Best Way To Preserve Chocolate Dipped Strawberries?!
Decorating By Twerkdotgif Updated 11 Feb 2014 , 4:49pm by Apti
ASo I have a ton of orders for chocolate dipped strawberries on valentines day, and of course the day before I'll be out at Disneyland so I have to make them 2 days before valentines. Any ideas on how to preserve them?!!?
They are really best made the day of purchase/delivery. If you try to refrigerate them after dipping, they will start sweating once out of the cooler.
I think you'll need to get up really early on the 14th. :)
Liz
What they said. (Can't do these ahead of time.) You may have to skip Disneyland if you have a "ton of orders". Unlike chocolate covered Oreos or pretzels, fresh strawberries must be made and delivered within 24 hours. This is something you should have considered prior to accepting the orders.
You also need to locate, purchase, rinse and dry the berries no more than 12 hours before preparation. I'd suggest you pre-pay or reserve your berries at your local market now. The produce shelves may be bare on February 13.
Suggest you prepare all your working areas BEFORE you leave for Disneyland, (mise en place*). This would include surface areas cleared and cleaned, towels and paper towels and drying areas for the washed strawberries, chocolates, piping bags, wrapping/packaging/bows/labels, customer checklists. Customer receipts/invoices, addresses and directions if you are delivering.
Do as much as possible except for the actual berry preparation. When you are ready to start dipping, use the mise en place method again and treat the preparation like a factory production line. If possible, line up an assistant NOW that you can count on to package/label/apply ribbon etc. as soon as the berries are set. Make "order forms" to be placed on each order so you don't lose track of which customer gets which item. Have a checklist prepared. Use it.
*mise en place —n. (in a restaurant kitchen) the preparation of equipment and food before service begins.
Collins English Dictionary
Fortunately, chocolate berries are super-fast once you have everything in place. Good luck!
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