One of the most common problems people make when working with chocolate is failing to melt it properly. As a result, you are left with fudge that doesn’t set right, frostings that are thick with clumps, candy with an uneven, even gritty texture, and glazes that remain runny after they’re chilled for hours. When correctly heated and handled, chocolate should turn out glossy, smooth, and even-textured. Different types of chocolate also require different melting temperatures. What works for dark chocolate, for instance, won’t produce the same results with milk or white chocolate. Lighter chocolate is more delicate and requires the use of lower temperatures.
So, at what temperature does chocolate melt?
The Basics of Melting Chocolate
At between 86 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the melting point of chocolate is significantly lower than human body heat. This explains why it commonly melts when people hold it in their hands for too long. Most chocolate melts best between 104 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. You must take extreme caution so that the temperature of the chocolate does not rise above 115 degrees. Commercial companies that produce high-quality chocolate use state-of-the art culinary thermometers to ensure that temperatures never rise even a fraction of a degree too high. Chocolate must also be stirred regularly, and it’s essential that a double boiler be used as an extra layer of protection against scorching.
What if you want to order chocolate in the middle of summer when temperatures can be well above 86 degrees?
How Asher’s Protects Chocolates During Shipping
We ensure that all of our chocolate products are handled with care and skill during production. With over 100 years of experience creating confections, we prioritize ensuring that our products reach the customer with their quality intact. That means taking precautions with shipping procedures. Some of the ways we protect customers from receiving a disappointing box of melted chocolates include:
- We ship products in insulated boxes in order to reduce temperature fluctuations.
- We use ice packs when the temperature of the destination is 70 degrees or over.
- Orders received by noon EST will be shipped the same day to assure prompt delivery.
- We do not ship on Fridays during the months of March through October as an added protection against product melting in transit.
Because long transit times can ruin the product, we do not ship to international addresses or to post office boxes. We ship exclusively with United Parcel Service to ensure front door delivery.
From start to finish, our professional chocolatiers use the utmost care to ensure that our chocolate covered treats arrive in a fresh, delicious state. You should never feel apprehensive about ordering Asher’s chocolates during periods of time that experience seasonal warmth. We have the situation covered with our careful shipping procedures!