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It’s happened to all of us. You’re making something that requires chocolate, you melt the necessary amount, and then it doesn’t work out exactly as planned. Now there is leftover melted chocolate that you don’t know what to do with. How do you store it? Can you reuse it?
As a general rule, the easiest way to store leftover melted chocolate is to put it in the fridge. Allow the melted chocolate to cool and store it in an airtight container. Place the container of chocolate in the fridge for up to 3 months. This chocolate can be reused once it is properly reheated.
Knowing how to properly store my melted chocolate has allowed me to reuse it countless times. There are so many applications for melted chocolate so don’t throw it out if you’ve made too much! Read on as I give you fun ideas to use your melted chocolate after storing it the proper way.
Can You Reuse Leftover Melted Chocolate?
As a whole, leftover melted chocolate can be reused with many applications such as brownies and cakes. If properly stored, melted chocolate can be reheated to the right consistency and reused in other recipes or as toppings for your baked goods.
Here are some of the unique and easy ways to reuse your leftover chocolate:
Use it to make candy molds: Pour the melted chocolate into silicone molds and let it cool. Once it’s hardened, you can pop the candy out of the mold and enjoy it!
To add more texture and flavor, sprinkle crushed nuts or pretzels into the mold and pour in the melted chocolate. This will give a delicious crunch to your mini chocolate candies!
I recently came across an 80-Cavity Square Candy Silicone Molds on Amazon. This candy mold works perfectly for hardening Leftover Melted Chocolate while giving you 80 potential chocolate candies to enjoy.
Make frozen chocolate-covered bananas: This is another simple treat that you can make with melted chocolate. Simply peel bananas, put them on a plate or tray, and then pour melted chocolate all over them. Place the entire thing in the freezer for an hour so that they are frozen solid before eating.
This also can be used for other fruits! Use pineapple slices, strawberries, blueberries, the options are limitless!
Allow chocolate-covered fruits to harden on parchment paper to prevent the chocolate from sticking and ripping off the fruit.
Add to Fondue: You may have already done this many times without realizing it’s a way to reuse melted chocolate. Simply add leftover melted chocolate to a fondue pot with some fruit, marshmallows, and other goodies for dipping.
If you do not have a fondue pot on hand, you can use a crockpot or slow cooker. Reheat the chocolate on low while mixing to avoid clumps.
Once it has reached its liquid state, switch to “keep warm” and dip away!
*Side Note: You might also want to know The Right Way to Melt Chocolate Without Burning It. I recently wrote an article that talks about the Different Ways to Melt Chocolate Correctly, which you might want to check out!
Icing and frosting: You can also use your melted chocolate to make icing or frosting. Just pour it into a bowl, add some powdered sugar, and mix well so that the two are combined together.
Make truffles: This is another way to reuse leftover melted chocolate in an interesting way. Simply melt the chocolate again if you need to, put it into balls of whatever size you desire, and then roll them in cocoa powder or other toppings.
Toffee bars: This is a great recipe that uses melted chocolate. All you need is sugar, butter, and chocolate.
In my recent article, Creative Things To Do With Leftover Melted Chocolate, I wrote a perfect toffee recipe using melted chocolate.
Check out the article to find the full recipe!
Brownies: This is another great way to use melted chocolate. Adding your leftover melted chocolate into brownie batter will add another level of decadency to it. Don’t substitute cocoa powder though! Use both! Add the cocoa powder according to your recipe and add half a cup of melted chocolate.
So as you can see, there are plenty of ways to reuse your leftover melted chocolate. It’s a very versatile ingredient that can be used for many different things.
Just make sure that you store it properly so that it lasts for a long time.
*Side Note: You might also want to know The Right Way To Store Chocolate-Covered Bananas To Keep Them Fresh. I recently wrote an article detailing exactly How To Store Chocolate-Covered Bananas with different types of storing methods. You can check out this article here!
How Do You Store Melted Chocolate?
As a general rule, you can store melted chocolate by pouring it into an airtight container and placing it in the fridge. Make sure that the melted chocolate is fully cooled before placing it into the container. The melted chocolate can be stored for up to three months.
| Counter Top | Sealed Container | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can last overnight when left out at room temperature | Can last up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature | Can last for up to 3 months | Can last up to 6 months |
If you’re looking for a good set of airtight storage containers, I recommend getting the Rubbermaid Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers with Airtight Lids.
I’ve used these containers for a couple of years now and I’ve successfully stored all of my food and baked goods in room temperature, fridge, and freezer. I’ve even used them in the microwave! These containers come in many different sets, so choose the right one for you. You can check out these containers on Amazon!
