Chocolates can help you at your worst moods and stress; it is the ultimate comfort food that can never disappoint.
To top that, our gourmet and luxurious chocolate collection at Melt Chocolates takes care of the quality of this experience. After all, you should leave no details behind while indulging in something as heavenly as chocolate.
That said, there’s nothing better than having freshly made chocolate desserts at home. The freshly melted chocolate and its smell is something that brightens up your mood and lifts your spirits to get through the day.
However, with profound experiences of perfecting recipes, there comes a huge gap dedicated to unavoidable mistakes, seized chocolates being one of them – and that is what today’s blog is about.
At Melt, our expert chocolatiers have shared their words of wisdom; their outlook and a few useful ways to fix seized chocolate and of course, how you can avoid it in the first place.
Let’s look at it!
What is Seized Chocolate?
If you’ve noticed the quickness with which the chocolate melts if left out in the sun, you’ll know how sensitive this ingredient is.
Ideally, the heat required to melt white and milk chocolate is close to 110 F and for dark chocolate, the maximum you can reach is 120 F. However, once you overdo it, the chocolate begins to loose its rich and shiny texture, beginning to lump in your container. It will turn into a muddy and sludgy texture, completely unacceptable for any recipes out there.
To rescue this chocolate, you need to think on your feet by quickly bringing in measures to cool it down.
Something as simple as a drop of water can seize your melted chocolate and to regain it, a little extra fat is required, which can be procured from vegetable oil, butter or cocoa butter.
Make sure you are adding fat in small amounts, approximately 1 tablespoon for every 6 ounces and stirring constantly to make the granules disappear.
Other than this, here are some of the precise ways to fix seized chocolates.
1. Add More Chocolate
As mentioned above, the lumpy mixture is a result of overheating. To fix seized chocolate, you need to quickly cool it down to regain the original consistency.
One of the best ways to go about this is by adding more chopped chunks of chocolate to fix the seized chocolate. This ensures that the chocolate at high temperature is supported by room temperature chunks of chocolate; to retain its true melted consistency.
Pro Tip – Ideally, add ¼ cup to ½ cup of fresh cocoa buttons and stir continuously until the chunks have been well incorporated.
2. Add Oil
Consider this as a backup of the backup. This means, if adding chunks of chocolate still has no effects on the seized chocolate, you can simply add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the mixture. Although, ensure that you’re stirring it thoroughly until it’s mixed well.
Vegetable oil is extremely helpful to fix seized chocolates in two ways; firstly, it has properties that make it easier to mix well with chocolate and secondly, oil has the shine that allows chocolate to regain the silky melted texture.
3. Use Dairy
Another sure shot way to revive the original texture of the melted chocolate is by adding dairy products such as hot cream and stirring until it’s smooth again.
The resulting mixture, comparatively, will have a thinner consistency than desired and you might have to alter the recipe.
In other words, cream with chocolate will give you a chocolate ganache that can be used in multiple recipes such as lava cake or as a sauce for puddings, sundaes and so on.
Visit Melt Chocolates to Place Your Orders
We, at Melt Chocolates, have always prioritised the quality of experiences and chocolates that we offer. Having been in the industry for so long, we have come across many mistakes and have tackled them with grace.
Our learning experiences have instances of many of these and you will be informed along the way. That said, we even offer subscription boxes for your convenience.
Reach us out on our website for more information today!
FAQs
If your chocolate has bloomed and it's, don't worry, because there are still ways to save your chocolate. Chocolate bloom can be repaired by melting the chocolate down, stirring it, then pouring it into a mold and allowing it to cool, bringing the fat back into the solution.
How to fix chocolate that has turned white? ›
If your chocolate has bloomed and it's, don't worry, because there are still ways to save your chocolate. Chocolate bloom can be repaired by melting the chocolate down, stirring it, then pouring it into a mold and allowing it to cool, bringing the fat back into the solution.
How do you melt chocolate so it doesn't seize? ›
An important step to remember: Keep the chocolate dry
Even a small splash of water in your melting chocolate will cause it to seize, becoming stiff and grainy instead of smooth and silky.
