05/14/10 03:04:57PM @vercruysse-geert:
To Joanna,Ok, if you not have the table no problem just use a table in aluminium or inox or hard surface (not wood). You can melt your chocolate in the traditional oven on 45/50C for about 3 hours, if it is a small quantity.Always be carefull with water! And microwave is not the perfect solution because you heat always some chocolate to hot and some not.For the cacaobutter you dont have the best cristallisation if you dont work the chocolate like you have to and the result is a not shining chocolate.I'm a professional and I try to avoid the use of a microwaveoven for chocolate, if possible, avoid bain-marie since it produces humidity and may affect chocolate texture.Its is important to ensure the right melting of the paste so that there are no solid fat cristals (when seeding) in the couverture during the process.So more than this I can't do, otherwise you have to follow a workshop, if you should be in Belgium you are always welcome...)Geert
05/13/10 12:10:42PM @vercruysse-geert:
To you Joanna,Yes indeed these are the temp. for dark chocolate!For milk you have, for example Tanariva Lacte 33% from Valrhona, the next guidelines:Tempering must be the same, first temp.45/48, second temp. 27/28C (is crystllisation) to become temperature ideal is 29/30C.workingtemp.White couverture: Ivoire from Valrhona, 45/48C for about 12 houres (crucial to ensure that the cocoabutter is properly melted) second temp. 26/27C to end at 28/29C workingtemp.You dont seed with not meld chocolate (because the not melted cacaobutter), for cooling!You have to work the chocolate (lets say about 2/3) on a marbletable to do the cooling and become the second temp.,then you have to bring together both chocolates in a the large bowl where you still have the other 1/3 of warmer chocolate.Never warm the mould and never use a fridge for the cooling!Its about the moisture content in the fridge the chocolate will not be perfect glanze!Just use a cooler place but not the fridge and remember the mould not warm, the environment temp. is perfect.Greetings,GeertPS may be you can find on youtube how exact to work the chocolate on the marbletable.
05/12/10 03:43:11PM @vercruysse-geert:
Dear Joanna,These are the provide guidelines for the tempering of couverture from Valrhona:Optimized temperatures for a better use of the chocolate couvertures from Valrhona (see attachment).1.You have the melting: melt all the couverture for about 12 houres: this is crucial to ensure that the cocoabutter is properly melted.2.Check that the temperature is between 131/136F 55/58C3. Temper the required amound of couverture, making sure that you always have some warm couverture in reserve.4. Stir the mass regularly and check that it is at crystallisation temperature 82/84CF 27-28/29C5. Stop cooling the mass and immediately raise the temperature to 88/90C 31/32C,a/ by adding warm couverture at 131/136Fb/ warming it in bain-mariec/ warming it in the microwave oven (400/500W max, so as not to burn it)6. Check that the couverture is at working at 88/90F, and stir the mass regularly to ensure that the temperature, and thus cristallisation, is evenly distributed.If you should have new moulds, keep them out of the fridge and make sure that these are proper, clean theme always with cotton. Make sure one's moulded to store theme for about 30' at a cool and dry place between 12/18C.Normaly this is wath you should do to have a perfect result!If not dont forget practice is the best way to gave these results, I need to say some times I also have a result not satisfy!Lots of succes and greetings from BelgiumGeert
05/11/10 04:01:49PM @vercruysse-geert:
Hello Joanna,I saw you have some problems with the Majari chocolate from Valrhona. Thise chocolate is not the best chocolate for enrobing and not the easyst for tempering but normaly it can not be a problem if you take al the precautions where needed.First I would like to ask you if you follow the tempering methode from Valrhona or not, or don't you have these?If you don't have it I will send you thise methode because the chocolates from Valrhona are quite difficult for tempering.GreetingsGeert
05/11/10 12:57:21PM @ilana:
around 20% yes. What I did in the beginning when tempering by hand is to keep throwing in a handful. At first a large handful. Mix it in, it melts quickly, add more, it melts...I add more it gets to the point where it does not melt easily and then you are at working temp with a few lumps of chocolate that will not melt. Pick them out and you are ready to go.
05/06/10 09:13:07AM @ilana:
20C is great. Leave it out for 20 mins -if you have a fan on it all the better. Then put in fridge for a few minutes and it should be ready. The longer you leave it the better. But it should be fine even after 20 mins-take a look at the back to see if it contracted. If it did not then pop in fridge.
