How to make melted chocolate. How to melt chocolate in a water bath. How to melt chocolate in the microwave.

What you need to know to quickly and correctly melt chocolate in the microwave or in a water bath?

Let's start with what not to do :

- if you do not have enough experience in culinary affairs, i do not advise you to stoke a chocolate bar on the stove directly in a saucepan, because the mass of chocolate is quite capricious, you need to work with it carefully, very hard.   This is only an experienced chef. In this method, it is important to comply with certain temperature conditions, the correct proportions of the added milk and butter.

Contact with any kind of moisture will cause your melted chocolate to become grainy and full of lumps, so be sure to use dry dishes and never pour water on the melted chocolate. And, for many, again the desire to cook chocolate eggs at home to please family and friends.

For several years now and, fortunately, there is chocolate on the market that is already seasoned, and there is no need to carry out this process at home. Without this step, chocolate not only loses its luster, but does not break away from the molds. Today we are lucky to find many brands of good chocolate in cakes that are already hardened, but for those who, like me, it remains to be faithful to spend time trying to tolerate chocolate, how this should be done correctly.

Consider two other options: how to melt chocolate in a water bath and how to melt chocolate in the microwave.

In both cases, nothing burns, no lumps form, no cocoa separates from the butter. The process of full melting takes only a few minutes.

But,   For quick and proper preparation, you need to choose the right chocolate. Not all tiles are able to melt evenly, without creating stains. Therefore, in no case buy a porous chocolate bar, it is absolutely not suitable for melting. This is the second very important point, which is not necessary to do in this situation.

The chocolate coating, which is used to make eggs and chocolate figures, consists mainly of cocoa, sugar, cocoa butter, and a few other ingredients that are around taste and flow. Milk chocolate   also has milk powder and white chocolate, the milk powder is replaced by cocoa.

Steps for the right holiday

It is at this moment that we add a piece of chocolate without melting and with some specific movements, which we will describe in detail later, we manage to lower the temperature to the chocolate without losing fluidity. Since this temperature is lower than body temperature, chocolate feels cold on our lips. There are three types of chocolate coating: semi-solid, milky and white, the first with the highest hardness for structures, milk is usually used for baths and small figures and white, not technically chocolate, Since it does not contain cocoa paste, but butter cocoa, powdered milk and sugar.

The basic principle of the correct choice - This is a high percentage of cocoa in the chocolate bar. The more cocoa, the better, but it should not be less than 55%. In addition to the high cocoa content, the composition should not include herbal supplements, fats, nuts, raisins, and various fillers. Properly melted chocolate should be viscous, thick, then it is easy to decorate ice cream with it, to make an inscription on the cake. After hardening, it gives a delicious crisp, becomes smooth, with a glossy shine.

Choosing our chocolate, we have to melt it in Mary's bathroom, that is: we put it in a chopped piece in a container, and the other on another, which contains some water, and we take it so that the fire is not very strong. It is desirable that the container below is smaller than the top, because if it fell a little water vapor into our chocolate, it will thicken like a cream, and will not serve us for work, because it will lose fluidity. Stir with a wooden spoon until dissolved.

Be careful, because if you go beyond 55 degrees, chocolate risks ruining yourself. When you notice that it has melted and check on the lip that is tepid, remove it from the fire and add 20% of the chopped chocolate cover. That is, if we put 500 grams of chocolate to melt Mary’s bath, at this point we will add another 100 grams. This is what we explained above when we said that by adding unmelted chocolate, we managed to lower the temperature of the melted one.

How to melt chocolate in the microwave


The time for which chocolate is heated is directly dependent on the weight of the tile.

  • The tile at room temperature is broken into small pieces.
  • We put the pieces in a small glass dish, designed for cooking in the microwave.
  • Put the dishes in the microwave at an average power for 30 seconds.
  • Then we take out the dishes, mix not melted pieces.
  • Repeat the procedure again until the chocolate is completely liquid.

