Storing chocolate truffles with care is easy and worth it
We should probably only enjoy so many chocolate truffles in a single day, but that doesn’t mean we can’t squirrel them away for tomorrow. There are only a few key things to keep in mind when storing chocolate truffles confections so they taste just as good the next day, or in four weeks, as they do the day you buy or make them.
When to refrigerate
Conditions in the refrigerator are not good for storing these treats for more than a few days. The humidity level is too high, and it’s too cold. When you store any kind of chocolate in the refrigerator it sweats so moisture builds on the surface and makes it sticky. While this stickiness shouldn’t change the flavor it does make the texture less yummy. Another huge issue is that it absorbs any lingering smells or tastes from your fridge, and this does affect its flavor.
However, the fridge is the best place to store truffles if they’re only going to be there for a few days. To preserve their coating, you can place them in muffin holders and cover them or seal them in a Tupperware container.
When to freeze
Freeze these cocoa-infused treats if you need to store them for a few weeks. If you freeze them incorrectly, they develop ice crystals on the outside. Wrap every piece in a small section of wax paper separately, and then place them in an air-tight container and chill for about two hours. Lay the chilled and wrapped sweets on a sheet of tin foil and freeze them. Once they’re solid, gently pack them in airless freezer bags and store them.
Thawing
Refrigerated chocolate truffles need to thaw in their container at room temperature for about 4 hours before you should serve them. When frozen, they take longer and need to first thaw in the fridge until they’re unfrozen before setting them out.
Storing for a day
Do you mean you don’t want them for breakfast? If you need to store them for a few hours, place them on a cool, dark shelf in a pantry or cabinet. This is, in fact, the best way to store quality chocolate bars and bark, too. Stick them in the fridge if they start to melt.
Shelf life
While solid chocolate will keep for months in proper conditions, truffles have a much shorter shelf life because the inside is made with cream. The easiest way to know how long these treats will stay good is to ask the truffle chocolatier. If they don’t have any preservatives, they probably won’t last for more than a few weeks.
Words for the chocolate-wisdom
- Placing them in the fridge unsealed can lead to heartbreak. Excess moisture and warm temperatures make the sugar in chocolate rise to the surface; this is known as bloom. When chocolate blooms it gets white spots or streaks. The texture changes a little, but the taste will be the same so don’t throw them out if this happens!
- If your delicacies were covered in cocoa powder when you purchased them, roll them around in more cocoa powder before serving. These rich treats deserve a good presentation.
- Truffles are a perfect bite-size treat for entertaining. They go well with a good red wine, coffee or making a lasting impression after a homemade gourmet meal.
- If you’re making these specialties for the first time, check out this recipe. You’ll be so glad you did.
- If you’re traveling with them, store them in a cupcake holder or portable devil egg container and place them in a cooler.
Storing chocolate truffles for the first time may seem like a lot of steps, but this decadent sweet is well worth it.
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