You Can Reverse Chocolate Bloom. Here's How

If you've ever rummaged through your cupboards looking for a sweet treat, you may have stumbled across some leftover chocolate that you're unsure is still safe to consume. Upon opening the package, you might discover that the chocolate looks dusty, with a white film covering the chocolate like pollen that covers a car windshield on a summer day. The reason why your candy bar appears dusty is because it's gone through something called "chocolate bloom," a process where the fats or sugars found in the chocolate separate, causing that unpleasant-looking white exterior. Thankfully, reversing chocolate bloom at home is an incredibly simple process. 

To begin, melt down your bloomed chocolate. (If you've never melted chocolate before, or if you want to improve your techniques, we've previously compiled the 15 tips you need for melting chocolate.) In a saucepan, pour enough water to fill a couple of inches, and set the heat to low. Onto the saucepan, place a large, heatproof bowl and add your bloomed chocolate, chopped into small pieces. Using a silicone spatula, stir the chocolate continuously until the chocolate is completely melted.

Once melted, pour the chocolate into a heat-proof chocolate bar mold and place it in the refrigerator to set. Melted chocolate has a tendency to absorb fridge odors, so be sure to place the molds inside an air-tight container. Just like that, you've brought new life into your chocolate, and you won't be able to tell the difference from when you bought it at the store!

Once chocolate bloom has been reversed, it tastes just as good as new. At the same time, it's understandable to feel apprehensive to try this process. After all, for the bloom to occur, it needs to be exposed to excess moisture in the air or undergo a rapid change in temperature, which sounds like a recipe for spoilage. Luckily, bloomed chocolate is perfectly safe to eat, although it can sometimes have an undesirable texture or a "stale" flavor. This is why despite chocolate bloom being safe to eat, reversing the process will ensure the best texture and flavors.

It's important to note that while chocolate bloom doesn't necessarily mean your candy's gone bad, chocolate does expire, and you should still check for foul smells, mold, or sour flavors. If any of those are present, throw out your chocolate immediately, as it is no longer safe to consume, even if the bloom is reversed. Also, be sure to always check your chocolate's expiration date, as any fillings, creams, or other added ingredients could potentially have different expiration times than plain bars of chocolate.