Can one keep chocolate uncovered in the freezer?
I bought a chocolate bar and only hate half of it. I want to store it in the freezer, but part of it will be uncovered. Is this a safe way to store it in the freezer ?
Best Answer
Food-safety-wise, putting chocolate in the freezer is not an issue and not even necessary.
However, quality may suffer:
- Freezers do tend to have some off flavors over the time, and these can be absorbed by the food inside, if not packaged properly. To be safe, I recommend you put the chocolate bar in some kind of airtight package, either a freezer bag or a Tupperware-style box.
- Humidity can be a problem for “crisp” fillings like wafers or, to a lesser extent, crispy caramel. The packaging and the chocolate coating protects the original bar, once you have eaten half, it is exposed. Unless you live in an exceptionally humid environment or store too long or in a humid environment where condensation can happen - like a freezer - , this should be a minor issue. Again, wrapping the half-eaten bar with a (mostly) airtight seal should do the trick.
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Quick Answer about "Can one keep chocolate uncovered in the freezer?"
Food-safety-wise, putting chocolate in the freezer is not an issue and not even necessary. However, quality may suffer: Freezers do tend to have some off flavors over the time, and these can be absorbed by the food inside, if not packaged properly.Can I leave chocolate uncovered?
The pantry or a kitchen cupboard is okay \u2013 there's no need to refrigerate it. Once you open the bar, always wrap it well before you put it back in storage. The ideal storage temperature is between 54\xb0F and 61\xb0F (or 12\xb0C to 16\xb0C). But if the temperature is a few degrees higher, it's not that big of a deal.How do you store chocolate in the freezer?
As a general rule, refrigerating chocolate can extend its shelf life by at least 25%, while freezing can prolong it by 50% or more. Place the original box in a heavy-duty plastic freezer bag, seal it tightly and then refrigerate for up to one year, or freeze for up to 18 months for best quality.Does chocolate need to be airtight?
If you absolutely must put chocolate in the refrigerator in order to prevent it from melting (say, if you live in Houston, it's summer, and you don't have air conditioning), make sure to wrap it up tightly in tin foil and then seal it in an airtight container to minimize the downsides of refrigeration.Does freezing affect chocolate?
This bloom won't affect the taste of your chocolate, so don't throw it away! Freezing Chocolate Will Alter the Texture \u2013 Due to the process of crystallisation during freezing; you may notice a slight change in both texture and taste to frozen chocolate that has been defrosted.How to store chocolate products
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Answer 2
I don't recommend freezing chocolate. It can cause the chocolate to crystalize. I'd put it in the fridge tightly wrapped and sealed. If you've bitten it directly you can just cut off a centimeter and pop that in your mouth first. Unless your house is particularly warm and humid a chocolate bar will be fine stored at room temperature. If it is not pure chocolate (e.g. a candy bar with nougat) and some of the ingredients may spoil in the air, then putting in the fridge is your best bet.
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