How to Melt Chocolate Chips in the Microwave

Introduction

There are very few people in this world who don’t love chocolates & the chocolate-lovers feel a vehement need to add chocolate in each & every dessert they make.

So, here we have chocolate chips as our rescue. Chocolate chips can be melted & made into sauce, added to cakes, muffins, crepes, etc.

There can be a lot of trouble & work involved in melting chocolate chips & surely the mess after that is unavoidable & disappointing.

All this nuisance can be avoided simply by using a microwave to melt the chocolate chips. Using a microwave to do it can give you the best results quickly & easily.

So, here’s a comprehensive article with tips, instructions & frequently asked questions on how you can appropriately & safely melt chocolate chips in the microwave & use it further to make amazing recipes.

How to Prepare the Chocolate Chips for Melting in a Microwave

Transfer the chocolate chips from their original package into a microwave-safe bowl, preferably a borosilicate glassware, Pyrex glass bowl, or ceramic ware .

Keep 1⁄3rd of the chocolate chips aside. This should be added later to a part of the melted chocolate.

Do not melt the chocolate chips in a plastic container or a metallic container as the chocolate may stick to the bowl & burn.

How to Melt Chocolate Chips in the Microwave

Active Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Transfer 2/3rd of the chocolate chips into a Pyrex or borosilicate bowl & set the microwave to 50% power & melt it for 15-20 sec.

Stir the chocolate with a rubber or a silicon spatula every 15 seconds.

When melted completely, add 1/3rd of the chocolate chips & repeat the process till it turns smooth.

Print

Materials

• A microwave-safe dish or bowl, preferably something made of Pyrex glass, Borosilicate glass, ceramic.
• A heat-resistant rubber or silicone spatula
• Potholders

Tools

• A bowl
• A food thermometer

Instructions

1. Transfer the chocolate chips into a glass bowl – Take the chocolate chips out from the original package & place it into a microwave-safe bowl, ideally a Pyrex glass bowl or a Borosilicate container, or ceramic ware.
   
   Keep 1⁄3rd of the chocolate chips aside. This should be added later to a part of the melted chocolate. Make sure to transfer the chocolate into something that makes the melting process visible from the outside.
   
   
2. Microwave settings – Set the microwave to medium heat settings or 50% power level & place the bowl of chocolate chips to be melted inside it . Melt it for around 15 – 20 seconds & keep stirring.
   
   The melting of chocolate chips will usually begin at temperatures around 90°F. Do not exceed the temperature of 115°F as the chocolate chips may burn.
   
   
3. Stir the melted chocolate – Take the bowl of semi-molten chocolate chips out of the microwave & use a rubber or a silicone spatula to stir the chocolate chips every 15 sec to prevent any burning.
   
   Then, keep it back in the microwave & melt again for 15 sec . Stirring also helps the chocolate to reach a smooth & rich consistency & prevent any formation of lump that may occur due to heating.
   
   Once you notice most of the chocolate chips melt into a smooth consistency, then add the rest of the chocolate chips that were kept aside & stir.
   
   Put it back in the microwave for around 15 sec to melt. Continue the process similarly as before.
   
   
4. Check the temperature – If you are unable to understand the consistency of the melted chocolate & notice few partially melted chunks in it even after a long time, then check the temperature of the melted bowl of chocolate with a food thermometer.
   
   If the thermometer records a temperature of around 115°F, then stop melting the chocolate chips immediately, or else it will burn.
   
   
5. Allow the chocolate chips to melt fully – After switching off the appliance, wait for a while to let all the partially melted chocolate chips melt completely as chocolate continues to melt even after withdrawal from the heat .
   
   Keep stirring even after switching off the microwave to reach a very smooth consistency.
   
   
6. Remove the melted chocolate from the microwave – After the entire chocolate is melted, remove the melted chocolate from the appliance when it seems glossy & shiny using an oven mitt or potholders as the bowl will be extremely hot.
   
