Melting chocolate can be tricky but I’m going to show you a few simple steps for how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave without all the hassle of a double boiler!
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years of developing my cooking skills, it’s that chocolate can be a temperamental little beast. Sure it’s one thing to grab a chocolate bar and eat it. It’s quite another trying to melt it. Raise your hand if you’ve had that moment where you try to have perfectly smooth, melted chocolate, only to end up with and tacky, clay-like consistency- raises both hands furiously in the air!
Here’s the thing about chocolate. When you add heat to try and melt it, you have to do it just right so that it stays within a certain temperature to get that smooth and glossy melted chocolate finish. You have to add the heat very slowly to get that melty texture. This is a method referred to as how to temper chocolate.
Conversely, when it get’s that clay-like consistency, it means your chocolate has seized and will not get that lovely melted texture you’re shooting for (it can usually still be blended into a batter for baking but you won’t be able to pour it onto anything or use it in a way that it will be outwardly visible).
There are a variety of ways to temper chocolate, most commonly involving a double boiler and often a thermometer. But I think you’re all here because, much like me, you enjoy a more no-frills, keep-it-simple style of cooking. None of us have the room or time for such hassle and equipment.
So I’m going to show you how how to melt chocolate in the microwave, or if we’re being specific to this case, how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave (because that’s what I’m most commonly working with). Keep in mind, you can also use chopped up chocolate, I just prefer to use chocolate chips because, ain’t nobody got time for that!
Now I know many sources out there will tell you that melting chocolate chips in the microwave is a bad idea. And from a logical standpoint that makes sense, right? I mean, I just you told earlier in this post how the temperature needs to be closely monitored and controlled.
But there is a way to melt chocolate in the microwave that is a bit more controlled and and will get you the same, perfectly melted results as if you had used a double boiler for melting chocolate. So I’m going to show you how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave the easy way.
Here are the tools you’ll need for this tutorial of how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave:
- Microwave-safe bowl
– I encourage you to go with a bowl that’s a bit bigger than you think you need because then you’ll be able to stir the chocolate without having to worry about the bowl any of the chocolate coming out of the bowl.
- Spatula– I like to use a mini silicone spatula (unless I’m melting a large amount of chocolate, then I use a larger spatula
). The reason I chose a spatula over a spoon or whisk is that it allows you to scrape the sides and get every chocolate chip integrated.
– I encourage you to go with a bowl that’s a bit bigger than you think you need because then you’ll be able to stir the chocolate without having to worry about the bowl any of the chocolate coming out of the bowl.
). The reason I chose a spatula over a spoon or whisk is that it allows you to scrape the sides and get every chocolate chip integrated.
1 minPrep Time
2 minCook Time
3 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- Chocolate chips
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Silicone spatula
Instructions
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Put the bowl of chocolate chips into the microwave and nuke them for 30 second on high power.
- Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the chocolate.
- Place the bowl back into the microwave and nuke it for another 30 seconds on high power.
- Remove the bowl again and stir the chocolate again.
- After this, keep microwaving the chocolate chips on high power for 10 second increments, stirring in between every time until the chocolate is smooth and fully melted.
- Enjoy!
Notes
The amount of 10 second increments you'll need to fully melt the chocolate will vary based on how much chocolate you're using. Keep a close eye on it and give it a good stir each time.
One of my favorite recipes that uses melted chocolate chips is this one:
Peanut Butter Brownie Truffles
I also love this recipe using melted chocolate:
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