Storing Valentine’s Day chocolate in this common place can ruin taste: experts

Storing your love bites could be a rocky road.

If you’re hoping to savor your Valentine’s Day chocolate and make it last through the ongoing shortage, there are certain ways you’ll have to sock it away.

You might think that putting your sweets in the fridge is the best solution, but it could actually damage the taste and texture, according to Hotel Chocolat.

However, there is a way to do so without completely losing its quality.

During the summer — or if you live in a warm climate year-round — putting your chocolate in the fridge is a practical way to keep it from melting, especially if you’re not planning on eating it right away.

And while there’s technically no right answer considering different brands suggest other refrigeration options, Hotel Chocolat believes it should be avoided for various reasons.

One of the main issues is something called “sugar bloom,” which is when chocolate is exposed to cold temperatures and then brought back into a warmer condition, allowing it to become discolored.

Sugar bloom isn’t inherently bad for one’s health, but it could affect the smooth and quality texture of chocolate.

But if you do want to refrigerate yours, the best way is to store it in an airtight container, making sure the taste stays pure by preventing surrounding odors or flavors from affecting the tasty treat.

“To ward off the risk of dull flavor and a brittle texture, take your chocolate out of the fridge roughly 30 minutes before eating, although make sure you don’t leave it directly in the sunlight,” the website suggests.

“This ensures your chocolate has time to warm up to room temperature without becoming a melted mess.”

They add that putting chocolate in the fridge is fine when necessary, but it ideally should be stored in a cool, dry place at room temperature.