Monday, February 11, 2008

Dipping Day

The first step with dipping is to melt the 70% cocoa mass bittersweet chocolate. Here's three pounds just starting.




Pretty cool. To temper chocolate the first step is to melt it to a temperature of 99°. While the chocolate is being stirred (where a tempering machine really proves its worth with a rotating bowl and a scraper) it is slowly cooled to 92° while tempered chocolate is added in. This aligns the molecules of fat which will result in a tight, shiny, tempered chocolate shell.



The above is ready to begin dipping. It's about 2 1/2 pounds that has been held at 92° for ten minutes while tempered chocolate is added in as the bowl spins. The smell in the kitchen is intoxicating.

I forgot to add that the temperature in the room is just below 65°. That's where good chocolate sets up right.




Pretty cool huh? The soundtrack for writing this while more chocolate melts has been Mistral Gagnat by the sublime Lara Fabien.

More to come as the day progresses.

3B's

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe I may have a case of the vapors.

1:04 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You have such fun toys. That tempering machine looks like it would be great for making soap...unless it is made of aluminum, that is.

2:53 PM  
Blogger The Minstrel Boy said...

no, no aluminum. only stainless steel.

3:00 PM  
Blogger Sherry Pasquarello said...

soap, phooey, i'd rather bathe in the chocolate!

3:08 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

ahh, sherry, that is because youhave not bathed in my soap. I may have to run a hot bath t o relax in while eating the truffles. I have some vanilla scented soap that would be wonderful.

10:54 AM  

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