How to stop chocolate from hardening after melting? ›
Incorporating fat can help maintain the fluid texture of chocolate as it cools. Vegetable oil, coconut oil, or cocoa butter can be slowly stirred into melted chocolate. For every cup of chocolate, add about one tablespoon of oil until it reaches your desired consistency.
Can you fix seized chocolate with milk? ›
To fix seized chocolate, you can use one of the following methods: Add warm liquid: Gradually add a small amount of warm liquid (e.g., milk, cream, or water) to the seized chocolate while stirring continuously. Start with a teaspoon and increase as needed until the chocolate becomes smooth and glossy again.
What happens if chocolate seizes? ›
Understanding Chocolate Seizing
Chocolate seizing occurs when your once smooth and creamy chocolate transforms into a thick, clumpy state during the melting process. This unfortunate incident can occur due to two main reasons: overheating or unwanted contact with moisture.
Can you fix seized white chocolate? ›
To fix slightly seized chocolate, try adding hot cream to the chocolate and incorporating it by gently stirring with a rubber spatula. It may take a few minutes to fully incorporate. You can then use this mixture as a ganache or for a sauce.
Will seized chocolate harden? ›
If you are not ready to do that immediately, just scrape the seized mess onto a piece of wax or parchment paper or foil. Let it dry and harden (it will get ugly but this is no cause for alarm) and wrap it up until you need it. Then start over with fresh chocolate for your dipping project.
Does seized chocolate taste different? ›
Burnt chocolate will have a burnt aroma and taste, as well as a lumpy and grainy texture.
Why add oil to melted chocolate? ›
Adding a tablespoon of coconut oil or vegetable oil while microwaving helps the chocolate melt more smoothly and makes it the perfect consistency for dipping! The caveat here is that once cool, the chocolate won't set up quite as hard as it did to begin with due to the added fat content.
Adding butter or oil increases the fat content of the melted chocolate, making it smoother and easier to work with. Perfectly melted chocolate will be smooth, silky, and have a shiny finish, says KitchenSeer. If your chocolate is too thick or clumpy, you may be able to save it with some room temperature butter.
Why won't my white chocolate melt? ›
Because white chocolate is so finicky, it can easily seize if steam or water gets into the bowl while you're melting the chocolate, or if it overcooks.
How do you harden seized chocolate? ›
If the chocolate has seized because it has been overheated, try stirring in a couple of pieces of solid chocolate (this will not work if the chocolate has seized from moisture). Or adding fat to the chocolate can bring it back – the ideal fat to use is cocoa butter however if you don't have any, try vegetable oil.
How do you fix hard chocolate? ›
Quick Fixes
Begin by incorporating a tablespoon of warm water into the mixture, stirring gently to revive the silky consistency. Should the chocolate persist in its seized state, introduce a touch of melted butter or coconut oil – the culinary alchemists' secret weapons.
What can I add to chocolate to make it harden? ›
Coconut oil is the secret to achieving a super-shiny chocolate coating. It brings a little extra luster to melted chocolate, which, on its own, can become matte when dry. Not only does coconut oil make your chocolate coating shine, but it also helps the chocolate harden.
Can you remelt chocolate after it seizes? ›
Fixing Seized Chocolate
This may seem counterintuitive, but the way to fix seized chocolate is to add 1 teaspoon of boiling water at a time, then mix vigorously until it becomes smooth once again. This is ideal when planning to use the chocolate for a drizzle or a sauce since the chocolate will be somewhat diluted.
How do you reset melted chocolate? ›
The way to fix seized chocolate is completely counterintuitive. It's done by actually adding a little bit of melted butter, oil, or water back into the mixture and stirring vigorously.
Why add oil to melting chocolate? ›
Adding a tablespoon of coconut oil or vegetable oil while microwaving helps the chocolate melt more smoothly and makes it the perfect consistency for dipping! The caveat here is that once cool, the chocolate won't set up quite as hard as it did to begin with due to the added fat content.
Can I add milk to melted chocolate? ›
NEVER add water when melting chocolate. It will become lumpy and unmanageable. If you must add a liquid (such as heavy cream or milk), heat up the liquid first, then add the chocolate. The chocolate will melt more evenly and distribute into the liquid.
