I used to have a double boiler but it broke years ago. Kids went on tour of a chocolate factory and came home with bags of huge chunks. They want to melt it down into molds they bought and dip pretzels and strawberries. I tried just melting in microwave but it is getting burned around the edges and tastes horrible.Can anyone suggest a different method for melting chocolate if I don't have a double boiler and don't want to use the microwave?
The best solution to soften chocolate without a double boiler is to use a sauce pan with some water in in after which put your chocolate into a glass bowl on high of the sauce pan, your possess homemade double boiler. That you may additionally use a metal bowl or yet another sauce pan, simply so your chocolate is suspended above the sizzling water. I've executed this commonly and it works first-rate, you simply get somewhat steamier than an actual double boiler and also you ought to watch out that not one of the water gets into your chocolate. This is the excellent means, when you consider that melting chocolate within the microwave interferes with its tempering and will not be as fine. Have enjoyable!
Make your own double-boiler by placing a smaller pan inside a larger pan filled with enough water to sufficiently heat the smaller inside pan which is where you put the chocolate.
Use, the microwave, but do it correctly this time. Use a small, microwave-proof bowl. Break the chocolate into small pieces first, and put no more than a cup of them into the bowl. Microwave for ten or fifteen seconds, remove from the microwave and stir. Do this until about half of the chocolate is melted, then remove the bowl from the microwave and stir until all of the chocolate in the bowl is completely melted and smooth.
I use two pots. One sits slighlyt inside the other. Works just like a double boiler. You can also use a slow cooker Put the baking chips (or other melting chocolate) in a bowl or jars and set them inside the slow cooker. I used pint mason jars, because they are tall and narrow enough that I could fit several in my slow cooker at one time. You can use wider mouth jars or any heat tolerant bowl that will fit inside your slow cooker. Add hot water to the slow cooker approx. half way up the sides of the jars. WARNING: be careful not to get any water inside the jars. Water will make the melted chocolate seize thicken. Turn the slow cooker on high. Don't cover it--you don't want moisture to form inside the lid and drop down into the chocolate. After 30 minutes, stir the chips (I used long iced tea spoons). My chips were soft and completely melted after 30 minutes; however, slow cookers can vary, so yours may need to heat more or less time. Once the chips are all melted, lower the slow cooker heat to the low or warm setting. (If you want to speed up the melting, you can zap the jars in the microwave in 20 second intervals, stopping and stirring each time, just until the chips all melt in when stirred. Then transfer to the slow cooker.) That's it! Now your melted chocolate will keep its thin dipping, drizzling consistency for at least 2-3 hours. As you're using the melted chocolate, if you discover that you need more, stir in more baking chips; they will keep melting into the mixture. I refilled my jars several times as I worked.