Apply liquid chocolate onto the cake with quick movements, level it with a spatula or a wide knife, otherwise it will harden and you will have to start over.

It is important to feel the cold chocolate on our lip, because if we put it in the shape, we will not be able to remove the figure. It spreads well with a wide metal spatula and begins to "connect" with the edges inside. We do this process three or four times, and each time we throw a piece of chocolate on the rack, until finally we pour the entire contents of the bowl and cool it down completely. Thus, we lower the temperature to chocolate and soften it. Of course, this method is more complicated, it should not only have space for chocolate distribution, but also have a small spatula treatment, because the process of "folded" chocolate should be fast and constant.

How to melt chocolate in a water bath



  • Take the pan and a metal, ceramic or glass bowl. The size of the bowl should be such that you can put it on the pan without a lid, and at the same time it did not reach the bottom.
  • Pour water into the pan so that the bowl does not touch it. So we built water bath   at home.
  • Then put the chopped chocolate in a bowl.
  • Place the bowl on the pan with water, put on the stove.
  • Then, after boiling water, the chocolate in the bowl will begin to melt, and it must be stirred to make the process faster and more evenly.

We drown the tile in a water bath to make the chocolate liquid, then remove it from the stove and use the mass to decorate confectionery products, glazes, etc. Both of the proposed methods are simple and easy to perform at home.

Setting eggs and shapes

The only precaution you must take is to feel the cold chocolate on your lip before using it. Well, we have already tempered chocolate, now it's time to use it. To do this, select the forms you want to fill out. You can make chocolate eggs, rabbits, chickens and even chocolates.

There are metal and plastic forms. For a more practical matter, plastic molds are preferred. There are two types: some are more complicated and some are softer. Difficult ones are usually more expensive when they are bought, but ultimately they give more, they do not break at all, and, being tougher, they allow us to work with the security of more delicate figures. Softer is better if you do not have much practice, as you can see chocolate better when it takes off and does not risk rushing.

How to melt chocolate (video)



For all important questions, contact us.

Melted chocolate is often used to prepare and decorate various pastries. To chocolate mass was obtained without lumps, uniform and tender, you need to know a few secrets.

They are also smaller, because over time they are grated and cut into joints. Regardless of what you choose, it is important that they are not tormented, because the final work will not be destroyed. They must be clean and it is advisable to skip a cotton swab moistened with fine alcohol before filling to remove any lubricant they may have.

We have two ways to fill out forms, the first is easier and faster. To do this, take the mold with one hand and the tip of the thumb with the other, gently press on the edge of the chocolate, towards the center of the mold. If you see what it is and does not come out, leave it a little more in the fridge. If chocolate is ready, it will come off alone, and the skin will be torn off. . Keep in mind that transferring forms to the refrigerator, and not to the freezer, because if you do not have the practice, the freezer is cold and the drying time is significantly reduced, making the chocolate breaks easier.

Choosing the right chocolate

The tile should not be too cheap, it is better to choose a quality product with a high content of cocoa butter. Chocolate should not contain artificial ingredients, dyes and flavors, the main components - cocoa beans (cocoa powder), sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder.

When you scratch the edges, do it gently. Many times it happens that chocolate is already separated from the mold, and while we scratch it, it remains alone. Once we have the two parts of the egg, we will go to fill it and close. So that they do not break, manipulating them, we must always keep their fingers inside. If you do not have a box, you can use a glass or jar. It is important that the base you use is smaller and the egg is stable. Then, support half on the base and put candies, sweets, truffles, in a word, everything you want to please with your own.

Porous and chocolate with various additives (nuts, raisins, fruit fillings) are not suitable for melting.

It is good if the wrapper indicates that it is a confectionery (culinary) or table product.

For inscriptions on cakes or cakes, it is better to use dessert chocolate, since in the liquid state it is thick, therefore it is most suitable for this purpose, but it is not suitable for glaze.

