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Wrapping Chocolate
at Mon, 19 Apr 2004 01:11:11 GMT in >,
(Mark Thorson) wrote :
>Any comments on the best wrapping for storage of chocolate?
>Aluminum foil would be convenient, but aluminum is amphoteric
>(attacked by both acids and bases). I'm worried that a raw
>aluminum surface could be corroded by the chocolate, giving
>it an off flavor.
>
First, wrap the chocolate in parchment (it's about the lowest-odour non-
sticky paper.
Take that bundle and wrap it with a single thickness of Charmin Ultra
toilet paper.
Then wrap the whole in aluminum foil.
And for ultimate protection, put the foil-wrapped chocolate in a small box.
To store chocolate well, you want a defence against odours, heat, and
light. I agree with your concerns about foil wrt adding unwanted flavours
(and possibly terrifying health side effects in addition), so it's best not
to have the foil in direct contact with the chocolate. Ever smelled foil?
It has a very definite industrial-metallic smell.
Some papers will contribute odours, particularly ones which have been
heavily processed with chemicals. Parchment is nice because it's generally
odour-free and doesn't stick to the chocolate - some papers have a nasty
habit of embedding fibers or other parts into your chocolate - not good.
The Charmin layer adds (odour-free) insulation against temperature,
mechanical stress, and moisture. Since it's absorbent, it will soak up any
excess moisture in the air, preventing it from getting near your chocolate.
And with a lot of air trapped in it, it insulates against excessive
temperature cycling. Finally, it's a nice cushion, preventing cracking or
breaking.
Finally, the foil blocks radiative heat transfer, and as you suggest, makes
a gas-tight seal. You can even brush the external seams with a little bit
of melted beeswax, if you like, to make *sure* it's a gas-tight seal.
For the truly obsessed, you can then slide the whole wrapped bundle inside
a small box so as to prevent the foil from being pierced or torn. At that
point you have a chocolate that is virtually impervious to harm.
--
Alex Rast
(remove d., .7, not, and .NOSPAM to reply)
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