William Vlach Assistant Lab/PSD Manager ADM Cocoa 12500 W. Carmen Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53225-6199 PH: 414-358-5886
William Vlach Assistant Lab/PSD Manager ADM Cocoa 12500 W. Carmen Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53225-6199 PH: 414-358-5886
William Vlach Assistant Lab/PSD Manager ADM Cocoa 12500 W. Carmen Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53225-6199 PH: 414-358-5886
Bill has been with ADM Cocoa Technical Services for 3 decades.
Previously serving in the Quality Control department for 10 years, Bill currently
works in Product Service & Development.
Thomas Allen
Sales Manager
TRICOR Systems Inc.
1650 Todd Farm Drive
Elgin, IL 60123
PH: 847-742-5542 ext.140
[email protected]
Cocoa butter has very unique properties. It has a melting point of approximately 85 to 90 degrees
Fahrenheit, and therefore it quickly melts at body temperature when eaten. As a result, the flavor
release is quick, and there is a pleasing mouth feel as well.
However, as cocoa butter solidifies, there are 6 possible forms of the cocoa butter crystals. Thus
cocoa butter is known as a polymorphic fat. Unfortunately, only one crystal form out of the 6
produces a stable product. The process of forming the correct crystal structure is referred to as
“tempering.” The desired cocoa butter crystal form is called the Beta form.
Tempering chocolate is not an exact science or procedure. Although the general principles are
easy to understand and commonly used by everybody, each manufacturer or person must develop
their own specific instructions and methods depending upon the equipment being used and the
processing conditions. A chocolate company can give general guidelines and temperature ranges
for tempering, but modifications typically must be made to achieve the best possible appearance
of the finished product.
II. Tempering
The chocolate being used must first be completely melted to 120 degrees Fahrenheit with
continuous agitation. At this temperature all of the cocoa butter crystals are in a liquid state. If
the chocolate is not completely melted to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, then the un-melted crystals can
cause unstable crystals to form in the tempering process, thus causing an un-tempered final
product. After heating the chocolate to the proper temperature, it should be cooled down to the
appropriate usage temperature. Dark chocolates should be cooled to approximately 86 to 89
degrees Fahrenheit, and milk chocolates should be cooled to approximately 82 to 86 degrees
Fahrenheit. How the chocolate is cooled and tempered depends on the method and equipment
that is available.
First, chop the chocolate into pieces approximately 1 inch square or smaller using either a sharp
chef’s knife or an ice pick on a clean, dry cutting surface.
Typically chocolate is heated in a double boiler or a stainless steel bowl that fits snugly over the
opening of a pot filled with hot water. Adjust heat so that the water is slightly below a simmer.
1. Never heat the chocolate over a direct source of heat because it is difficult to control
the temperature of the chocolate, and you could easily burn the product.
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Principles of Chocolate Tempering
NCA Resident Course in Confectionery Technology
2. Make sure that the pot is approximately half full to ensure that steam does not bubble
into the chocolate or the water does not boil.
3. Take care to monitor the level of the water in the pot and replace the water as needed
so that the pot does not over heat.
4. Remember to wipe all instruments dry before introducing them into the chocolate.
Chocolate should NEVER mix with water. Water darkens chocolate and causes it to
thicken and seize resulting in unusable product.
C. Methods of Tempering
1. Tempering by Hand
Often it helps to cool the chocolate a few degrees below these recommended
temperatures listed above to ensure for properly tempered chocolate. Then raise the
temperature one to two degrees to eliminate any unstable cocoa butter crystals that
may have formed in the tempering process. These steps will take practice in
perfecting since we consider hand tempering like an “art form.”
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Principles of Chocolate Tempering
NCA Resident Course in Confectionery Technology
*Exceeding 120°F results in a lumpy, burned, unusable product. We recommend
using a food or candy thermometer to check temperatures and a heat resistant spoon
or spatula to agitate the product.
Although the mush method is more time consuming and labor intensive, most people
prefer to use this method for small batches that require hand tempering.
1. Place the coated, enrobed or dipped products in the refrigerator (45-50°F) on a level
surface. The time required to solidify depends on the size and thickness of the
finished chocolate. The chocolate should appear shiny without streaks or a dull
finish on the surface. The texture should not feel granular or gritty when eaten. If
removal of the pieces from the tray is difficult, then the chocolate is either not
completely solid or it was used at the wrong temperature.
2. Place the finished chocolate on waxed paper or plastic wrap until the chocolate has
reached room temperature. Product that has been left in the refrigerator too long will
develop condensation of moisture on the surface of the finished chocolate. You can
wipe this condensation from the surface; however, the surface may appear dull with
excess handling.
