Chocolate ?

[Mikeg175]

Ok , this is something I was thinking about and figured I'd better get it over with . How can you store chocolate to make it last ? Is there a shelf life ? I think that even when SHTF that I will want a little nibble now and then , I want to survive , but survive with at least a few simple comforts . I figure that it should be easy , but I would want some harder facts on it . Thanks ..

[Klayton]

process chocolate oxidizes rather quickly, i think the S/L of a fresh Hershey bar is like 6 months (when stored below 60 degrees)???
BUT there is a chocolate that has an extended S/L thanks to NASA... M&Ms
That's right, the sugar coating was designed for NASA to extend the shelf life of chocolate. :)
Taking the S/L up to 13 months if stored in a cool place ( I am guessing, again at the recommended temperature of 60 degrees)..

Hope this helps.
:)

[arcangel911]

Ah....

That is really good news. I do like M&M's. I know that you can seal away chocolate chips for sometime along with bakers chocolate. For how long, I do not know. Anyone know anything about Cocoa (as in the tins you can get for cooking/baking?)

In all truth, this will be a definite in the BOB and at the retreat/homestead. I do like chocolate and a little comfort never hurt in times of need and uncertainty.

(Course, this will not be used for trade and or barter) ;)

[Monel]

I think your best bet for long term storage of chocolate is powdered coco. Prepared chocolate has fat that will go bad fairly quickly.

[Lowdown3]

Powdered cocoa and MRE brownies last the best.

We have opened many a #10 can of M and M's, chocolate bars, etc. just a few years old that were ruined. It almost brings tears to your eyes, LOL.

[arcangel911]

That is truly a crying shame......

[Davar]

We have a 40lb bag of coaco powder in our storage. Another use besides brownies is "cocoa rice". It might bring a little change to the somewhat bland taste of white rice ;)

[Cimarron]

Dravar, we do the same thing with rice but use cinnamon. It's pretty good, changes the flavor, and you don't have to use as much sugar..or any at all.

[arcangel911]

I am more of a traditionalist with Soy Sauce and rice.....

But both sound like excellent suggestions when needed

[Bearman202]

Another option for rice is tumeric. It's a spice, and has been used in India for millinea for joint/inflammation problems. It makes the rice yellow, and in my opinion a little bit tougher, but it makes a nice diversion that's also good for you.

[Bill Foster]

Oddly...This is what I have heard about chocolate. Cookie companies, such as the ones who make the G/S cookies recycle the chocolate from the cookies they don't sell. It is/was melted down and reused. I remember this because the "moonies" purchased old G/S cookies that were destined to be recycled and were selling them as good cookies (they were 2 or 3 years old). There are lots of articles that support the recycling. They say adding milk takes away the stale taste.

[Lowdown3]

Chocolate- <4 years

Going "shopping" in our stores yesterday I remembered this thread and pulled one of the #10 cans of chocolate we packed years ago.

The results mirror other results we have had with similar chocolate products. Course these were in an non climate controlled environment also. Got some other out of the ordinary stuff like marshmallows we packed about 4 years ago that we'll open soon. Personally I never gave them much hope with the high fat content, but it was an experiment....

[Matt In Oklahoma]

@ Lowdown3 as usual you are a wealth of knowledge, Thanks!

[Lowdown3]

We'll probably pack some more soon (after Valentines, Easter's and Helloween is a good time to catch chocolate on clearance) and we'll purposely place it somewhere with a better controlled temp. We'll see if the temperature was the main culprit or not.

Realistically, we should have rotated this at about the 2 year point irregardless.

Anyone notice the label? LOL

[Klayton]

LOL ((Rob's Spinach))