Here are some tips I often use to store my melted chocolate in the fridge. They help me declutter my fridge and save some room while also extending the life of my melted chocolate.
Use tart molds: Line the molds with paper cuts, and then pour the melted chocolate inside. Put the mold in the fridge and let the chocolate harden. Once it’s hardened, you can pop the chocolate out of the mold and store it in an airtight container.
Freeze it: This is another way to store your leftover melted chocolate. Simply pour it into a plastic bag or container, and then freeze it for later use. Be sure to thaw it completely before using it, and remember that it may not be as smooth when you use it.
*By the way, you might also want to know Does German Chocolate Cake Spoil. I recently wrote an article that talks about The Right Way to Store German Chocolate Cake to Make It Last, which you can check out here!
Can You Leave Melted Chocolate Out Overnight?
You can leave melted chocolate out overnight, but it is not recommended. Leaving melted chocolate exposed to the air may attract contaminants that will contaminate your food. If you are leaving out your chocolate overnight, place it in an airtight container and make sure to use it in the morning.
This doesn’t mean you have to throw away any leftover melted chocolates every time you leave them out of the fridge after using them, either. You just need to know how to store them properly.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Make Fudge Without Condensed Milk. I recently wrote an article talking about what you must know when Making Fudge Without Condensed Milk, which you can check out here!
Can You Put Melted Chocolate Back in the Fridge?
As a general rule, you can put melted chocolate back in the fridge. Refrigeration is the best way to store melted chocolate as you can prolong its life for months. To prevent multiple reheats and refrigeration, section your chocolate into multiple containers.
Just be sure to put it in an airtight container or bag so that it doesn’t absorb any other flavors from the fridge. Doing this will help to keep your melted chocolate tasting its very best.
*By the way, you might also want to know The 5 Best Ways To Temper Chocolate Correctly. I recently wrote a full step-by-step article about tempering chocolate correctly without burning it! You can check out this article here!
Can You Put Melted Chocolate in the Freezer?
You can freeze melted chocolate. Make sure to cool your chocolate before storing it or it will trap in steam and freeze with the chocolate. Allow the chocolate to cool, pour it into an airtight container or a freezer bag, and properly seal it before placing it into the freezer for up to 6 months.
After you are finished using your melted chocolate, double-check to make sure it is fully cool. Once it is, place it into an airtight container or freezer bag.
If the chocolate has not cooled enough, steam will be trapped in your container along with the chocolate
As a result, when you thaw your chocolate to reuse, excess moisture will be absorbed into the chocolate, causing it to seize.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Turn Condensed Milk Into Caramel. I recently wrote an article about A Complete How-to Guide to Turning Condescend Milk Into Caramel, which you can check out here!
What Can I Do With Leftover Melted Chocolate?
As a general rule, you can make many delicious treats with leftover melted chocolate. You can also use it as a topping for many desserts and even breakfast items. Melted chocolate is great for dipping fruit and nuts for a delicious chocolate shell.
Here are more treats you can make with your leftover melted chocolate:
- Pour it into a bowl and add some nuts, dried fruit, or marshmallows. Mix well, and then put it in the fridge to harden. Once hardened, you can cut it into squares and serve.
- Make chocolate bark by pouring the melted chocolate onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle your favorite toppings on top and then place them in the fridge until hardened. Once hardened, break into pieces and serve.
- Make hot chocolate by heating up some milk or cream with sugar to taste. Pour the melted chocolate into a mug of heated milk/cream mixture and stir well until combined together. You can also add some whipped cream on top of marshmallows.
- Make a chocolate pie by pouring the melted chocolate into a graham cracker crust and letting it set in the fridge for an hour or so. Top with whipped cream, chopped nuts, fudge sauce, etc., and serve.
The options are limitless! I’ve actually used leftover melted chocolate as a topping for my morning pancakes.
Whichever direction you choose to go with your leftover melted chocolate, it’s guaranteed to be delicious!
*By the way, you also might want to see an in-depth article about Creative Things To Do With Leftover Melted Chocolate. I recently wrote this article breaking down all the ways to Use Leftover Melted Chocolate, which you can check out here!
To Summarize…
Storing melted chocolate has helped me prevent much food waste and save money on chocolate!
It’s hard to properly calculate the amount of chocolate you truly need for each recipe which is why I started looking into storing my melted chocolate the right way!
You can easily store your leftover melted chocolate by following the helpful tips I provided above. You can also reuse melted chocolate (provided it is stored properly) to make some delicious treats!