05/06/10 08:32:38AM @ilana:
Hi. Firstly, Clay suggested we do this thread on a new discussion or on the kitchen thread. Do you agree?I think it is fine to do around 670g and then using a further approx 330 -it can be 700 and then about 350- you don't have to be exact!"you say that if i am not sure it is tempered i should take down to 29 or so and then back up to 31-32 do you mean that when i am seeding i should purposely seed down to 29 and then microwave back up to 31-32?"Yes that is what I mean, but do be careful not to go above the 31-2.
05/05/10 02:00:32PM @ilana:
If the chocolate is thick after being tempered, heat up a half degree with a hairdryer to melt out some crystals. Witha bar there really should not be such air bubbles if the choc is not thick.
05/05/10 01:59:10PM @ilana:
Also, have you tried using a different mold? A smaller shape? I would try that-even just circles of chocolate with no mold. Pour a bit onto a piece of acetate, move the acetate a bit to make a circle out of the chocolate and then cover gently-with another piece of acetate in such a way (press softly with a sponge or something so that the acetate can almost not be seen on top of the chocolate . After a few hours, remove the acetate and take a good look at the round circle of chocolate. I have a feeling your mold is the problem-or at least part of it.
05/05/10 01:54:32PM @ilana:
I think the fact that you have air bubbles may be that the chocoalte is too thick or over tempered.1.Does it seem thick to you?2. Is your mold a polycarbonate one? If yes, is it a good kind-not a thin polycarb one? Some are less good than others.3. Perhaps these are marks on your mold. Are these always in the same places on the bar? I have a bar mold that drove me crazy in the beginning, eventually I carefully examined the mold itself and discovered scratches or marks! And it was new.
05/05/10 11:20:41AM @ilana:
when seeding it always should be with well tempered chocolate. If you are notsure it is well tempered then take the temp down to 28-9 and then back up to 31-2. If you were close by (hah!!) I would invite you over for a demo and lesson!!!
05/05/10 10:03:05AM @ilana:
yes this is a problem. What I do is pour chocolate into a big piping bag and pipe chocolate into the molds-using a bigger hole than for delicate work. This way I pipe 3 mold at once. I put the bag in a big cup that I gave a burst of heat to with a hair dryer, knock the air bubbles out of the molds, but no need to clean cause I piped in the correct amount -usually! The I go and do a few more. If the chocoalte gets to thick you can it a burst of heat with a hair dryer and mix and then check the temp. Try to keep it at working range temp. If you use a temperer it should not be a problem. Pipe in 2 molds or three at a time.
05/05/10 08:13:03AM @ilana:
Oh dear! Can you take a good picture of it? Try not heating up the mold. What is the temp and humidity of the room? Manjari should be easy to work with. Perhaps post the question as a new forum and someone will have better advice to offer? So sorry for you! Post a new discussion and go over every step you took...
04/27/10 07:42:42AM @ilana:
Yes. You turn to melt at 55 or so and then when it is all melted and at 55 (check with a thermometer) you take out the stainless steel "bath", place on counter, turn thermostat to working temperature, seed and temper the chocolate and return to melter. Stir every now and then.
04/26/10 02:13:26PM @ilana:
Hi again. A bit hard with no air cond. Perhaps that is the problem. After it starts hardening, maybe try putting in fridge for 5 minutes and then wrap in nylon wrap and keep in fridge for a bit more? Can't help much on that.You can temper by seeding in a melter and then keep it at the working temp for quite a while since the melter has a thermostat.
04/23/10 04:12:02PM @ilana:
If you are not using the machine then do melt to 55 for dark. I think 20-25 minutes in the fridge is too long there. If your room is under 21-22 I would leave on counter till there are clear signs of hardening-then a fan can blow on it and then fridge for 5 minutes.Try not to let your fingers touch the mold parts that chocolate is in-use the ridges on the mold. You can slightly warm up the molds but not too much or it will take the chocolate out of temper.Was there still some seedleft at 31.5? There should be. Did you do a temper test? Is your chocolate fresh and in good condition? If it is a bit melty or out of temper then the seed method is not good. Maybe try seeding but bring the temp more down-to say 29C and then gently warm it up with a hair dryer or in the micro-but carefully-to 31.5C. This is good if the seed is not in perfect temper.
04/23/10 11:29:39AM @ilana:
If the temper is good it has to be shiny! Did you use my instructions?!
04/23/10 10:35:30AM @ilana:
I don't have a little dipper, but in my machine I place the seed callets in the back, not in the melted chocolate-so this way you do not have to pick out the unmelted pieces at the end of the process. You can melt jivara at 48(as on theinstructions) or also 45 if you are hesitant. You must not be afraid to try things... Working temp for Jivara- yes 29.5-30 is good. The seed melts and then enters the melted part of the chocolate.