3. In order to maintain the appearance of the finished product, handle the product as
little as possible to minimize scuffing and fingerprints that could scratch the shiny
surface and more importantly could destroy the temper on the chocolate or could
cause the chocolate to bloom.
4. Store the coated product and any unused portions of chocolate in a dry airtight
container or packaging material at room temperature (60-70°F). We do not
recommend storing the chocolate in the refrigerator or the freezer as the moisture
affects the chocolate. Do not store chocolate near strong odors like onions, garlic,
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Principles of Chocolate Tempering
NCA Resident Course in Confectionery Technology
spices etc. as the chocolate may develop these odors in the chocolate. Plastic
containers that have strong odors may also have this effect on the chocolate.
Chocolate that is not in temper will not have a shiny, glossy appearance and may have fat bloom
(uneven color resulting from streaks of fat or gray appearances of fat on the surface of the
chocolate). Un-tempered chocolate will not easily remove and contract from the mold or any
surface it cooled in or on, and it will not have a good snap when cut or bitten into. Finally, the
inside will not have a smooth texture and may appear granular, as the crystal structure is unstable.
If chocolate is properly tempered and cooled, it will not melt immediately at room temperature
(60 - 70°F).
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Principles of Chocolate Tempering
NCA Resident Course in Confectionery Technology
Principles of Chocolate Enrobing Laboratory
NCA Resident Course
Objective:
A review of enrobing - the equipment and application possibilities
Materials:
Coating - a dark confectionery coating will be used
Centers - items to be coated will be selected items from the class's previous
labs
Equipment:
A large Hilliard enrober with associated equipment, trays, tables, and racks
to display and store ingredients and product, heat gun to demonstrate
variations
Methods: The coating will be melted prior to the lab to allow immediate
discussion on the enrober and its component parts. After review and
instruction on the enrober and its parts the participants will be encouraged to
experiment with possibilities available on an enrober. Discussion will also
include how these items may be sold.
Observations: List major parts of a basic enrobing system and the purpose
each has in enrobing process.
1. What are the advantages and limitations on the use of chocolate for
enrobed products?
INCOMPLETE COVERAGE OF
CENTERS 1. CHOCOLATE VISCOSITY TOO HIGH.
9. INCOMPLETE CURTAIN.
BAD BOTTOMS
MARKING OR SMEARING 1. OVER TEMPER (TOO THICK)
INCOMPLETE BOTTOM
COVERAGE 1. EXCESS STARCH ON CENTER.
GREASY SURFACE
EXITING TUNNEL 1. INADEQUATE TEMPER
CHOCOLATE THICKENS IN
THE ENROBER 1. OVER TEMPERING.
3. OVER TEMPER.
FINISHED CHOCOLATES
TROUBLE SHOOTING -
PAGE 8
OBJECTIVES
• HANDS ON DEMONSTRATION FOR TEMPERING MILK AND DARK
CHOCOLATE
• KEY TEMPERATURES WHEN WORKING WITH MILK AND DARK
CHOCOLATE
• IDENTIFY COMMON PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPERING
MILK AND DARK CHOCOLATE
• EVALUATION OF FINISHED CHOCOLATE
GENERAL INFORMATION
PROPER TEMPER IS CRITICAL IN THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH-
QUALITY CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS. GLOSSY SURFACES, SMOOTH MELTING
PROPERTIES, AND THE CHARACTERISTIC SNAP OF CHOCOLATE ARE ALL
THE RESULT OF CONTROLLED TEMPERING PARAMETERS.
TEMPERING IS A TIME-TEMPERATURE PROCESS TO ENSURE THE
FORMATION OF THE RIGHT CRYSTAL FORM. FAT BLOOM CAN BE
PREVENTED BY HAVING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF THE SMALLEST
POSSIBLE STABLE CRYSTALS.
MANY FACTORS INFLUENCE THE TEMPERING PROCESS, INCLUDING
PROPER COOLING, COOLING RATES, STIRRING RATES, FAT CONTENT,
HOLDING TIMES AND PROPER TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY.
IN THIS LABORATORY EXERCISE, WE WILL TEMPER BOTH MILK AND
DARK CHOCOLATE BY HAND AND EVALUATE PRODUCTS.
MATERIALS
(4 GROUPS OF APPROX. 2 PEOPLE EACH)
• 4 BROAD BLADE (3 INCH WIDE) SPATULAS
• WORK SURFACE (MARBLE SLAB, STAINLESS STEEL, OR FORMICA)
• 4 PLASTIC CAKE-TYPE SCRAPERS
• THERMOMETERS
• MILK CHOCOLATE (2 GROUPS)
• DARK CHOCOLATE (2 GROUPS)
PROCEDURE