Learn How to Melt Chocolate Chips in the microwave or on the stove top. These easy instructions will show you to how to melt chocolate chips without burning it.
We use melted chocolate chips for a lot of our baking recipes. We use it in our fudge recipes, to drizzle over candy, and more. These easy tips and tricks will help keep the flavor and texture of the chocolate smooth and creamy.
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Why We Love This
You can use these tips to melt a variety of chocolate. It can be easy to overheat chocolate. Following these easy steps will have you dipping strawberries in it for a delicious treat.
If your recipe calls for melting chocolate, use these tips. Regardless of the heating source, you are left with delicious, melted chocolate.
Supplies
If you are melting your chocolate chips in the microwave grab these easy supplies.
- Microwave-Safe Bowl. The size will depend on how much chocolate you are melting.
- Wooden Spoon. I prefer to use a wooden spoon to stir the chocolate.
- Spatula. This makes it easy to scrape the sides of the bowl.
If you are heating for the stovetop method, you will need these supples.
- Double Boiler. You can make one by putting water in a pan and placing the chocolate in a smaller pan on top.
- Inch of Water in bottom of pan. You don’t need much water. Just enough to keep the chocolate from burning.
- Spatula or Spoon. You can use your preferred tool for stirring.
Ingredients
- Chocolate Chips. Use the best quality chocolate that you can. It makes a difference!
How to Melt Chocolate Chips in Microwave
Step 1. Put the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in intervals of 30 seconds. Then stir the chocolate chips.
Step 2. Then continue to microwave in 20 second intervals. You will need to stir after each interval, until the chocolate chips are fully melted.
Recipe Tips
- Melting Chocolate – Make sure to heat in small intervals to prevent from overheating the chocolate chips. I like to heat, then stir after easy time. This allows the melted chips to melt the ones that are not melted yet. It also prevents it from burns easily.
- Overheated – If the chocolate is overheated, the chocolate will seize up or become grainy. If the chocolate is overheated, you will need to start over.
- Clean Bowl – When melting chocolate in the bowl, make sure there is no water in the bowl. This could cause the chocolate seize. Which means it may not be able to be used because it is grainy.
- Tempered Chocolate – This is not the same as tempered chocolate. Melting chocolate chips does not result in a shiny texture. Melting chocolate is much more easier.
Can You Fix Overheated Chocolate?
After you have melted the chocolate and it looks grainy and not smooth then it has been seized. This could happen if water gets into your chocolate. It is important to start with a clean, dry heatproof bowl.
These are some tips to fix seized chocolate, that have worked for us.
- Boiling Water – Add in boiling water or hot water 1 teaspoon at a time. Make sure to continue to stir after each addition until it is smooth again.
- Add More Chocolate – You may also be able to add in more chocolate to create a smooth texture.
- Add Vegetable Oil – Another option is to add in a teaspoon of vegetable oil.
But often times, when I have heated the chocolate to long I have just started over. Make sure to buy extra chocolate chips just in case.
How To Thin Chocolate That is Too Thick?
If you find that you chocolate is to thick, you can try two options to help thin it out. To prevent this from happening, make sure to not heat chocolate to quickly or add to much chocolate.
- Stir in Vegetable oil or coconut oil to thin it out. You can even start with coconut oil before melting the chocolate.
How To Melt Chocolate Chips On Stove Top
Even though we prefer to melt chocolate in the microwave, the stove top works great too.
- Step 1 – Double Broiler – You will start with a double boiler. Make sure you have a pot and a heat proof bowl that sits down in the pot. This pot should fit snug so that not heat escapes. But you do not want it touching the pan.
- Step 2 – Add Water – Add about an inch of water to the bottom of the pan and bring to a simmer.
- Step 3 – Place Bowl – Place the bowl over the simmering water, top of the pot. Making sure it does not touch the water.
- Step 4 – Stir – Stir the chocolate until it melts.
- Step 5 – Watch Closely – Make sure no water gets into the water as this could cause the chocolate to seize.
Variation Ideas
You can use these steps to heat different types of chocolate for your chocolate bars, cakes, cookies, brownies and more.
- Milk Chocolate Chips
- Peanut Butter Chips
- Dark Chocolate Chips
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate
- White Chocolate Chips
Storage
Before storing melted chocolate, make sure it has cooled completely. You can store in an airtight container in the fridge. Keep in mind condensation may appear on the top.
More Easy Baking Tips
Try these easy methods for melting chocolate. Please come back and leave a comment once you try it.
How to Melt Chocolate Chips
Ingredients
- 2 cups Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave for 30 seconds. Then stir the chocolate chips.
- Then continue to microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the chocolate chips are fully melted and smooth.
