What’s not to love about melted chocolate? It is delicious, decadent, and the perfect way to elevate even the most basic sweet treat. For instance, a little drizzle of our melted Vanilla Sea Salt chocolate can turn a scoop of vanilla ice cream into an indulgent dessert or take a homemade chocolate cake to the next level. But even the most experienced bakers will tell you that melting chocolate isn’t the easiest task. Getting that smooth, silky drizzle isn’t as simple as it might seem. There’s so much that could go wrong. One false move and you could end up with unusable lumps or a burnt mess.
Lucky for you, we have made a list of a few easy ways in which you can melt chocolate at home. You don’t need any fancy equipment to get the glossiest melted chocolate for your cakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, dipped cookies, and more.
Here are some of the best and easiest ways to melt chocolate:
- Double boiler
- Slow cooker
- Microwave
The double boiler method, also known as the stovetop method, is most commonly used by baking professionals as it allows you to keep a close watch on the chocolate and its consistency. A double boiler or bain-marie is one pot stacked on top of another. Fill the lower pot with water and let it simmer. It is the heat from this water that will heat the upper pot and gradually melt the chocolate. Stir the chocolate gently and frequently until it has melted. Make sure, however, that the bottom of the upper pot doesn’t touch the water.
If you are looking for a way to make a large batch of melted chocolate, maybe for a fondue night or simply to store for future use, the slow cooker method is the best option. Chop up your chocolate evenly and place the pieces into the slow cooker. Do not add any water. Set the heat to high and let the chocolate cook, covered, for an hour. After an hour, reduce the heat and continue to cook for another hour or until the chocolate is completely melted. Don’t forget to stir the chocolate occasionally to prevent lumps and keep it from sticking to the bottom of your slow cooker.
The microwave method is, arguably, the best way to melt chocolate without making any mess or dirtying too many tools. All you need to do is chop up your chocolate and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for a minute, take it out, and stir the chocolate. Continue to microwave in 20 to 30-second increments and stir continuously, until all the chocolate has melted. But during this process, make sure you keep a careful eye on your chocolate so to prevent it from getting burnt.
At ChocoSol Traders, we offer bean to bar chocolates, including some of our most popular products like Darkness and Gratitude (with 100% cacao content), which are perfect for all your home baking experiments. We also offer premium drinking cacao chocolate. Browse through our online store to discover our decadent chocolates and chocolate products. Shop now.