Skip Nav   Definition: Temper  1. A cooking technique in which
the temperature of a cold/room-temperature ingredient is slowly
raised by adding small amounts of hot/boiling liquid. The hot
liquid must be mixed in gradually to prevent the cool
ingredient, for example eggs, from cooking further. This process
is commonly used when making ice cream or custards.  2. A
process used in chocolate candy-making that involves slowly
raising and lowering the temperature of melted chocolate while
constantly stirring. Tempering chocolate causes the cocoa butter
crystals to break down and reform. After the tempered chocolate
is cooled, the end result is a super smooth, shiny, chocolate
that makes a snapping noise when broken.  Latest Food