   Pour it in another cool bowl for further use in your cakes, crepes, or any other amazing dessert
   

Notes

Preparation time: No such preparation required

Temperature: 104°F - 113°F

You can also check out this video from ‘HersheysKitchens’ channel where Hershey’s baking expert, Linda Stahl demonstrates how easy it is to melt chocolate chips in the microwave.

Tips to Remember

Please follow the tips while melting chocolate chips in a microwave quickly & safely:

• Use microwave-safe containers – Use a microwave-safe dish or bowl, preferably something made of Pyrex glass, Borosilicate glass, ceramic to melt the chocolate chips in the microwave . Please check the bottom of the container to read labels that indicate whether it’s safe or not to use it in the microwave.

• Do not use a lid or a wrap over the bowl of chocolate chips – If a lid or wrap is used to cover the bowl of chocolate chips, then it will trap in all the moisture formed due to the melting & this extra moisture will cause undesirable lumps to form in the chocolate .

• Refrain from using metal or foam containers – Do not use any metal containers in the microwave. Avoid using foam trays or aluminum foils, paper napkins & colored paper plates as they can melt or release toxins .

• Use a heat-proof rubber or silicon spatula – A bendable spatula should be used to mix the chocolate chips thoroughly. It should be resistant to heat or else there is a chance of the chemical leaching into the chocolate .A spatula made of rubber or silicone is the best to use here. Make sure to not use a wooden spatula as the melted chocolate may obtain the flavor or smell of it & this may cause some unwanted change in the original taste of the chocolate.

• Check the temperature – The chocolate chips may burn at higher temperatures so it is better to check the temperature using a food thermometer. The temperature should be maintained between 104°F – 113°F to prevent any accidental burning or undesirable results.

• Keep stirring – Do not leave the chocolate chips to melt on their own in the microwave. Make sure to use a spatula to keep stirring & mixing the newly formed melted chocolate to maintain a uniform consistency & spread the heat evenly.

• Allow standing time – If you find any partially melted chocolate chips in the already melted chocolate then do not keep heating. Let it rest for a while & you will find the partially melted chocolate chips have melted automatically without any external heat.

• Use dry containers & spatula – Any amount of moisture or water that comes in contact with the hot melting chocolate can turn it into a hard lump or make it unsmooth. So, do not use a spatula or a bowl that has droplets of water in it.

• Do not melt the entire bag of chocolate chips at one go – Keep at least 1/3rd of the chocolate chips to be added later to the bowl of hot melting chocolate. This helps in even melting of the entire chocolate chips into a thick, rich & smooth mix .

• Remove the hot bowl of melted chocolate carefully – The bowl of melted chocolate will turn very hot by now, so use an oven mitt or potholders to remove it from the microwave.

• Do not overheat or melt in high heat – Extremely high heat can burn the chocolate entirely or make it grainy & dry with a very sticky texture. Carry out the process slowly & melt in low heat.

How to Melt Chocolate Wafers in the Microwave

Transfer the chocolate wafers into a heat-resistant bowl

Take the chocolate wafers out from the original package & place them into a microwave-safe bowl, ideally a Pyrex glass bowl or a Borosilicate container, or a ceramic container.

Microwave settings

Set the microwave to medium heat settings or 50% power level & place the bowl of chocolate wafers to be melted inside it. Melt it for around 15 – 20 seconds . Remove the bowl & stir.

Melt it for an additional 10 – 15 sec for all the chocolate wafers to melt completely .

Remove the bowl of melted chocolate from the microwave

When the chocolate has almost melted & few lumps of chocolate can be seen, then it’s a good time to take it out of the microwave using potholders or an oven mitt.

Keep stirring for the lumps to smoothen into the liquid chocolate & there you have molten chocolate ready to be used.

Alternate Ways to Melt Chocolate Chips

You can also melt the chocolate chips easily & efficiently on a stovetop.

For this, you will need a pot or a saucepan, a heat-resistant bowl that can fit perfectly into the pot & a bendable heat-proof rubber or silicon spatula & water.

Fill the pot with water up to few inches & fit the bowl into the pot or the pan, whichever you are using & ensure the bottom isn’t touching the water below in the pot.

Only the edge of the bowl should rest on the edge of the pan .