04/23/10 10:03:29AM @ilana:
you can even temper regular butter...
04/23/10 10:02:44AM @ilana:
Hopefully most. You probably willnot see any difference in your lollipop or bar.Different cocoa butters have differnent melting crystal temperatures depending on where the bean grew;closer to the equater=needs higher temp. Anyhow, give it a try! Maybe try by hand first. You know, the best is to begin with melting and tempering cocoa butter because you can really see the changes-it goes from a clear dark yellow to an opaque whitish color. Kind of like butter!
To Joanna,Ok, if you not have the table no problem just use a table in aluminium or inox or hard surface (not wood). You can melt your chocolate in the traditional oven on 45/50C for about 3 hours, if it is a small quantity.Always be carefull with water! And microwave is not the perfect solution because you heat always some chocolate to hot and some not.For the cacaobutter you dont have the best cristallisation if you dont work the chocolate like you have to and the result is a not shining chocolate.I'm a professional and I try to avoid the use of a microwaveoven for chocolate, if possible, avoid bain-marie since it produces humidity and may affect chocolate texture.Its is important to ensure the right melting of the paste so that there are no solid fat cristals (when seeding) in the couverture during the process.So more than this I can't do, otherwise you have to follow a workshop, if you should be in Belgium you are always welcome...)Geert
To you Joanna,Yes indeed these are the temp. for dark chocolate!For milk you have, for example Tanariva Lacte 33% from Valrhona, the next guidelines:Tempering must be the same, first temp.45/48, second temp. 27/28C (is crystllisation) to become temperature ideal is 29/30C.workingtemp.White couverture: Ivoire from Valrhona, 45/48C for about 12 houres (crucial to ensure that the cocoabutter is properly melted) second temp. 26/27C to end at 28/29C workingtemp.You dont seed with not meld chocolate (because the not melted cacaobutter), for cooling!You have to work the chocolate (lets say about 2/3) on a marbletable to do the cooling and become the second temp.,then you have to bring together both chocolates in a the large bowl where you still have the other 1/3 of warmer chocolate.Never warm the mould and never use a fridge for the cooling!Its about the moisture content in the fridge the chocolate will not be perfect glanze!Just use a cooler place but not the fridge and remember the mould not warm, the environment temp. is perfect.Greetings,GeertPS may be you can find on youtube how exact to work the chocolate on the marbletable.
Dear Joanna,These are the provide guidelines for the tempering of couverture from Valrhona:Optimized temperatures for a better use of the chocolate couvertures from Valrhona (see attachment).1.You have the melting: melt all the couverture for about 12 houres: this is crucial to ensure that the cocoabutter is properly melted.2.Check that the temperature is between 131/136F 55/58C3. Temper the required amound of couverture, making sure that you always have some warm couverture in reserve.4. Stir the mass regularly and check that it is at crystallisation temperature 82/84CF 27-28/29C5. Stop cooling the mass and immediately raise the temperature to 88/90C 31/32C,a/ by adding warm couverture at 131/136Fb/ warming it in bain-mariec/ warming it in the microwave oven (400/500W max, so as not to burn it)6. Check that the couverture is at working at 88/90F, and stir the mass regularly to ensure that the temperature, and thus cristallisation, is evenly distributed.If you should have new moulds, keep them out of the fridge and make sure that these are proper, clean theme always with cotton. Make sure one's moulded to store theme for about 30' at a cool and dry place between 12/18C.Normaly this is wath you should do to have a perfect result!If not dont forget practice is the best way to gave these results, I need to say some times I also have a result not satisfy!Lots of succes and greetings from BelgiumGeert
Hello Joanna,I saw you have some problems with the Majari chocolate from Valrhona. Thise chocolate is not the best chocolate for enrobing and not the easyst for tempering but normaly it can not be a problem if you take al the precautions where needed.First I would like to ask you if you follow the tempering methode from Valrhona or not, or don't you have these?If you don't have it I will send you thise methode because the chocolates from Valrhona are quite difficult for tempering.GreetingsGeert
around 20% yes. What I did in the beginning when tempering by hand is to keep throwing in a handful. At first a large handful. Mix it in, it melts quickly, add more, it melts...I add more it gets to the point where it does not melt easily and then you are at working temp with a few lumps of chocolate that will not melt. Pick them out and you are ready to go.
20C is great. Leave it out for 20 mins -if you have a fan on it all the better. Then put in fridge for a few minutes and it should be ready. The longer you leave it the better. But it should be fine even after 20 mins-take a look at the back to see if it contracted. If it did not then pop in fridge.
