In this guide to melting chocolate, we’re covering everything! From choosing the best chocolate to melt to how to melt chocolate on the hob and in the microwave as well as some things and methods to avoid! So, let’s get started, shall we? 

How To Melt Chocolate

Melting chocolate is a lovely skill to know. It means you can spruce up any chocolate cake batter or top some flapjacks with beautifully melted chocolate that melts in your mouth as the flapjack dissolves! If you aren't too sure how to melt chocolate, don't worry! Whether you want to melt chocolate on the hob or in the microwave, we have all the info you need below. But first, you need to choose your chocolate!

Choosing your Chocolate

We're fairly sure you already know whether you'll be using dark chocolate, white chocolate or milk chocolate, so we'll leave that in your capable hands. If you intend to use chocolate bars or a hot chocolate bomb, you'll need to cut them up into fine shavings, otherwise, it will take ages for the chocolate to become completely melted.

The key to melting chocolate without it burning is to heat it evenly. So starting with even pieces of chocolate is so important. You could cut up chocolate bars for this, or create chocolate shavings by grating it. Melting chocolate chips is also a good option. However, our chocolate flakes are ideal! They are uniform, small and literally designed for the job!

Our hot chocolate flakes are perfect for making melted chocolate. They are available in milk chocolate, white chocolate, and salted caramel and our signature drinking chocolate flakes are also vegan! These will melt really quickly using any method. Speaking of chocolate melting methods, let's explore those next, shall we?

Melting Chocolate On The Hob

Melting chocolate on the hob is the most controlled method. It’s known as the double boiler method and works brilliantly for quickly melting chocolate. Here's how to do it:

• Fill a medium saucepan with 4cm of water. Place over a medium heat and bring the water to a gentle simmer.
• Place a heatproof bowl on top of the pan. It should fit snugly but shouldn't touch the water. If the chocolate comes into contact with the simmering water, this will make it grainy and clumpy - this is known as seized chocolate.
• Turn the heat down so that the water is at a gentle simmer.
• Add our chocolate flakes to a bowl. The recipe you're following should provide the amount you need.
• Leave the chocolate to melt for 4-5 mins. Stir frequently to avoid it burning.
• Carefully remove the pan from the heat and allow the chocolate to cool a little before using.

The cocoa butter in the chocolate is enough to provide a rich flavour and lovely texture. However, some recipes call for the addition of coconut oil, melted butter or cream. So, depending on the recipe you are using, you may be done, or only just beginning at this stage!

It’s also worth noting that if you have an induction, you can pop your chocolate directly in the pan to melt it. This takes care and a watchful eye to ensure the chocolate doesn’t burn but does speed up the process!

How To Melt Chocolate In A Microwave?

While many people consider this method the easier option, it can go wrong very quickly. A lot of care and attention is needed when microwaving chocolate because burnt chocolate is never good! When melting chocolate in a microwave, you need to:

• Place your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl of your choice and place this in the microwave.
• Turn the microwave on and microwave for 20 seconds.
• Take it out and give it a stir.
• Place it back in the microwave for 5 seconds, remove, stir and repeat.
• Repeat this until you have smooth melted chocolate.

What is the best way to melt chocolate?

We prefer the hob method for melting chocolate. In fact, we always recommend making our hot chocolate on the hob too because it's much easier to keep an eye on things and ensuring the chocolate is melting evenly.

While the microwave method seems quick, things can also quickly get away from you. So, if you've never melted chocolate before, give the double boiler method a try, we promise you it's nice and simple and will result in the best chocolate sauce you've ever tried!

So, there's how to melt chocolate! Don't forget to give our chocolate flakes a try when you are melting chocolate, they melt so fast and are super tasty! Plus, they are great for cake decoration and so much more! Now for some FAQs so you can become a master of melting chocolate!

Can you store melted chocolate?

Yes, you can. To store melted chocolate, just pop it in an air-tight container and store it in a cool, dry place or in the fridge.

Can you reheat melted chocolate?

You can reheat chocolate that has already been melted. The method is the same as above. If you don't break up the chocolate, it may take a bit longer and it can be more prone to burning. So, chopped chocolate is much easier to melt. Still, if it's stuck in the bowl you used to melt it, place this over the pan of simmering water and it will melt, but it will take a bit longer than it did the first time.

Does dark chocolate melt quickly?

Dark chocolate melts a bit slower than milk chocolate or white chocolate, but not by much. Semisweet chocolate/ dark chocolate melts at about 55C where as milk or white chocolate melts at about 45C. This isn't something to concern yourself with too much unless you are tempering chocolate. Tempered chocolate takes a lot more focus to get right and temperature is much more important.