Can you ship chocolate products in the summer without melting?
Posted onMay 24, 2021
Several factors influence the melting point of chocolate, including the amount of milk fat in the product, how the chocolate is tempered, and any additional ingredients or additives. White and milk chocolates – higher in milk fats and cocoa butter - have the lowest melting point while dark chocolate melts at slightly higher temperatures, for example. Many chocolate products are crafted to soften at body temperatures to create a pleasing confection that “melts in the mouth”. Others are designed to hold their shape longer during baking – such as chocolate chips – and have higher melting points.
Whatever kind of chocolate you use in your products, shipping confections during the summer months can be challenging. No manufacturer wants their beautifully molded chocolate treats to arrive at the customer as unappealing blobs. Refrigerated trucks offer a temperature controlled shipping environment, but they are also expensive and hard to engage during the hot season.
Astro-Cooler’s Blankets and Pallet Covers can serve as an alternative to reefers for shipping chocolate products in summer. Our AC Blanket typically keeps the temperature under the blanket in a range that is 25 degrees cooler than outside the cover. The Astro-Quilt increases that thermal protection range up to 30 degrees. For shipping containers, we offer Container Liners.
Astro-Cooler’s thermal protection products may be a fit for you if:
- Your transit time is not longer than two days
- The type of chocolate you are shipping has a higher melt point than a 100% pure chocolate product
Astro Cooler will work with you to understand your products’ temperature sensitivities, and can perform testing that will determine if they are a good fit for a passive thermal protection solution. Our Astro-Assure Route Forecasting tool can provide you with the information you need to make shipping decisions throughout the year.
If your products are a candidate for passive thermal protection, you could reduce shipping costs and your carbon footprint by increasing your Dry FTL shipping window. Contact Us now to learn more.
