Posted Sep 18 2011, 2:27 pm in Miscellany
Today’s post is a public service announcement that answers, “Patty, how do I know if my chocolate is BAD?”
*shivers* Bad chocolate. That’s an oxymoron, right? I mean, is there really such a thing as bad chocolate? I did some research and the answer may surprise you.
Even though chocolate is a food product, it has a pretty long shelf life. My research suggests a year. So, check the dates. Retailers stock shelves far in advance of chocolate holidays. For example, Valentine’s Day chocolate may have been stocked in January, which means it was manufactured far earlier. Just because you bought in February doesn’t mean it’s going to last until the following year.
Chocolate also tends to absorb the odors of the foods its stored with so be sure you wrap it tightly if you plan to store it for a long time.
I have never had any reason to do this. *grins*
Have you ever unwrapped a chocolate bar or perhaps a square of baker’s chocolate, only to find it gray and blotchy? Interestingly enough, this does NOT mean the chocolate’s spoiled but does indicate it’s not aging well. The gray blotchies are called ‘bloom’ and are caused by the ingredients separating. Is it bad? Not always. But it may not taste as good as it should.
Finally, I offer you this YouTube clip to test if your chocolate is bad. I guess it all depends on who chocolate hangs out with. *winks*
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LOL! Cute video.
Let’s just say that I, too, have few worries about long-term chocolate storage. ;)
I have very few worries about my chocolate going bad. It rarely gets to that point. :). I do throw it iout if it gets those gray splotches because I don’t like the taste.