Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Comparisons
Making your own chocolate covered strawberries can be as simple or as involved as you want it. After a few times of making them with a few different chocolate types and adding a sprinkle of coconut, candy or mint here and there, I was looking for a bit more. After consulting with some of my chef friends and reviewing some recipe books in the bookstore and checking out online, I was pleasantly surprised to find some really creative ideas out there which helped further my inventiveness in the kitchen. There are also a number of companies doing interesting things with the berries. I wanted to write some comments about what I saw in comparing some of the different vendors to help others make a wise decision.
First of all, go to the sites and check out if they use real chocolate. Yea for some people they might not care, but if you’re going to spend the money you want them to taste good and get the health benefits from the real chocolate. Apparently some of the companies’ dipped chocolate is full of artificial additives and partially hydrogenated oils or even full transfats. I don’t know what your level of enjoyment is with different brands of chocolate, but let me share that the finer the chocolate, the better the entire taste of the whole berry will be. Remember that snacks like these can help you develop healthy eating habits over time too.
One reader did note that with a lower percentage of cocoa butter, the companies can create a harder shell that ships better with less risk of melting. This is a good point and worth nothing for the readers. A pure and darker chocolate will have a higher cocoa butter value. Some companies may in fact be using vegetable oils in place of more expensive cocoa butter. Regardless, this does not give any excuse for adding all the artificial ingredients in the chocolate.
It only makes sense that your recipe, no matter how exquisite your technique and skill, can only be as good as the quality of the ingredients that you start with. So be an informed consumer and demand a good quality product.
Some companies dip the strawberries about three-quarters up, and some actually go all the way up to the stem and leaves. The more and higher the covered strawberry is, the more product and more cost the company will be expending. It is also noted that sometimes for photo purposes and to prove it’s a berry, the top may be uncoated (thanks Dustin).
Check the shipping policy of the companies. Some will be using gel packs and package the berries in a standard box. Others will have a more insulated container and may use multiple ice packs, dry ice, or a combination. Some offer overnight shipping for reduced rates and others go with two or three day service. Be sure that there is enough cold material to keep the chocolate from melting and the berries fresh.
Check the satisfaction of other customers. See if anyone in your area has used their services or can recommend based on their experiences. You may need to give a couple a try for a special occasion. From that point on, you’ll know if you can go with that company for many times to come or if you’d like to try your hand at discovering the talents you can bring in your own kitchen.