (vacuum packing is ideal for this job), then place the chocolate in the refrigerator for several hours, followed by the freezer. If all goes well the chocolate will store there, largely intact, for up to six months.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I would think the chocolate would be fine in your pantry inside your house unless you keep your house at 90 degrees inside. Most homes are heated and cooled to anywhere between 68 degrees and 75 degrees. Those temps won't melt chocolate.

 

[NotUrsula]

The most common side-effect of freezing chocolate is "bloom", that white speckling that makes it look like it has been on the store shelf way too long.

If you have a basement, store it there, tightly wrapped.

 

[writersblock42]

I freeze chocolate and haven't had a problem too often but sometimes it will turn white.

 

[KennesawNemo]

Thank you so much! I think I am not going freeze the chocolate now that I hear your advices. My house is set around 75 to 78 degrees. So I guess the pantry will be fine.

Thank you for stopping me from ruining the chocolate!!!!

I freeze chocolate and haven't had a problem too often but sometimes it will turn white.

The most common side-effect of freezing chocolate is "bloom", that white speckling that makes it look like it has been on the store shelf way too long.

If you have a basement, store it there, tightly wrapped.

I would think the chocolate would be fine in your pantry inside your house unless you keep your house at 90 degrees inside. Most homes are heated and cooled to anywhere between 68 degrees and 75 degrees. Those temps won't melt chocolate.

My advice: Don't order the chocolate in advance. If it was for yourself, it might be worth the risk, but I wouldn't attempt it if the chocolate is for others - even if you do everything right, there's a good chance that it will bloom. Here's a good explanation from joepastry.com:

You can freeze chocolate, but you have to take precautions.

Make sure you wrap it nice and tight in freezer bags. If you can vacuum seal it, do this. DON'T immediately put it in the freezer. Put it in the fridge for a few hours to a couple of days and then put it in the freezer. When you remove it, place it back in the fridge first for a day or two so that it slowly defrosts.

You may still end up with white residue on the chocolate if you store it too long.

You shouldn't freeze chocolate. It kills the crystal structure of the chocolate and makes it taste worse.

 

[tasha99]

If you freeze it, it could get bloom. I would only consider freezing chocolate if it was something I would be willing to retemper.

 

[smallsteps]

I'm a weird one who prefers my chocolate either from the refrigerator or freezer. Regular candy bars go straight to the freezer and nice chocolate is stored in the fridge. It's gotten so bad that I don't really care for room temperature chocolate because it feels like it's partially melted already.

I do make chocolate dipped items, though, using the tempering process, so I know all about the bloom factor!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

TrustTheScupper
(we freeze at our restaurants all the time)

1) Yes, you can freeze chocolate.
2) But it really isn't necessary when you are talking about plain chocolate
. . . used for dipping chocolate covered pretzels, etc.
. . . used for melting then blending
3) Store in airtight container at room temp
. . . away from other things that have strong smells
. . . chocolate has a very long shelf life and can be kept for years
. . . you can even store and re-use chocolate that has been melted
. . . just re-melt it when you are ready to use it again
4) Freezing chocolate is okay
. . . but it tends to get 'bloom' from the freezer
. . . when the fat and/or sugar separates
. . . if planning to use the chocolate for melting then blending in the future
. . . the bloom won't matter as it goes away when you melt the chocolate


NOTE: If the future use is eating "straight" or on the table without melting
or blending, DO NOT FREEZE. Refrigerator is OK. The bloom will make it look
old and moldy! Even though there is nothing wrong with it

 

[FigmntGirl]

Yes you can freeze chocolate we bought a huge bag of peanut butter cups (its my weakness lol) and I don't like them at room temperature so we keep them in the freezer.