Chocolate is available in several different forms, all of which need to be stored in a cool, dry place at a temperature less than 75 degrees. At higher temperatures, the cocoa butter in the chocolate begins to soften and rise to the surface.
For best results always use the kind of chocolate called for in a recipe. Ingredients are balanced, particularly in baked foods, to bring out the most desirable flavor.
UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE:
When the refined chocolate liquor is poured into molds and allowed to cool, small, hardened squares form. These one ounce squares are individually paper wrapped and are used melted in baking and cooking. This product is know as bitter, baking, or cooking chocolate. Another unsweetened baking product is made of cocoa and cocoa butter or vegetable fats in a similitude form, needing no melting before use. The one ounce envelope or packet equals one ounce of melted unsweetened chocolate and is referred to as no melt unsweetened chocolate. It is ready to use as purchased.
SWEET CHOCOLATE: To make this kind of chocolate, sugar and additional cocoa butter are added to unsweetened chocolate. These ingredients are then blended to together to make a smooth paste. In some blends, vanilla, mint, or other flavorings are included. The sweet chocolate is molded, cooled, and hardened into sectioned bars for use in cooking or for eating.
SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE:
The processing is the same as for sweet chocolate, except that less sugar is added. It is available packaged in bars, squares, or in pieces. These pieces are processed so that they will melt easily in cooking or hold their shape during baking at moderate oven temperatures. Semisweet chocolate is also used for eating and purchased in paper wrapped squares. It is often used as a dipping chocolate or for making various kinds of candy.
MILK CHOCOLATE:
This kind of chocolate is made with chocolate liquor, sugar, additional cocoa butter and milk or cream. Vanilla is sometimes added for flavor. These ingredients are blended together, then molded into various forms. Milk chocolate is available in bar form, in pieces, like semisweet chocolate, and as candies or chunks. Sometime nuts, raisins, coconut, or other ingredients are included.
COCOA:
Cocoa is another product made from the chocolate liquor. Part of the cocoa butter is removed and the remaining product is ground and sieved to a fine powder. It is available as regular and Dutch process cocoa. Both are unsweetened products. Ready to use cocoa products are also available and these contain sweetening and other flavorings.
Chocolate is a good source of quick, extra energy due to its easy digestibility.
