As a culinary expert with a deep understanding of the science behind cooking and baking, I can provide an insightful explanation of what happens when chocolate burns.
Chocolate is a complex mixture of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids (in the case of milk chocolate). The melting point of chocolate is quite low, which is why it's often said to "melt in your mouth." This is due to the cocoa butter, which is the fat derived from the cocoa bean and is responsible for the smooth texture of chocolate. When chocolate is heated, the cocoa butter crystals melt, and the chocolate becomes fluid. However, if the chocolate is heated too much, it can lead to a process known as "burning."
When chocolate burns, several chemical and physical changes occur:


1. Thermal Degradation: The first thing that happens is thermal degradation of the sugars present in the chocolate. Sugars, when heated to high temperatures, can caramelize and then burn, leading to a bitter, acrid taste.


2. Separation of Components: As the temperature increases beyond the melting point of cocoa butter, the chocolate can separate into its constituent parts. This is often seen as a dark, burned-looking solid and a pale golden liquid. The solid part is the cocoa solids and some sugar that have become charred, while the liquid is the melted cocoa butter and any unburned sugar.


3. Change in Texture: The texture of the chocolate changes dramatically. Instead of being smooth and glossy, it becomes grainy and unappealing. This is due to the formation of large sugar crystals that can't be redissolved easily.


4. Loss of Flavor: The flavor profile of the chocolate is significantly altered. The desirable flavors from the cocoa and any added ingredients are lost, and the burnt taste becomes dominant.


5. Maillard Reaction: If the chocolate is heated to very high temperatures, the Maillard reaction can occur. This is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor. However, in the case of chocolate, this reaction often results in an undesirable, bitter taste.


6. Smoke and Fumes: As the chocolate burns, it can produce smoke and potentially harmful fumes. These fumes can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory system.

7.
Risk of Contamination: Burnt chocolate can stick to the bottom of pots or pans, making it difficult to remove and potentially contaminating other foods cooked in the same equipment.

To avoid burning chocolate, it's important to heat it gently and slowly, ideally in a double boiler or using the microwave in short intervals. It's also crucial to stir the chocolate frequently to ensure even heating.

Now, let's move on to the translation of the above explanation into Chinese.

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Chocolate melts at a relatively low temperature--it literally melts in your mouth. When you heat chocolate, the cocoa butter crystals melt and the chocolate becomes fluid, but if you get the chocolate too hot, it can separate into burned, blackened cocoa particles and pale golden liquid.read more >>