How long is the refining time in a chocolate confectioner?
The refining time is anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the quality of the final chocolate you want.
Modern machinery speeds up the refining time, and pure chocolate takes up to 96 hours in a longitudinal confectioner.
Milk chocolate with modern machinery takes 10 to 16 hours. Chocolate makers found that this time enhanced dispersion of the solids in the fat, ensuring complete coverage of the butter.
This effect will improve the texture of the chocolate. Also, depending on the quality and formulation of the product, the refining time is between 6 and 24 hours.
Also, you will do this process at 50 °C to 60 °C for white coatings and milk and 55 °C to 65 °C for dark coatings.
What are the benefits of a longer conching time while the confectioner is running?
These include:
It provides suitable solid dispersion in fat
In addition, it improves the taste and texture of chocolate products
It ensures that all solids are covered with cocoa butter
Additionally, it helps eliminate harmful volatile odors and tastes
It removes excess moisture from the chocolate