A Lindt master chocolatier has settled the long-running debate over whether chocolate should be kept in the fridge, advising against it in favour of a cool, dark cupboard.
Miquetta de Castro said: "Chocolate is more sensitive to its environment than people often realise, and where it's kept can make a noticeable difference to how it looks and tastes. Here's where it should, and shouldn't, be stored."
Why the fridge is a bad choice
Contrary to popular belief, the fridge is one of the worst places to keep chocolate bars. While it keeps them cold, it can damage both taste and texture.
Miquetta explained: "The fridge is one of the worst places to store chocolate, despite how common it is. The cold, damp environment can cause bloom and dull the flavour, and taking chocolate in and out of the fridge repeatedly only makes this worse."
She also warned against storing chocolate near any heat-emitting appliances, as warm conditions cause problems.
She explained: "Anywhere warm is a problem for chocolate, whether that's a kitchen counter near the oven, a radiator, or a windowsill that gets direct sun. Chocolate begins to soften and melt at much lower temperatures than people expect, so it needs to be kept somewhere consistently cool."
The best place to store chocolate
Instead of the fridge or a countertop, the ideal spot is a cool, dark cupboard, kept away from direct sunlight and at a fairly consistent temperature of around 16-20C.
She warned: "Sudden or frequent changes in temperature are one of the main causes of bloom, so consistency matters more than the exact spot chosen."
The location within the cupboard also matters, as chocolate should be kept away from strong-smelling foods such as onions.
Miquetta explained: "Chocolate is highly absorbent, so storing it near strong-smelling food like onions, garlic, or spices can genuinely affect its flavour over time. It's best kept somewhere separate from anything with a strong odour, even if that means a different shelf or cupboard entirely."
Using an airtight container or wrapper can help protect chocolate from lingering smells nearby.
