How To Melt Chocolate

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Chocolate makes everything better. No discussion, right? Having chocolate as a treat or adding it to some of our favorite preparations is loved by many, and because of this, we want to help you develop some simple skills to enjoy your beloved chocolate even more. Melting chocolate is one of those essential skills and we are happy to cover the best ways to get it done. Ready to become a choco melting pro? Let’s do it!

Which chocolate chips are vegan?

Let’s begin by agreeing on which chocolate is the best to turn to when a recipe calls for melted chocolate. For practical purposes, chocolate chips are your best friend since they melt quickly and evenly, but if you happen to have a chocolate bar, it will work just fine (just make sure you chop it into small pieces).

Moving on to kinds of chocolate, we are happy to report that any good/medium quality chocolate will work just the same depending on the recipe you are making. If the recipe also calls for sugar or another sweetener, dark chocolate might be a good idea, but you’ll always be safe using semi-sweet chocolate. However, make sure you check the ingredients because not all semi-sweet chocolate is plant-based. The chocolate chips and chunks from Trader Joe’s are vegan, and Guittard’s semi-sweet chocolate chips are a safe bet, too.

The Best Ways to Melt Chocolate

Melt Chocolate in a Double Boiler

This classic method (used for hundreds of years!) is the best way to keep your melting chocolate monitored really closely. No surprises here, unless you leave it unattended. (So, don’t do that!)

Step 1: Add your chocolate (chips or chopped) to the top of your double boiler over simmering water.

Step 2: Stir frequently until the chocolate is fully melted. Using a rubber spatula is best to scrape the sides of the bowl while you stir.

Saucepan & Bowl

If you don’t have a double boiler, no worries. A bowl (metal or glass) over a small saucepan works just the same. The only thing you’ll have to make sure of before starting is that the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Follow the same instructions as the double boiler.

And if you don’t want to buy a full double boiler but you want something specifically for melting, this metal bowl with a handle is a good middle ground option.

How to Melt Chocolate in the Microwave

This one is easy peasy (and the one we use mostly on Plant-Based on a Budget). The only thing is you’ll have to do is heat up the chocolate in very short intervals to avoid burning it. Also, every microwave is different and we all might have different settings, which is why it is best to find your perfect timings (and use them going forward).

Step 1: Place your small pieces of chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.

Step 2: Microwave for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir.

Step 3: Continue to microwave in 30-second increments and stirring frequently, until the chocolate is fully melted.

On this one, beware that it’s easy to burn your chocolate if you microwave too long. That’s why we like heating it up in short intervals.

We truly hope you find this chocolate melting guide useful! You might find that one resonates more with you, your kitchen, and your lifestyle, so stick to the one you prefer. Melting chocolate can be a fun experience if you know what you’re doing!