Hi. Firstly, Clay suggested we do this thread on a new discussion or on the kitchen thread. Do you agree?I think it is fine to do around 670g and then using a further approx 330 -it can be 700 and then about 350- you don't have to be exact!"you say that if i am not sure it is tempered i should take down to 29 or so and then back up to 31-32 do you mean that when i am seeding i should purposely seed down to 29 and then microwave back up to 31-32?"Yes that is what I mean, but do be careful not to go above the 31-2.
If the chocolate is thick after being tempered, heat up a half degree with a hairdryer to melt out some crystals. Witha bar there really should not be such air bubbles if the choc is not thick.
Also, have you tried using a different mold? A smaller shape? I would try that-even just circles of chocolate with no mold. Pour a bit onto a piece of acetate, move the acetate a bit to make a circle out of the chocolate and then cover gently-with another piece of acetate in such a way (press softly with a sponge or something so that the acetate can almost not be seen on top of the chocolate . After a few hours, remove the acetate and take a good look at the round circle of chocolate. I have a feeling your mold is the problem-or at least part of it.
I think the fact that you have air bubbles may be that the chocoalte is too thick or over tempered.1.Does it seem thick to you?2. Is your mold a polycarbonate one? If yes, is it a good kind-not a thin polycarb one? Some are less good than others.3. Perhaps these are marks on your mold. Are these always in the same places on the bar? I have a bar mold that drove me crazy in the beginning, eventually I carefully examined the mold itself and discovered scratches or marks! And it was new.
when seeding it always should be with well tempered chocolate. If you are notsure it is well tempered then take the temp down to 28-9 and then back up to 31-2. If you were close by (hah!!) I would invite you over for a demo and lesson!!!
yes this is a problem. What I do is pour chocolate into a big piping bag and pipe chocolate into the molds-using a bigger hole than for delicate work. This way I pipe 3 mold at once. I put the bag in a big cup that I gave a burst of heat to with a hair dryer, knock the air bubbles out of the molds, but no need to clean cause I piped in the correct amount -usually! The I go and do a few more. If the chocoalte gets to thick you can it a burst of heat with a hair dryer and mix and then check the temp. Try to keep it at working range temp. If you use a temperer it should not be a problem. Pipe in 2 molds or three at a time.
Oh dear! Can you take a good picture of it? Try not heating up the mold. What is the temp and humidity of the room? Manjari should be easy to work with. Perhaps post the question as a new forum and someone will have better advice to offer? So sorry for you! Post a new discussion and go over every step you took...
Yes. You turn to melt at 55 or so and then when it is all melted and at 55 (check with a thermometer) you take out the stainless steel "bath", place on counter, turn thermostat to working temperature, seed and temper the chocolate and return to melter. Stir every now and then.
Hi again. A bit hard with no air cond. Perhaps that is the problem. After it starts hardening, maybe try putting in fridge for 5 minutes and then wrap in nylon wrap and keep in fridge for a bit more? Can't help much on that.You can temper by seeding in a melter and then keep it at the working temp for quite a while since the melter has a thermostat.
If you are not using the machine then do melt to 55 for dark. I think 20-25 minutes in the fridge is too long there. If your room is under 21-22 I would leave on counter till there are clear signs of hardening-then a fan can blow on it and then fridge for 5 minutes.Try not to let your fingers touch the mold parts that chocolate is in-use the ridges on the mold. You can slightly warm up the molds but not too much or it will take the chocolate out of temper.Was there still some seedleft at 31.5? There should be. Did you do a temper test? Is your chocolate fresh and in good condition? If it is a bit melty or out of temper then the seed method is not good. Maybe try seeding but bring the temp more down-to say 29C and then gently warm it up with a hair dryer or in the micro-but carefully-to 31.5C. This is good if the seed is not in perfect temper.
If the temper is good it has to be shiny! Did you use my instructions?!
I don't have a little dipper, but in my machine I place the seed callets in the back, not in the melted chocolate-so this way you do not have to pick out the unmelted pieces at the end of the process. You can melt jivara at 48(as on theinstructions) or also 45 if you are hesitant. You must not be afraid to try things... Working temp for Jivara- yes 29.5-30 is good. The seed melts and then enters the melted part of the chocolate.
you can even temper regular butter...
Hopefully most. You probably willnot see any difference in your lollipop or bar.Different cocoa butters have differnent melting crystal temperatures depending on where the bean grew;closer to the equater=needs higher temp. Anyhow, give it a try! Maybe try by hand first. You know, the best is to begin with melting and tempering cocoa butter because you can really see the changes-it goes from a clear dark yellow to an opaque whitish color. Kind of like butter!