Forum Activity for @Katie Partington

Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
11/01/14 06:38:04AM
8 posts

Streaked bars


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

Thanks so much for this, I've bought an electric blanket and we will be experimenting with heating the moulds prior to pouring and will then sit in a wire rack to allow cooling underneath as well on in the surface via a fan. Really useful info, thanks so much for your advice.
Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
10/13/14 03:07:07AM
8 posts

Streaked bars


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

I tested with parchment paper dipped into the chocolate, if it sets hard within three minutes I usually take take that as tempered. I use a chocovision rev v machine. The temper on the bars are fine, it's just the surface of the mould sued that is streaked.The moulds were at room temperature, which was about 12 degrees yesterday. Should the moulds be warmed or cooled prior to pouring? I've read different thinks. Any help appreciated.
Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
10/12/14 02:06:14PM
8 posts

Streaked bars


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

They are good quality polycarbonate moulds which might make a difference?
Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
10/12/14 02:05:12PM
8 posts

Streaked bars


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

It's the mould side, the air side is absolutely fine. They are large bar moulds (95g) and I've been wondering if they aren't cooling quickly enough, hence blowing air across them and putting them on a cool surface. I've been through all possibilities and close to giving up! I have pictures but no idea how to post them on here. Any advice appreciated.
Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
10/12/14 11:15:03AM
8 posts

Streaked bars


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

I'm so frustrated! The last four batches of chocolate I've made have been streaked, the temper is good but the face of the bars are streaked in yellow. I've tried everything. Initially I thought it was poorly tempered, but I've mixed the chocolate really well and tested for temper prior to pouring, I'm certain the temper is fine. I've scrupulously cleaned my chocolate moulds and polished with cotton wool so that isn't the problem. I've bought a fan to blow cool air across the moulds as they are cooling, and they are also cooled on a cool stainless steel surface, I previously used a fridge with the same streaked result. Can anyone shed any light on this, it's so frustrating!Katie
updated by @Katie Partington: 04/11/15 03:03:42AM
Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
03/22/14 04:36:08PM
8 posts

Rev V - How to Manually Adjust Temperature Settings?


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

Apologise if this has come up elsewhere - I recently purchased a Rev V tempering machine, we are just starting out bean to bar and have been experimenting this weekend with tempering. The first batch was milk chocolate, we added the chocolate straight from the grinder (no seed), stuck it in temper mode 2 and left it do it's thing. The bars came out streaked and speckled with grey. So we tried again, this time manually reducing the temp to its lowest setting (around 26 degrees Celsius) and still in temper mode 2. With this second batch we noticed the machine stated 'ready' at only 28 degrees and the chocolate was very thick, we tried to manually adjust the temp up a fraction to reduce viscosity but it would not allow us to. Anyhow the we put the second batch into moulds and the chocolate came out much better, less streaked etc but still not perfect. We wanted to try a third time however as we should be able to manually adjust the temp upwards and I wanted to figure out why we couldn't, again the same thing happened on the third attempt - we reduced the temp down and set it in temper mode 2, it said 'ready' at 28 degrees c and we couldn't increase the temp anymore. I have sent a query to chocvision but wondered if anyone had any similar experiences? Any advice?
updated by @Katie Partington: 04/12/15 05:17:00AM
Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
03/22/14 04:13:14PM
8 posts

Cleaning Crankenstein Mill


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

Ok thanks for that, I did ask the EHO why he wanted it disinfected and got the impression he wasn't sure, will do some more research so that I can give him a better answer next time which will hopefully convince him it's ok.
Katie Partington
@Katie Partington
03/20/14 05:45:01PM
8 posts

Cleaning Crankenstein Mill


Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

Hi everyone, does anyone have any tips for cleaning a crankenstein cacao mill? My environmental health officer has said I need to clean and disinfect it somehow - any ideas?? I've tried scrubbing it with various brushes but I'm too scared to use liquid or detergent on it yet, any advice?
updated by @Katie Partington: 04/10/15 02:10:40PM