Chocolatier's Chocolate Guide

Information and tips to help make your chocolate creations a stunning success...


Measuring Cocoa, Confectioners' Sugar and Flour 

	Measure these dry ingredients by lightly spooning the ingredient into the appropriate
dry measuring cup and leveling it off with the straight edge of a knife or spatula.
Tapping the measuring cup will result in an inaccurate measure.

Chocolate Key

	Be sure to check your recipe before setting out to buy the chocolate for it - if you use
the wrong type of chocolate, all your efforts may be wasted; certainly the results may be
different. Within the following categories, you may use the brands we name
interchangeably with only subtle differences in taste and/or texture.

Unsweetened chocolate:

	Baker's, Ghirardelli, Hershey's or Nestlé Swiss dark chocolate/bittersweet
chocolate Ghirardelli, Lindt Excellence or Callebaut Semisweet chocolate Ghirardelli,
Hershey's, Nestlé or Baker's Semisweet chocolate chips Ghirardelli, Hershey's,
Nestlé or Baker's Sweet chocolate Baker's German Sweet Chocolate or
Ghirardelli Sweet Dark Chocolate Swiss milk chocolate Lindt Swiss Milk Chocolate Milk
chocolate chips Baker's, Hershey's or Nestlé White chocolate Lindt Swiss
Confectionary Bar or Nestlé Premier White Baking Bar White chocolate chips
Hershey's or Nestlé Couverture

Coating chocolate:

	It is not a brand or type of chocolate but rather a term used to describe professional-
quality coating chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa butter -- at least 32 percent and
often as high as 39 percent for good-quality couverture. The extra cocoa butter allows the
chocolate to form a thinner coating shell than noncouverture chocolate: Cacao Barry,
Carma, Ghirardelli, Lindt or Valrhôna. Unsweetened non-alkalized cocoa powder
Hershey's, Ghirardelli or Nestlé Unsweetened alkalized cocoa powder (Dutch
processed or European style) Droste, Fry's, Hershey's European Style or Poulain

How To Melt Chocolate

	Melting chocolate to use as a baking ingredient for candy work or decoration requires
gentle heat. Chocolate that is overheated may scorch, lose flavor and turn coarse and
grainy. Stir melting chocolate after it has begun to liquefy. Because of the sensitivity of
milk solids to heat, milk and white chocolates should be stirred almost constantly while
dark chocolate need only be stirred frequently during melting. Here are two good
methods for melting chocolate so that it is smooth and glossy.

In a Microwave Oven 

	Place coarsely chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe container and microwave at
MEDIUM (50 percent power) for 1 1/2 to 4 minutes, until the chocolate turns shiny.
Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely
melted. Stir milk and white chocolates after about 1 1/2 minutes. Because of their milk
proteins, they need to be stirred sooner than dark chocolate. (If overheated, these
chocolates may become grainy.)

In a Double Boiler

	Place coarsely chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not
simmering, water. Melt the chocolate, stirring until smooth. Remove the top part of the
double boiler from the bottom.

Tempering Instructions

1. Chop the chocolate into 1/4-inch chunks. Put half of the chocolate in a 1 1/2 quart
microwave-safe bowl. (Use a 1 quart bowl when tempering 8-ounces of chocolate or less.
When tempering more than 2 pounds of chocolate, use a larger bowl.) Microwave
uncovered on MEDIUM (50 percent) power for 1 1/2 to 6 minutes, stirring every 1 1/2
minutes, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Stir in the remaining
chocolate chunks.

2. Microwave uncovered on MEDIUM (50 percent) power for 1 1/2 to 5 minutes, stirrin
every 60 seconds, until the chocolate is almost completely melted. Gently stir the
chocolate and when it is c ompletely melted, check the temperature. It should read
between 110 and 120 degrees F (or the temperature recommended by the manufacturer.)
If necessary, put the chocolate back in the microwave set on low (10 percent) power for 5
to 10 second intervals, until it reaches the correct temperature. (Stir the chocolate for at
least 1 minute before checking the temperature.)

3. Transfer the melted chocolate to another 1 1/2-quart (or a smaller or larger bow
depending on the amount of chocolate being tempered.) This will bring the temperature
of the chocolate down to approximately 100 degrees F.

4. Wrap a heating pad (normally used for backaches) in plastic to protect it from
chocolate stains. Set the control dial to the lowest setting.

5. Pour one-third of the melted chocolate onto a clean, dry work surface (such as marble
or Formica). Keep the remaining chocolate in the bowl on the heating pad.

6. Using an offset metal cake spatula, spread the chocolate evenly across the work surface
into a rectangle. Using a pastry scraper, bring the chocolate together, and as you do so,
scrape the chocolate off the spatula. Continue this spreading and scraping process until
the chocolate cools to 80 to 82 degrees F for milk and white chocolates and 82 to 84
degrees F for dark chocolate, loses its shine and forms a thick paste with a dull matte
finish. Work quickly so that the chocolate does not lump. This process can take
anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes, depending on the amount of chocolate, the type and
brand of chocolate as well as the temperature of the kitchen. The chocolate is now
seeded. The professional term for this is "mush."

7. Add the mush to the bowl of 100 degrees F chocolate and using a clean, dry rubber
spatula, stir the chocolate gently, until smooth . Be careful not to create air bubbles a you
stir the chocolate.

8. Check the temperature of the chocolate. It should register between 86 and 91 degrees F
depending on the type and brand of chocolate. (In general, dark chocolate should register
between 86 to 90 degrees F and milk and white chocolates should register between 86 to
89 degrees F.) If necessary, heat the bowl of chocolate in the microwave on LOW (10
percent) power for 5 to 10 second intervals, to raise the temperature the required
number of degrees. (Stir the chocolate for at least 1 minute before checking the
temperature. Be very careful not to overheat the chocolate.) The chocolate is now ready
to work with. As you work, regularly stir the chocolate and check its temperature.
Adjust the temperature and fluidity of the chocolate by turning the heating pad on and
off. If for some reason the chocolate becomes too cold, simply reheat it in the microwave
oven set on LOW (10 percent) power for 5 to 10 second intervals. (Stir the chocolate for
at least 1 minute before rechecking the temperature.) Never let its temperature exceed 92
degrees F, or the stable cocoa butter crystals will start to melt and the temper will be lost.

Eggs

	In recognition of the growing concern over the presence of salmonella bacteria in
some raw eggs, Chocolatier is adapting recipes that traditionally have used uncooked or
lightly cooked eggs. The full extent of the risk is still being studied, but regulatory
agencies such as the USDA and FDA have advised against eating any foods containing
uncooked or lightly cooked eggs, egg yolks or egg whites. Because salmonella bacteria is
killed in eggs cooked to 160 degrees F, Chocolatier's recipes for such desserts as mousses
and buttercreams now include the extra step of cooking a sugar syrup to at least 240
degrees F (soft ball stage) and pouring it over the eggs to raise their temperature
sufficiently.

	Chocolatier believes that an awareness of the potential risk of salmonella poisoning
is the best defense against it.

	Baci Chocolate® is a registered trademark of Perugina Brands of America, a
division of Nestlé Food Company.

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