Sweet tips for melting chocolate!

Posted by Michelle

Valentine's Day is coming up faster than one can say "chocolate heart" and what better way to celebrate this oh-so-sweet holiday than by melting up some of your favorite chocolate! Treat your loved ones to some delectable hand made goodies this season and don't forget to save some chocolate for yourself...trust me you deserve it!

How to melt chocolate:

Double-Boiler Method of Melting Chocolate:
For the double-boiler method, chop the chocolate fine, place it in a clean stainless-steel bowl or the top of a double boiler, and set the bowl over a saucepan of very hot or gently simmering (not boiling) water. As the chocolate begins to melt, stir it with a heat-resistant spoon or rubber spatula, working the chocolate from the sides of the bowl into the center mass. When the chocolate pieces are almost entirely melted, remove the bowl from the heat, stir, and let the remaining chocolate melt by the heat of the larger mass.

Microwave Method of Melting Chocolate:
For the microwave method, finely chop the chocolate and place it in a clean microwavable plastic or glass bowl. Set the bowl in the microwave oven and heat it, uncovered, at 100% power for 15-second intervals, or at 50% power for 1-minute intervals, stirring between intervals. When you melt chocolate in the microwave, it retains its shape, which can fool you into thinking it is not melting. Be sure then to stir it between heating intervals or you won't be able to gauge if it has melted, and you might overheat it. Remove the chocolate from the oven when it has almost melted, then stir and let any tiny undissolved lumps melt by the heat of the surrounding mass.

Oven Method of Melting Chocolate:
For the oven method, place the chocolate in a moisture-free, ovenproof pan, and set it, uncovered, in an oven that has a pilot light. Leave the oven door ajar and wait until the chocolate has melted, 5 to 7 minutes.

*Courtesy of Cookbook Heaven

TAGS: Chocolate, Melt, Melting, Valentines Day
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[ READER COMMENTS ]

1

Kandyse said:

I'm melting chocolate and butter together and they are separated what can I do to fix my chocolate so i don't have to throw my batch out?

Posted at 06:10 PM, on October 23 2008

Sweet tips for melting chocolate!

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