Then carefully lay the other half on top and close the eggs. You can use an eye or chocolate to close the eggs, although if you do not have the skill with a sleeve or cartridge, do not worry. Take the upper half of the egg and rest for a few seconds on the hot plate, in just a few seconds, to melt the edge of the egg, and immediately place it on the other half, gently pressing. You can also put chocolate in a paper cartridge and put chocolate on the edge of the egg, and then place the other half on top.

Do not worry about decoration, you can wrap eggs with colored cellophane or metallized paper, these days, you can find a lot of papers in bookstores for this. And if you already have experience with manga, then use your skills and decorate, as you prefer eggs.

A wonderful choice for glaze is a couverture: it melts well even when high temperatures, and after hardening turns into a crisp. The only negative is that this kind of chocolate is quite expensive. A cuverture can be purchased at confectioneries or specialty bakeries.

Basic rules for melting chocolate

First you need to crumble the tile into small pieces or grind it on a grater. The main thing to remember is that you cannot overheat chocolate, because it will become viscous and lumps will appear in it. The ideal melting temperature for dark chocolate is 50 degrees, for milky and white chocolate - 45. In order for the icing not to be lumpy and not to burn, it must be constantly stirred.

It is imperative that you cover the bowl with a damp cloth during operation so that it does not dry out. To preserve it, we can use a glass bottle or plastic container, always with a sealed lid. And when you reuse it, you should always refute it. To color it, we use edible dye, both in paste and in liquid, and we rotate well. Keep in mind that if you are using a liquid dye, you may have to add some sugar.

Finally: you can make any shape with moderate chocolate, note that the harder the shape, the more fragile it will work. To store the eggs, simply wrap them in cellophane or foil and leave them in the closet. They explain several theories to determine their origin. On the one hand, there are those who protect their heritage, based on pagan traditions, that the egg has always been a symbol of life and fertility and has been assigned an important role in all celebrations of early spring, coincides with the Christian Holy Week.

Never allow water, steam or condensate to get into the product: it will spoil its taste. All utensils used to make melted chocolate must be dry. Instead of a wooden, plastic or silicone spoon, which can absorb moisture, it is better to take a metal one.

It is not necessary to melt the chocolate to the end, the remaining solid pieces quickly melt themselves.

The followers of this tradition kept the eggs, and that they were fresh, they bathed them with a thin layer of liquid wax. After the Post was over, they gathered in front of the church in their city and gave them away so they could enjoy it later at Easter as a basis for celebration. From a Christian point of view, they are said to represent the appearance of Jesus after his resurrection.

Easter eggs in different cultures

This color for Chinese means long life and happiness, therefore, begins a tradition that will be maintained for many years. Later, the Persians began to decorate and exchange golden eggs between them and painstakingly sign. Over time, in the Slavic countries, baskets filled with eggs began on Holy Saturday or before the midnight mass, so that she would be blessed and then be taken on Easter Sunday breakfast in the houses. In Russia, it was customary in the time of Zares to develop real egg-shaped jewelery, which stretched to the era of revolution, famous in particular for the fact that it was developed by a Faberge jeweler.

To get a liquid glaze of dark chocolate, add a little warm water to the melted mass (one tablespoon per 50 grams). Instead of water for liquefaction, you can add cream or melted butter.

Melting methods

In the water bath . Shredded tiles need to be put in a metal bowl (glassware for a microwave oven is also suitable), after making sure that it is dry. Boil some water in a saucepan, it should be just enough so that even when boiling it does not touch the bowl of chocolate placed on top. Chocolate should be melted from steam. It is better to take a bowl that is larger than the pan so that the steam does not fall into the gaps between the walls, otherwise the frosting will be too rare and it will be difficult to freeze. Do not forget to stir the delicacy, it is not necessary to cover it with a lid.

