Chocolate has many loyal fans in this world. According to the chocolate blog and Podcast website Dame Cacao, it is estimated that around 7.5 million yuan of chocolate will be eaten worldwide by 2023, which means that everyone eats about 2 pounds of chocolate each year. How to keep chocolate and how long can it last?
●How long can chocolate last?Carol Gancia, who founded Kodak Chocolates, said that chocolate types and storage methods will affect the shelf life of chocolate. Solid dark chocolate can be stored for a long time because it does not contain milk that will help long-term bacterial breeding. If it is not opened, it can be stored for 2 years, and it will be opened for 1 year; solid milk chocolate can be stored for 1 year without opening, and it can only be stored for half a year when it is opened, and it must be placed in a dry place, preferably a sealed and light-proof container.
●Will chocolate change over time?No matter what form of chocolate, it may change. Usually, the most basic type of chocolate can be stored properly under refrigerated, dark and dry conditions, and can be stored for more than a year. What causes chocolate to change quality is usually additives such as milk, fruit and fruit, because these ingredients are more likely to change quality than chocolate. Bridgewater Chocolate Chief Jeff Stoeckel pointed out that chocolate is best eaten when it reaches room temperature, but it may be stored as much as possible in dry place because the longer the room temperature is, the easier it will be for chocolate to decrease. It is not considered bad, but the flavor will become worse.
●How do you know if the chocolate is damaged?Usually, chocolate will become colored or have a bad touch. Martin Diez, a chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut dessert and food slogan developer, said that if chocolate changes color, such as a layer of white-gray fat or a lighter color, it is called "fat bloom", usually caused by too large temperature difference in storage. If you touch the chocolate, it feels like pink, this is because of the appearance of "sugar bloom", which means that the sugar melts and crystallizes due to moisture.
If the chocolate becomes brittle or there are small holes, it will be fresh when it comes to contact with the air. If there is a bad taste or a bad smell, it means that the chocolate is no longer suitable for consumption.
●How long can a box of chocolate last?It is best not to leave the chocolate in a box for more than 90 days after it is opened, because this type of chocolate usually contains harmful ingredients, so it is best to finish it as early as before the expiration date.
(Responsible editor: Ye Zicen)