Chembake wrote:
> I use polycarbonate chocolate molds.( or what you call professional
> molds).
> .If I use it continuously I just have to wipe off the ' chocolate
> 'dirt and reuse it.
>
> If it gets really dirty that wiping will not remove the dirt I have to
> soak it in very hot water and let the dirt soften and then wash it
> slightly soapy water.
> Then rinse it again with very hot water, let it drip dry.
> Then wipe it with clean cloth and put in the mold warmer for later
> use.
>
> I occasionally wash it in the dishwasher but don't use much soap.

Thanks--I've been washing mine in the dishwasher mostly--using gel, not
granular soap. I think I'm going to try washing them less and see what
happens.

On a related note, I have one mold that causes me continual problems, and it
sounds as if you might be able to help me with it! The mold in question is
the tilted teepee. I can't recall who the manufacturer was, because I got it
from JB Prince, but you probably have seen it.

The first problem I had with this mold was that it was very difficult to get
the chocolate to penetrate to the tip, despite shaking and tapping and so
on. I solved that by poking into the bottom of each cavity with a tapered
wooden chopstick when the mold was filled with chocolate, before pouring our
the excess. It is unorthodox, I suppose, but it does work.

The second problem I've had with this mold is frequent rashes of light
spotting--similar to bloom, but not bloom. It happens with this mold, but
not with others. I've been trying to figure out why, to no avail. Does it
have something to do with the unusual depth vs width of the cavity? Does it
have to do with the temperature of the mold, the room, over crystallization?
I'd appreciate your thoughts on the subject. The Wybauw book has helped me
overcome some technical problems, but not this one so far.

By the way, what temperature do you warm your molds to before use?