Perhaps in Central Europe, the most ingrained habit is to decorate and dye Easter eggs, so Poles, Slovenes and Ukrainians are famous for their complex projects. To do this, they draw lines with wax pencils, immerse the egg in dyes and repeat the process to achieve true works of art, where each point or line makes sense for them.

In many countries, the egg is not used as soon as it is stained, but only the shell is emptied and stained. This is what happens, for example, in Germany, where it is typical to hang Easter eggs on trees, which are placed in houses as a symbol of good luck. Later, this tradition was transferred to the United States by German colonists, who also met the famous Easter rabbit, which was common among children who were good.

In the microwave or oven . Put pieces of chocolate in a bowl or saucepan and leave in a hot oven on the highest shelf for a couple of minutes. The temperature inside the oven should be about 60 degrees.

If you decide to melt the chocolate in the microwave, you need to select the "defrost" mode or set the oven to minimum power for 2-3 minutes. This is not the most convenient way, because every half-minute you will need to open the door and stir the mass, or put the microwave on at 30 intervals for 30 seconds, mixing the glaze in the breaks.

It was chocolate entrepreneur Joseph Fry, who produced the first chocolate eggs in England. Over time, except for eggs, they began to make chocolate figures like rabbits. The Christian fable reports that the rabbit was in the tomb of Jesus and watched people mourn his death, so the little animal was very sad, and then witnessed the resurrection, unable to speak, handed out eggs to tell the happy news. In addition to various traditions, there is nothing more enjoyable than meeting in the family and enjoying delicious chocolate in any form.

On the stove . Put on a small fire pot with a thick bottom and pour chopped chocolate into it. You can add a little heavy cream or butter. Stir delicacy need and after you remove it from the stove to the remaining pieces melted due to the heat from the bottom and walls of the pan.
  Remember that chocolate, which has been added cream or butter, hardens very quickly, so it should be used as quickly as possible.

In the sun . In the summer on a hot day, when the temperature in the sun can rise to 45 degrees, the dishes with chocolate can be left on the window or balcony for 30 minutes. As a result, the icing you get thick. If you need liquid chocolate, it is better to use another way.

How to melt chocolate for fondue

Fondue is a liquid chocolate dipped in fruit pieces, marshmallows, cookies, biscuits or berries. Bitter, milk and white chocolate are suitable for making this dessert. After adding milk and a little liquor, you need to melt the chocolate in a water bath. 200 g of dark chocolate 1 tablespoon of liquor and half a cup of milk. For milk and white chocolate liquid should be less. Pour the prepared mass into the ceramic bowl and place a candle under it so that the fondue does not thicken.

In advance, you can prepare skewers or toothpicks for impaling berries and pieces of fruit.

Tricks

If you have overheated the chocolate mass, as a result of which it has been melted unevenly or in lumps, it is not necessary to throw it away at all, it can be used to make a brownie or cake.

In no case do not use plastic containers for melting: this will spoil the taste of the chocolate mass.

Chocolate before melting should be at room temperature, if you kept the stove in the refrigerator, you need to get it in advance, because sudden changes in temperature may adversely affect the consistency of the product.

White chocolate must be melted very carefully, because it melts at a lower temperature than dark or milky, and overheats more easily. The most suitable way is melting in a water bath.

White chocolate, which is overheated and grainy, can be saved by adding a little melted butter, milk or cream (one tablespoon per 160 grams of chocolate). Flavored sunflower oil is also suitable for this purpose. Both milk and butter should be the same temperature as chocolate. In this case, the mass will be unsuitable for covering desserts and cannot be used for decorating in complex ways. But the restored white chocolate can be used as an ingredient for a sauce, glaze, dough or for sprinkling.

If you want to add juice or food coloring to white chocolate, it is better to make it at the very beginning of the melting process. Due to this, the temperature of the liquid and the chocolate mass will be the same and the setting of the chocolate will be avoided.