Heat the water on a low flame & turn off the heat when the water starts simmering. Then add 2/3rd of the chocolate chips to be melted into the bowl & start stirring gently with the spatula.

When the chocolate has melted completely & is smooth, then add the rest of the chocolate chips into it .

Keep stirring. After stirring for a while, we will find that all the chocolate chips have melted into a thick, gooey chocolate mix & then remove it from over the pot for further use.

You can also check out this video from ‘Chatelaine Magazine’ channel where melting chocolate in a double-boiler is easily demonstrated & you can follow the same way to melt chocolate chips as well.

Chocolate chips can also be melted perfectly using a crockpot or slow cooker.

Set the slow cooker on low heat & add the chocolate chips into it. Keep stirring the chocolate chips occasionally & check if it is getting too hot .

After the chocolate chips melt into a smooth, shiny chocolate mix, turn off the heat & remove the melted chocolate into a cool bowl.

How to Store Melted Chocolate Chips

Pour the leftover melted chocolate chips onto parchment paper, or keep it in a glass bowl & tightly wrap it & store it in the refrigerator for a few days. If you want to store it for months, then keep the bowl of leftover chocolate in the fridge for a day before storing it in the freezer.

If you happen to have any leftover melted chocolate chips, then make sure to save them for later.

You can pour it over a sheet of parchment & store it in the refrigerator for a few days. In this way, reusing the melted chocolate chips will also be easy & it will not take much time to scrape out the chocolate .

You can also keep it in a glass bowl & store it but do not leave it unwrapped as the chocolate may take up the odor of other food items stored in the fridge & lose its authenticity & flavor .

If you want to store it for longer, keep it in the freezer after keeping it in the refrigerator for a day .

Do not store it in an air-tight plastic container as it will be difficult to remove the chocolate & also don’t let the melted chocolate chips sit on the counter to cool as this will unnecessarily harden the chocolate .

How to Melt Milk Chocolate Chips in the Microwave

Break the chocolate into tiny pieces or you can use milk chocolate chips to melt in the microwave.

Keep it in a microwave-safe bowl, preferably something made of Pyrex glass, Borosilicate glass, ceramic.

Set the microwave to medium heat level & heat the chocolate for 30 – 60 sec. Stir the chocolate after every 15 sec to prevent overheating & burning .

Heat it for an increment of 10 – 15 sec if the chocolate has not melted properly initially & there you have it ready.

Do not exceed the temperature of 115°F while melting the milk chocolate or it will lose its consistency & become grainy.

How to Prevent the Chocolate Chips from Burning while Melting in the Microwave

Do not keep melting the chocolate chips till each & every bit blend with the melted liquid.

You need to remove it when the surface becomes glossy & shiny & while there are still few partially melted chocolate chips present to let the residual heat smoothen the rest. Keep stirring while doing so .

If the melted chocolate is already overheated, then pour it down in a cool bowl & mix more chocolate chips into it.

Keep stirring & mixing so that rest of the chocolate chips also melt & blend into a smooth chocolate mixture.

How to Melt Dark Chocolate Chips in the Microwave

Chop the milk chocolate into tiny pieces or you can use dark chocolate chips to melt in the microwave. Keep it in a microwave-safe bowl, ideally something made of Pyrex glass, Borosilicate glass, ceramic.

Set the microwave to medium heat level & heat the chocolate for 15-30 sec.

Stir the chocolate after every 15 sec to prevent burning . Heat it for an increment of 10 – 15 sec if the chocolate has not melted properly initially & there you have the smoothest, gooiest melted dark chocolate.

You can add a pinch of salt to remove the bitterness of the dark chocolate.

Do not exceed the temperature of 120°F while melting the dark chocolate or it will lose its texture & may overheat & burn .

FAQs

Bottom Line

I hope this comprehensive article helped you in melting chocolate chips in the microwave easily.

If you have any queries regarding the process, feel free to ask us. Also, if you know any other methods or tips please let us know so we can add them to our article to make it even better!

Do share this with your family & friends who may want to melt chocolate chips in the microwave & help them out too.