chocolate Q&A
Q&A: Definition of Raw Chocolate?
March 30, 2015
Here's a question I recently received from a reader, "The marketing trend in Australia is RAW chocolate. Does CUO have a definition for RAW Chocolate?"
Answer
Q&A: What’s the Purpose of Salt in Making Chocolate Bars?
January 12, 2015
Here's a question I recently received from a reader, "What's the Purpose of Salt in Making Chocolate Bars?"
Answer
Q&A: Can I Use Cooking Oil and Cocoa Powder to Make Chocolate?
December 26, 2014
Here's a question I recently received from a reader, "Can I use any cooking oil as a substitute for making chocolate bars from cocoa powder?"
Answer
Cocoa Powder for Dipping
March 25, 2011
I received an interesting question the other day from someone on my mailing list.
(If you're reading this, but not on my list, go ahead and get my free ebook, then I will also send you more chocolate information and you'll have a chance to ask me a question too.)
Anyway, here is the question posed:
Chocolate and Cocoa Substitutes
January 28, 2011
Have you ever discovered you were out of an ingredient? Of course that always seems to happen right in the middle of making something!
When the recipe calls for chocolate, cocoa powder, or unsweetened baking chocolate, using the correct substitution can mean your crisis is avoided. And no emergency trip to the grocery store!
Read more
Chocolate in the Freezer?
December 17, 2010
A question I hear somewhat frequently is, "Should I store chocolate in the freezer?"
A friend once told me that the best place to store chocolate is in your mouth. 🙂
Now for a more serious answer, the best place to store chocolate is in an odor-free, air-tight container surrounded by a 65 to 68 F air temperature with no more than 50% relative humidity. How’s that for precise?
Read more
Fact or Fiction: Chocolate as Aphrodisiac
October 28, 2010
Well, not everything I read says that, just the scientific stuff...
Read more
High Flavonol Chocolate
October 10, 2010
Here's a question that was posed to me recently...
What is the difference between store bought chocolate and the high flavonol chocolate found in all those scientific studies?
The simple answer to this question is found in the question itself. Store bought chocolate typically has lower quantities of flavonol substances. OK, that's a weak answer. Here is some explanation...
Read more
Allergic to Chocolate?
October 7, 2010
Is there such a thing as a chocolate allergy?
An allergy to cacao is possible but rare. It would be more likely that someone has an allergy to one of the ingredients in chocolate or experiences a food intolerance, which is not really an allergy at all.
Only 1 – 2% of American adults and 5 – 8% of children have a true, immunological food allergy. Among those, 90% are allergic to the “big 8”; milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, or shellfish.
Read more
Thinning Out Candy Coating
October 3, 2010
You have some choices when it comes to molding and dipping using chocolate coatings.
There are chocolate-flavored confectionery coatings and there are what is commonly referred to as “real” chocolate coating or “pure” chocolate coatings.
The main difference between these two types of coating is the fat system. Confectionery coatings are made with vegetable fats and oils like palm kernel, soybean, or a blend of similar kinds. Chocolate coating is made with cocoa butter. These coatings behave very differently because of the type of fat in them.
Read more