Nothing ruins a satiny smooth chocolate frosting quite like gritty, grainy chocolate. And is there any way to undo it? Seizing describes the nearly instantaneous transformation of chocolate from a fluid state to a stiff, grainy one. When chocolate is melted, its ingredients—mainly cocoa powder, sugar, and cocoa butter—disperse evenly, creating a fluid mass. When chocolate is melted, these ingredients break up evenly, creating a smooth consistency.
However, when the melted chocolate comes into contact with water—even the smallest amount—the dry particles become moist and begin to stick together, quickly forming a gritty, rough paste.
This occurs because when the water joins with the sugar in the chocolate, a syrup is formed, which attracts the cocoa particles and makes for a grainy texture. The most important thing you can do to prevent chocolate from seizing is to eliminate any chance of the chocolate coming into contact with water. Always make sure the bowls and utensils you are using are perfectly dry and avoid using wooden spoons or boards , as they might retain moisture and impart this moisture to your chocolate.
If you are using a double boiler to melt your chocolate, keep the water hot but not boiling, or turn off the heat before the bowl of chocolate is placed on top. Boiling water might splash above the rim of the saucepan and cause droplets to fall into the chocolate. In addition, boiling water gives off a great deal of steam, and steam can cause the chocolate to seize. Be sure to wipe the bottom of the bowl the chocolate is melting in to remove water and condensation.
Finally, never cover warm chocolate with a lid, as the heat of the chocolate might form condensation on the inside of the bowl, which will cause the chocolate to seize. This may seem counterintuitive, but the way to fix chocolate that has seized is to add more liquid to it. Adding the right amount of water or other liquid will dissolve the sugar and cocoa in the clumps and make it a fluid consistency again.
Using 1 teaspoon of boiling water at a time, add to the seized chocolate and stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth. This is ideal when you plan on using the chocolate for a drizzle or a sauce , but not if you are incorporating it into a baking recipe since the chocolate will be diluted.
If you are using the chocolate for baking projects, there is another solution. What about you bakers and dessert aficionados out there — do you have any other tried and true fixes for saving lumpy or seized chocolate? Share your expertise in the comments below. Recently retired as a costume specialist in the TV and film industry, Lorna now enjoys blogging on contemporary lifestyle themes. Well I am not sure what it is that was in the picture on the home screen, but that looked delicious.
It looks like it is ice in there, but I did not read anything about ice. Maybe I missed something. Anyways, saving chocolate is a very noble cause for me, so well done here.
I just brought a seized lump of chocolate back to life by adding glycerin and heating it slowly in a microwave. The ratio of chocolate to glycerin was about by volume, and I just eyeballed it. I used a small glass ramekin and took it out every ten seconds to stir with a spatula. After the 5th or 6th ten-second round in the microwave, the chocolate was workable.
Not where I can find it anyway. What did I do? My chocolate is really thick and has a slight gloss to it but it is gritty all the way through it. If you could respond to me somehow that would be cool and if you know anything about this melting chocolate stuff I could possibly have you call me or message me on messenger!
Is there anybody on this site that answers any one or is it just a place to write a bunch of stuff? Sorry to hear that your chocolate seized, Jeanie. Unrefined or virgin coconut oil with have more of a flavor to it, so this is not the best option to use.
If semi-sweet chocolate is what you are going for and you are hoping to make cookies, it may be best to purchase chocolate chips to start if you are able to. And we have lots of wonderful cookie recipes that you might like to try. Good luck! Take a look at what's new and get inspired. Latest Recipes. Can't see what you're looking for? Browse our collection of cooking guides.
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