Before You Work With Chocolate
Chocolate is one of our favorite foods,
whether in a recipe, or a bar or box of chocolates snuggled in front of the TV.
Working with chocolate is easier than you think by following a few tips before you start.
Working with chocolate is easier than you think by following a few tips before you start.
What is Chocolate?
Chocolate comes from the beans of the cocoa
tree which are harvested and left to ferment before being dried and processed.
It is the fermenting that develops the flavor and the quality of the chocolate;
a fully fermented bean produces the finest quality chocolate.
After drying the beans are roasted and then undergo treatments to produce the cocoa solids and it these solids which are the basic ingredient of all chocolate products.
After drying the beans are roasted and then undergo treatments to produce the cocoa solids and it these solids which are the basic ingredient of all chocolate products.
Different Types of Chocolate
Before choosing a chocolate to work with
check the percentage of cocoa solid. The higher the percentage of solids the
purer the chocolate.
- Plain Chocolate contains as much as 80% cocoa solids, is less sweet with an intense chocolate flavor.
- 60-70% solids is slightly sweeter with a dense chocolate flavor - a good chocolate for recipes.
- Milk Chocolate has a low percentage of cocoa solids with added milk, sugar and flavorings which results in a sweeter chocolate
- White Chocolate has no cocoa solids but is made with cocoa butter, the fat extracted from the beans during processing.
Melting Chocolate - On the Stove Top
The best way
to melt chocolate is on the hob in either a double boiler or a glass bowl over
a pan of simmering water. Though this way is lengthier than melting in a
microwave but you will have more control over the melting process and less risk
of burning.
- Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in the bowl or top of the boiler.
- Do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water or let water come into contact with the chocolate.
- Stir the chocolate only once or twice while melting using a wooden spoon.
- The instant the chocolate has melted turn off the heat. Never over cook it or it may go grainy or burn.
Melting Chocolate - In the Microwave
- Break the chocolate into small pieces, place in a microwave-proof bowl.
- Melt the chocolate in 30 second bursts on medium power. Never be tempted to cook for longer periods as the chocolate melts really quickly and you run the risk of it burning. Burnt chocolate tastes extremely bitter and cannot be used, so always take it slowly.
Melting Chocolate - In the Oven
- Break the chocolate into small pieces.
- Place in a warm oven at as low a temperature as you can approx 225°F/110°C/Gas ¼. Keep an eye on the chocolate and remove as soon as melted.
Temper, Temper
Raising and lowering the temperature of
chocolate is a process called Tempering. Tempering is a process used when
making decorative chocolate shapes or molded chocolate such as Easter eggs. It
gives a sharp, crisp "snap" and a glossy finish to the chocolate.
Without tempering the chocolate will not keep well and can develop a 'bloom' (a
white discoloration) which dulls the surface.
It is not necessary to temper chocolate when using chocolate in recipes or when adding to cakes or baking.
It is not necessary to temper chocolate when using chocolate in recipes or when adding to cakes or baking.
How To Temper Chocolate
Chocolatiers
will use elaborate equipment to temper chocolate at precise temperatures but at
home it isn't necessary to go to such lengths.
- Simply break the chocolate into small pieces and melt over simmering water as above.
- Once the chocolate is melted remove from the heat and leave to cool (approx 30 minutes).
- Place the bowl back on the heat and reheat gently until the chocolate softens down but not completely melted. It is now ready to use. If the chocolate becomes too thick whilst using, just place it back on the water from time to time but don't overheat.
DON'T SHOCK THE CHOCOLATE
Not 'shocking' the chocolate was the most
useful rule I learned when first working with chocolate.
Once chocolate is melted it does not like to be shocked by anything very cold. Using a cold, metal spoon to stir, adding very cold flavorings, even a too cold bowl will make the chocolate grainy, and turn instantly into a hard, solid lump. Once this happens it can never be undone, not even by melting. Therefore always use a wooden spoons to stir, make sure bowls and other equipment and ingredients are at room temperature and avoid splashing with water at any time.
Once chocolate is melted it does not like to be shocked by anything very cold. Using a cold, metal spoon to stir, adding very cold flavorings, even a too cold bowl will make the chocolate grainy, and turn instantly into a hard, solid lump. Once this happens it can never be undone, not even by melting. Therefore always use a wooden spoons to stir, make sure bowls and other equipment and ingredients are at room temperature and avoid splashing with water at any time.
Dark Chocolate
Definition:
Dark chocolate is chocolate
without milk solids added. Dark chocolate has a more pronounced chocolate taste
than milk
chocolate, because it does not contain milk solids to compete with the
chocolate taste. However, the lack of milk additives also means that dark
chocolate is more prone to a dry, chalky texture and a bitter aftertaste.
The basic ingredients in dark
chocolate bars are cacao beans, sugar, an emulsifier such as soy lecithin to
preserve texture, and flavorings such as vanilla. Dark chocolate is often
distinguished by the percentage of cocoa solids in the bar. The cocoa content
of commercial dark chocolate bars can range from 30% (sweet dark) to 70%, 75%,
or even above 80% for extremely dark bars. Common terms used to distinguish the
cocoa content of dark chocolate bars include bittersweet, semi-sweet, and sweet
dark chocolate.
No comments:
Post a Comment