Do you often need just a small amount of chocolate for your baking needs? Want melted chocolate to drizzle over your vanilla ice cream at night? This is my favorite method for melting chocolate quickly and gets good results each time! I want to show you how to melt chocolate in a makeshift double boiler. No you don’t need any fancy equipment!
There are a few different ways to melt chocolate and some are easier than others, but all are achievable.
The first step to any of these methods, is that if you are using a chocolate bar (not chocolate chips), you will need to chop the chocolate on a cutting board prior to melting it. If the entire block is placed in the bowl or pan to melt, it will melt unevenly and you will have burned chocolate.
These methods work for all kinds of chocolate: dark chocolate, white chocolate, and white chocolate chips, chocolate melts, or any of your favorite chocolate.
How to Melt Chocolate in a Makeshift Double Boiler
This is my favorite method for melting chocolate. I used to use the microwave method, but it was using a hit or miss, if my chocolate was going to melt or come out burned and unstable.
For this recipe I used my favorite white chocolate (Ghirardelli chips), but you can use this method for any chocolate.
If you prefer to buy a double boiler, this one here has really great reviews.
But, if you are like me and don’t use a double boiler that often and want to DIY one, then this is the recipe for you!
This DIY method is the exact same process as using the double boiler method. And to me, the easiest method for melting chocolate.
This simple process includes: A small, medium, or large pot (depending on your down size), a glass bowl or metal bowl, an inch of tap water, and your chocolate of choice.
First, if you are using block chocolate, chop the chocolate into uniform pieces (as best you can).
Next, add about 1 inched of water into a pot, heat water over high eat until you have boiling water.
Bring the temperature down so it is simmering water and place the glass or metal bowl on top of the pot. Make sure the bowl is not touching the water. You just want the steam from the water to melt the chocolate. Melting the chocolate with indirect heat.
Place chocolate in the bowl and stir continuously with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. This is an important step! Don’t walk away from the chocolate. Keep a close eye on it.
Once the chocolate is melted use in on your favorite dessert, vanilla ice cream, or use it to decorate Rice Krispies treats!
THREE other ways to Melt Chocolate:
How to Melt Chocolate in a Microwave
This way of melting chocolate is trickier than the rest. As chocolate burns fast! Microwaves can get very hot and burn chocolate very fast. White chocolate is the easiest to burn.
But, if you are wanting to use the microwave method and melt chocolate in the microwave, here we go.
To melt chocolate in the microwave, add chopped chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl with a small amount of butter, coconut oil, or vegetable oil. you may also add a small amount of water, but water will cause the chocolate to seize up and thicken.
Place in the microwave at 20 percent power and cook for 15 seconds.
Remove chocolate from the microwave, stir, and repeat for another 15 seconds.
You will repeat this until all the chocolate has melted.
It is important to stir after each 15 second interval, so the heat can be spread around across the chocolate.
CAUTION: The heat from the microwave does not spread evenly throughout the food like an oven or stove would. This means that some of the chocolate will be warmed and melted and some will not. Stirring after each interval helps the heat spread out across the chocolate reducing the possibility of burning.
How to Melt Chocolate on the Stove Top:
Another way to melt chocolate is the stovetop method. This is similar to the microwave method but you are using a saucepan over the stove.
To melt chocolate over the stove top the first step is to place the chopped chocolate in the saucepan.
Stir with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until the chocolate is completed melted.
Once you see that is is melted, immediately remove from heat and use on your dessert. So keep a close eye on it.
Similar to the microwave method, this stove top method also has a higher burn rate with the chocolate. This is because the chocolate is directly on the heat source. So, it heats and gets hotter faster.
If you see the chocolate has started separating from the sides of the pan and is moving like it is all one piece, then the chocolate is starting to burn. You can loosen that up again by adding a little more oil, or butter. I prefer butter.
How to Melt Chocolate in a Slow Cooker:
The third way to melt chocolate is in the slow cooker. This method works great if you are making large batch of chocolate and need to keep it warm for a long time.
This is great if you are making a lot of chocolate for a cake or a chocolate fountain, or a fondu party and dipping your favorite fresh fruit, or making chocolate candies and need the chocolate to stay melted for a while. This is the method that will give you a lot of chocolate for several hours.
Place your chocolate in glass mason jars, add water to the slow cooker- about half way up the jars, turn on high for about 30 minutes, stir. They should be melted, but you may need more or less time depending int he slow cooker. Turn heat to low and use for the next few hours!
Make sure to tag me @raesbakeryblog on Instagram and comment below if you make this melted chocolate recipe. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card, the button above or below this post, or any photos above.
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Coffee and Brownies,
Ashley Rae
How to Melt Chocolate in a DIY Double Boiler (and three other ways)
Silky smooth melted chocolate made in a DIY double boiler is ready in minutes and perfect for your favorite dessert!
Ingredients
- Favorite chocolate of choice
- 1 inch of water
Instructions
- Boil 1 inch of water in a medium pot
- Once water is boiling turn down the heat to a simmer
- Put a metal or glass bowl on top of the pot. Make sure the bowl is not touching the water in the pot.
- place chopped chocolate in the bowl and stir continuously until the chocolate is melted.
- Once melted, pour in bowls and use as desired!
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