Chocolate Tempering Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the chocolate tempering calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Formulas Used

Melt Temperature

melt_temp = melt_f

Cool To

cool_temp = cool_f

Working Temperature

work_temp = work_f

Seed Chocolate (for tabling)

seed_amount = round(chocolate_g * 0.25)

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
chocolate_typeChocolate Type1
chocolate_gChocolate Amount(g)500
melt_fDerived value= (chocolate_type == 1) * 122 + (chocolate_type == 2) * 113 + (chocolate_type == 3) * 104calculated
cool_fDerived value= (chocolate_type == 1) * 82 + (chocolate_type == 2) * 79 + (chocolate_type == 3) * 77calculated
work_fDerived value= (chocolate_type == 1) * 90 + (chocolate_type == 2) * 86 + (chocolate_type == 3) * 82calculated

How It Works

How to Temper Chocolate

Temperature Ranges

| Type | Melt | Cool To | Working | |------|------|---------|--------| | Dark | 118-122°F | 80-82°F | 88-90°F | | Milk | 110-113°F | 78-80°F | 84-86°F | | White | 100-104°F | 76-78°F | 80-82°F |

Steps

1. Melt: Heat chocolate to the melt temperature to destroy all existing crystal forms. 2. Cool: Lower the temperature to encourage stable (Form V) crystals to form. 3. Reheat to working temp: Gently raise to working temperature to melt unstable crystals while preserving stable ones.

Seed Method

Add 25% finely chopped tempered chocolate to the melted chocolate while stirring. This provides stable crystal seeds.

Worked Example

Temper 500 g of dark chocolate.

chocolate_type = 1chocolate_g = 500
  1. 01Melt 500 g dark chocolate to 122°F (50°C).
  2. 02Cool to 82°F (28°C) on a marble slab or by adding seed chocolate.
  3. 03Seed amount = 500 x 0.25 = 125 g finely chopped tempered chocolate.
  4. 04Reheat gently to 90°F (32°C) working temperature.
  5. 05Test: dip a knife and let it set. It should be glossy and snap cleanly in 3-5 minutes.

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Chocolate Tempering Calculator