molding chocolate - what am I doing wrong?

[storm]

I have been molding chocolates for years, and have never experienced this problem before. I recently began molding large (8 ounce) chocolate bars. The first couple turned out just fine. Now I'm getting a light colored spotting (freckling), or a frosty/flakey appearance on both the top and the bottom of the bar. I first thought I might have overheated the chocolate. Once web site said to remelt the chocolate and add butter. That didn't help, so I threw out the chocolate and started again. The second time I made sure the chocolate never got hot (still using the double boiler and adding grated chocolate at the end to cool it down). Yicks! Still having the problem. So I tried different brands of chocolate... and I've tried cooling the bars on the counter instead of the refrigerator. No luck. Could it be that my
kitchen is too cold this time of year (we do keep a cool house -- temperature in the kitchen is less than 65 degrees). Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[Isa]

What chocolate are you using? Is it what is known as coating ? Is it Baker's chocolate or a chocolate with a high content of cocoa butter?

[momoreg]

You were on the right track adding the grated chocolate to cool it down, but you have to heat it to a certain temperature, then cool it to a certain temperature. I found an article here http://www.bpe.com/food/columns/will..._tempering.htm which explains the whats and whys of tempering.

[storm]

I was using molding chocolate; Wilton and a local brand. I've used both before (for about 5 years) without having this problem, so I'm tempted to say it's not the chocolate.
The molds were new this fall and haven't been used much. First couple of bars were o.k. Since then it's been a total disaster.

Light brown speckling is a sure sign of the chocolate pulling out of temper. Refrigeration (or just cold temps.) causes the fat crystals to rise to the surface, giving that bloom.

Go with a better chocolate and the tempering process. I bet you like the results better!

Also, make sure your molds are spotless. Any left over chocolate, or other particles can contaminate the finished product. Try using a cotton ball to bring a nice shine to the inside of the mold.

so I threw out the chocolate and started again
There must be a hundred things you can do with over tempered chocolate. With the prices these days, never throw it out.

[m brown]

Make mousse not war with ill tempered chocolate.
Try adding a hard fat (shortening) to your wilton molding chocolate. That is the primary fat in the coating chocolate and will bring your "chocolate" a nice balance. Even with a coating chocolate try to "temper" by adding cool chocolate to the warmed.
With molding chocolate try to melt over hot water off the fire, it may take a little longer but may help.
Water is enemy no.1 to chocolate, even the coating kind, so beeee careful.
It could have been an off batch of chocolate out of the factory!


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bake first, ask questions later

MAKE MOUSSE NOT WAR!
M.Brown you're so deep!