Melting chocolate is a pain sometimes, but if done carefully it can make your chocolate melting experience a pleasurable one. Way back when, like grade school years old, I tried melting chocolate bark in the microwave. Melting chocolate this way is difficult, as I learned. My chocolate seized, it smelled, it burned, and looked horrible; I became afraid of melting chocolate. For years, I felt a tinge of panic when I saw a recipe that required me to melt anything! That’s when I learned that a double boiler method is the best; and it is not something that you have to buy; but it’s something you can make. 

 

I was reading a fellow bloggers post and they had said if you do not own a double boiler the microwave is the next best method. I use the double boiler method every time and I do not own one. After reading the article I decided to write this post, A Do It Yourself (DIY) Double Boiler. Here is what you do:

Using only a small amount of water, simmer boiling water in a small sauce pan. Place chocolate (or ingredient you wish to melt) in a stainless steel bowl and place it on top of the sauce pan. You want to keep the bottom of the bowl from touching the simmering water. You will want to stir the chocolate continuously.Throughout the process you will need to pick the bowl up and quickly wipe off any condensation that may have formed on the bottom. .

The point of the double boiler method is that the ingredients are not directly on the heat source. Melting chocolate using this method helps keep the chances of seizing low and gives you a better chance of getting to the desired consistency of chocolate and temperature you want. If your chocolate begins to seize, add a little vegetable shortening, it will bring it back to life.

Using the double boiler method I can keep an eye on the chocolate when in the melting process and stir constantly. Chocolate is very temperamental and I would never recommend using a microwave or exposing chocolate to direct heat. Try this method, you do not need any special devices!

Check out one of our recipes that uses a double boiler: https://www.muffinsandmeat.com/2014/02/14/girl-scout-samoa-cookies/

Tagged: chocolate, DIY, Do It Yourself, double boiler, good to know, In My Kitchen, melting chocolate