Can chocolate chips be frozen? (+7 types)
In this article we will answer the question “Can chocolate chips be frozen?”, and what is the shelf-life of different types of chocolate?
Can chocolate chips be frozen?
Yes, chocolate chips can be frozen. It won’t drastically extend the shelf life of chips, but freezing can be an effective storage method. Make sure chocolate chips are stored in airtight sealable bags, otherwise they can absorb the odors from the surroundings inside the freezer.
Chocolate chips are a quick fix to satisfy your chocolate cravings in baked goods. You can either melt them to make fudgy brownies or use them as is in your oatmeal and cookies. Read on if you want to know how to freeze store chocolate chips if you bought them in bulk.
How long do chocolate chips last?
Drak chocolate chips with 70-80% cocoa will be good in the pantry(sealed) or in the freezer for about 2 years. Milk chocolate chips will stay fresh in the freezer or pantry(sealed) for 8 months to 1 year. However, freezing sealed chocolate chips will not have any considerable effect on the shelf life. It rather significantly decreases the quality of your chocolate chips in terms of texture and visual appeal.
Frozen chocolate or chocolate chips might develop a white surface and a brittle texture as a result of sugar blooms. The taste and flavor will not be affected as such given the chocolate chips were stored correctly.
The white surface will be gone when the chocolate chips melt in your brownies or cookies but if you add them to oatmeal, they may feel brittle.
How to store chocolate chips?
The key is to store the chocolate chips in a cool and dark place sealed in an air-tight container. The temperature should be maintained at 60-75°F or below. Keep away from moisture and sunlight.
In the fridge
Sealed chocolate chips kept in the pantry and the ones stored in the fridge do not differ much in their shelf-life. Storing your chocolate chips is recommended in case the temperature of your kitchen goes above 75°F several times as in summers.
Regular exposure to high temperatures will melt the chocolate chips. Even in the fridge, s steady temperature should be maintained to avoid the condensation water from degrading the quality of chocolate chips.
In the freezer
Store the chocolate chips in an airtight container or a freezer bag. Remove the air from the bag by squeezing it tight.
The Shelf-life of different types of chocolate
The shelf-life of chocolate depends on the composition of the chocolate. The more the milk, the lesser the shelf-life. After the best before date, there are visible changes in the appearance and detectable changes in the taste of the chocolate.
White chocolate
White chocolate has a lot of milk and cocoa butter making it susceptible to spoilage. So white chocolate will last about 6 months in the pantry if unopened. If placed in the fridge, it will last longer. An opened package will be good for about 4 months in the pantry.
Milk chocolate
Milk chocolate has a very silky and rich texture due to all that milk. An opened bar of milk chocolate will last 1 year in the pantry and longer if kept in the fridge. If opened, milk chocolate can only stay for 8-10 months in the pantry.
Bittersweet chocolate
Bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate has about 70% cocoa. Less amount of milk allows it to stay as long as 2 years in the pantry or longer in the fridge if unopened.
Belgian chocolate
This fudgy treat has about 35% cocoa and will stay good for a week or two in the pantry if unopened. Putting it in the fridge will extend its shelf life to about 4-5 weeks. Freeze the Belgian chocolate to keep it around for 2 months.
Chocolate chips
If unopened, chocolate chips will be good in the pantry for about 2-4 months. Keeping it in the fridge will extend its shelf life to about 6-8 months. Frozen chocolate chips will last for 2-3 years in the freezer.
Handmade chocolates or truffles
It is not recommended to put these delicate truffles in the fridge or freezer. They are to be consumed within hours of purchasing for optimum taste. However, they will last for a week or two in the pantry if unopened.
Cocoa powder
Cocoa powder is quite a shelf-stable product. It will only gradually lose its strength of flavor over time it will be good for about 3 years in the pantry if left unopened.
How to tell if chocolate chips are bad?
Chocolate chips will go stale if stored incorrectly. The degradation process is quicker if the chocolate chips have a lot of dairy, nuts, and fruits. Stale chocolate will:
- Smell musty
- Develops cracks
White or grey spots on the chocolate surface indicate sugar and fat bloom and are safe.
Other FAQs about Chocolate that you may be interested in.
How long does chocolate last in the freezer?
Conclusion
In this article we answered the question “Can chocolate chips be frozen?”, and what is the shelf-life of different types of chocolate?
References
https://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/how-to-store-chocolate
