Semisweet vs Milk Chocolate
Chocolate is a generic name for a number of products made by mixing ingredients like cocoa beans, cocoa butter and sugar in different proportions. There are also different types of chocolates classified according to their taste. Thus, there is the sweetened chocolate, semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and so on. People remain confused between semisweet and milk chocolate as both are sweet in taste. Despite similarities in taste, there are differences between semisweet chocolate and milk chocolate that will be talked about in this article.
Semisweet Chocolate
This is a dark colored chocolate that is not bitter in taste, but it is also not sweet. It contains half sugar and half cocoa. It is used mostly in baking different confectionary items. If the amount of sugar is any higher than 50%, chocolate classifies as sweet chocolate. Semisweet chocolate is not eaten as a candy but rather used in cooking. Semi-sweet chocolate may or may not have any milk. High percentage of cocoa solids in semisweet chocolate makes it rich and smooth. This is also why it is more expensive than chocolates with small cocoa solids content. Semisweet chocolate is considered very versatile and is available in many shapes such as blocks, bars, squares and even chips. To be called semisweet, a chocolate must have at least 35% pure chocolate with the remaining contents being cocoa butter and sugar.
Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate is a chocolate that contains at least 10% pure chocolate with the remaining being cocoa butter, sugar, and milk products. The milk or cream products used in milk chocolates help in making the chocolate flavor mild. Milk used in milk chocolates can be powdered, condensed, or even liquid. Because of the presence of milk fats, milk chocolate is very smooth and creamy in taste.
What is the difference between Semisweet and Milk Chocolate?
• Semisweet chocolate is darker and bitterer than milk chocolate.
• Milk chocolate is creamier and smoother than semisweet chocolate.
• Semisweet chocolate contains a higher proportion of cocoa solids.
• Cocoa content in milk chocolate is 10-15%, whereas semisweet chocolate has at least 35% cocoa content.
• Semisweet chocolate may not contain milk whereas milk is always present in milk chocolate, in one or the other form.
• There is less sugar in semisweet chocolate than milk chocolate.
• Semisweet chocolate has fewer calories than milk chocolate.
• Semisweet chocolate is mostly used for cooking whereas milk chocolate is used for eating.