Beat the heat with these top tips on how to store your chocolate in the summer

Heat and humidity are the two worst enemies of your favourite chocolate treats. While there’s lots of love about some summer sun, we’re sure you’d rather be spared the melting mess of another chocolate bar that’s fallen victim to its powers. That doesn’t mean saying your farewells to chocolate for the warmer months. You just need to get smart with your storage solutions. Read on for our tips on how to store chocolate in the summer.

How does summer heat affect chocolate?

Chocolate’s susceptibility to heat comes down to one of its key ingredients — cacao butter. Cacao butter is what gives chocolate its beautiful gloss and rich texture, as well as being responsible for that melt-in-the-mouth sensation. But with its perks come its challenges. If it’ll melt in your mouth, it’ll melt in the sun, too.

Now for the science. Cacao butter has a melting point of around 34 to 38°C, which is just above body temperature. This is why it melts on our tongue, but will just as easily melt in your hand when held for a prolonged period of time. It will also become a liquidated mess if left on a hot surface – something that can feel somewhat hard to avoid on a baking summer’s day.

So, if you can’t leave it out, how should you store chocolate in the summer?

What’s the optimal temperature range for chocolate?

So the key is to store chocolate at a temperature somewhere below melting point in the summer? Not quite.

The closer it gets to those temperatures, the softer it will be — and you’ll want to enjoy your chocolate in all its crisp, snappable glory, just the way it should be. To enjoy it at its best, it should be kept at around 18 to 20°C.

This can vary a little, however. Cacao butter and cacao solid percentages will differ in various products, and as it’s the cacao butter that melts, this can change things. As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the higher proportion of cacao solids. If 85% Dark Chocolate is a year-round favourite of yours, you’re in luck!

Refrigerated vs. room temperature: which is best?

The answer to the chocolate melting conundrum can seem simple: put it in the fridge. When you rely on your trusty refrigerator to keep the rest of your food fresh, it seems like common sense. But with the ideal refrigerator temperature hovering around 3°C, they’re significantly cooler than the ideal chocolate temperature. And cooling it this much brings a few drawbacks.

With the optimal refrigerator temperature, your chocolate will be far cooler than the ideal temperature for consumption. And if cacao butter becomes too cold, it can restrict the nuanced notes, preventing the bar from releasing its full flavour.

Sudden drops and increases in temperature will also produce condensation on the surface of the chocolate. As this dissolves, some of the sugar can re-crystalise, leaving white streaking on the surface. It doesn’t look too appetising and can leave a gritty taste in the mouth.

Plus, when the chocolate isn’t packaged or stored properly, the cacao butter can absorb the flavours and odours that surround it. Chocolate that tastes of last night’s pasta? We think we’ll pass.For more on the science of this, read our other blog, Should You Put Chocolate in the Fridge?

How and where to store chocolate in the summer

With these alternatives, you can enjoy your chocolate at its best whatever the weather.

Inside a cupboard

The ideal storage solution is keeping your chocolate in a cool, dark place. It’s a well-known tip but for good reason. Shielding your treats from sunlight and artificial lights will go a long way in keeping them fresh.

In a wine cooler

If you have access to a wine cooler, this is the perfect place. The ideal temperature for wine is between 8 and 19°C, which is very similar to chocolate, keeping it slightly cooler than room temperature without over-chilling it.

Use ice cubes

If you’re treating your barbecue guests to an Exuberantly Fruity Sleekster or packing some Lemon Cheesecake Selectors in your picnic hamper, ice packs are your friend. Make sure your chocolate is fully sealed then place the ice packs alongside it. It’s a great hack for when it needs to be out in the sun for shorter periods of time.

The taste of summer from Hotel Chocolat

With these tips, you can make sure any of your favourite chocolates are summer’s day ready — but there are some choices that will give you a little extra helping of sunshine than others.

Featuring refreshing tipples, fruity concoctions and odes to seasonal desserts, our Summer Gift Ideas and Chocolates collection is this year’s must-visit destination.

From Neapolitan Macarons and Kirsch Cherries to Raspberry Pannacotta Selectors and the ultimate Summer Desserts Sleekster. Every product in the collection exudes that summer’s day feeling, come rain or shine.