Melted chocolate is something that you can enjoy in many different ways. Sometimes you might want to use some melted chocolate as a topping on ice cream or other desserts.
You might also be making some type of dessert that calls for you to use melted chocolate. Whatever the case is, it’s going to be important to understand how to make it properly.
There are quite a few ways to go about melting chocolate, but you need to make sure that you don’t burn the chocolate. If you burn it while trying to melt it, then it isn’t going to taste all that great.
Read on to learn about various chocolate melting methods. You’ll learn how to melt it without burning it so that you can enjoy a tasty treat no matter what it is that you’re trying to make.
Melting Chocolate on the Stove
Melting chocolate on the stove is one of the most common ways to go about doing this. However, it’s also going to be easy to burn the chocolate if you don’t go about things the right way.
The best way to do this on the stove is to utilize a double boiler method. If you haven’t already, then it’d be wise to go out and buy a double boiler so that you can do this well and get your melted chocolate to turn out perfect.
What the double boiler does for you is it allows you to apply indirect heat to the chocolate. Instead of just putting it in a saucepan, you’re going to have another layer between the heat source and the chocolate.
This makes it less likely that you’ll scorch the chocolate and it should allow you to get the smooth and rich melted chocolate that you desire. It’s well worth getting a double boiler since it makes the melted chocolate turn out so nice.
If you don’t have a double boiler, then you can still use this same method by placing a metal bowl over the top of your saucepan. You just need to figure out how to do it so that the bottom of your metal bowl doesn’t touch the water in your saucepan.
It’s a lot easier to just use an actual double boiler. Thankfully, double boilers aren’t expensive and you’ll be able to get one online or at most department stores.
Melting chocolate in a double boiler involves you heating it up on the stove and then allowing it to cool. Add your chopped pieces of chocolate to the top of your double boiler.
It should be over water that is just barely simmering. Stir your chocolate lightly and keep going until it has fully melted. It’s also going to be wise to scrape the sides of the double boiler as you go so that it melts consistently.
For this, you’re going to want to use a rubber spatula that is heat-safe. Eventually, your chocolate will be melted and you’ll be ready to enjoy it.
Use the Microwave
Perhaps the easiest way to melt chocolate is to use your microwave. You can definitely get the job done in your microwave, but you’ll still need to be careful not to burn the chocolate.
In fact, using a microwave is going to be one of the easiest ways to burn your chocolate while trying to melt it. That doesn’t mean that this can’t work out well, though.
You’re just going to need to pay close attention to the chocolate to ensure that you don’t microwave it for too long. If you go overboard, then your chocolate will be a burnt mess and you’ll need to start over with a fresh batch.
To begin, you’re going to need to chop up pieces of chocolate that you can melt down. Get your pieces of chocolate and then place them inside of a microwave-safe bowl of some sort.
You can start microwaving the chocolate now, but you’re not going to want to do so at full power. Each microwave is a bit different, but it’s recommended to try microwaving your chocolate at 70% power to be on the safe side.
Once you’ve set the microwave properly, you’ll want to microwave the bowl of chocolate for one minute. Check the bowl to see how melted your chocolate is.
At this point, you’re going to want to keep microwaving the chocolate until it melts. Set the timer for 30 seconds and then check it again.
You want to keep checking after a short period of time has passed to avoid burning the chocolate. As long as you’re paying attention, it should be possible to melt it and avoid burning it.
This method is great because it’s the fastest way to get things done. If you don’t have a lot of time to spare, microwaving should be perfect.
Using a Slow Cooker Is Another Option
Sometimes people want to make very large batches of melted chocolate. You might need a lot of it if you’re planning on making a big dessert for a party.
In this instance, it’s actually going to be easier for you to use a slow cooker. You can melt chocolate in a slow cooker and get really good results overall.
It should be fairly simple to melt the chocolate this way without burning it as well. You’re going to chop your pieces of chocolate as you normally would and then you’ll throw them in the slow cooker.
Go ahead and set your slow cooker to the high setting and then allow the chocolate to cook in there for one hour while covered. After the hour has passed, you’ll need to turn the heat down to the low setting.
Cook the chocolate for another hour on the low setting while covered. The only difference this time is that you’ll need to stir every 15 minutes.
After all is said and done, the chocolate should be melted. If it isn’t completely melted, then you can keep cooking it for a little longer while keeping your eyes on it and stirring occasionally.
This should allow you to make big batches if you have a slow cooker that is large enough. It might be easier than using a stove in some ways, too.
Never Try to Rush the Process
You’re going to be much more likely to burn the chocolate if you try to rush things. Most of the time, you’ll find that people who burned chocolate while trying to melt it were trying to do things too fast.
You have to understand that it’s going to take time to melt the chocolate. Using the microwave is going to be the fastest way to get this done, but you still can’t rush that.
It’s going to be necessary to keep an eye on things so that you don’t burn the chocolate. If you try to use a higher power setting than was recommended above, then you’re going to burn the chocolate in all likelihood.
When you’re melting chocolate on the stove or in a slow cooker, you’re going to need to pay attention. As long as you’re monitoring the chocolate and not trying to move too fast, you should be able to melt it reliably.
Buy Good Chocolate
Buying good chocolate is another key part of getting this done right. If you buy low-quality chocolate, then you’ll have an easier time burning it.
You want the melted chocolate to turn out well and that means that it’s worthwhile to buy good ingredients. It might be better to spend a few more dollars on chocolate so that you can get better results.
The best chocolate to melt will have a high cocoa butter content. You should be able to get this chocolate to melt properly and it’ll turn out very smooth overall.
Some people even go so far as to buy multiple types to try each kind out. Once you have a brand that you know you like, then you’ll be able to stick with it so that you can get consistent results.
Knowing what to expect will make things a lot simpler for you. It’ll still be necessary to keep an eye on things, but you’ll have a basic idea of how long things will take and how the chocolate will react.
Final Thoughts
Melting chocolate is something that you want to get right. If you try to move too fast, then you’re going to be way more likely to burn it.
You learned about the best methods for melting so that you can get good results. It should be possible to melt it without burning it if you follow the advice above.
Which method you decide to use is up to you. You might gravitate toward one method or another, but all of them will work well.
Remember to buy high-quality chocolate so that you can have the best experience possible. If you’re going to be using the stove to melt your chocolate, then it’ll be wise to invest in a double boiler.
If you happen to have a slow cooker, then that’ll be an easy way to melt chocolate in larger batches. You know what to do now and you’ll just have to decide how best to proceed based on what you want to do with it.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.