Do you know how to melt white chocolate in the microwave without burning or scorching? Try the ultimate guide to melt chocolate in the microwave for specialize techniques to make your recipes finger-licking delicious!
White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids, it does not contain the cocoa solids that are found in other types of chocolate. The melting point of cocoa butter is high enough to keep white chocolate solid at room temperature, that is why it takes longer for white chocolate to melt.
In order to properly melt white chocolate in the microwave, chop it into even pieces that are about ¼” to ½” sizes. Adjust the microwave power to medium or 50%, and nuke for 15 seconds. Stir well and continue in 10 to 15 second intervals until the white chocolate melts smoothly.
A glass bowl tends to get hot enough to completely melt the white chocolate in the microwave. So, if you observe any lumps, stop using microwave and keep stirring until completely melted.
Is white chocolate harder to melt?
White chocolate is quite different to melt than dark chocolate or milk chocolate. White chocolate does not contain cocoa solids, but is made with cocoa butter. In general, it scorches, seizes and turns lumpy or grainy very easily when melting.
White chocolate has a lower burning point than the milk or dark chocolate. Therefore, white chocolate overheats quickly and it can be difficult to save once it has overheated.
Furthermore, old white chocolate will not melt very well. When improperly stored past its best-by-date, it tends to seize up and turn grainy
How do you melt white chocolate after seized?
When white chocolate melts, the ingredients break up evenly and create a smooth consistency. However, when melted chocolate contacts with liquid, the dry components become moist and stick together.
This happens because the water joins with the sugar in the white chocolate. As a result, a syrup is formed which attracts the cocoa particles together and they start to crystalize.
In order to fix seized white chocolate, add 1 teaspoon of boiling water at a time and stir vigorously until smooth. For a baking recipe, add 1 tablespoon of solid vegetable shortening for every 6 ounces of white chocolate, mix it well until the white chocolate loosens up.
Why won’t my white chocolate chips melt?
Depends on the brand and the ingredients, but some white chocolate chips do not melt very well. They are intentionally designed to keep shape so they can be used in baked goods similar to chocolate chips.
Compared to bars, white chocolate chips tend to have a lower amount of cocoa butter which makes them more resistant to heat.
If a white chocolate has a low fat content, roughly about 30%, then it will retain its shape no matter how long you microwave, even after melting.
Things to know before melting white chocolate in the microwave
White chocolate can be more tricky to melt in the microwave than dark or milk chocolate because of high cocoa butter content and lower melting point. It can easily overheat and seize up making it nearly impossible to recover.
Here are things you need to know before melting white chocolate in the microwave to avoid any problems:
- Do not cover the bowl as this will cause condensation to form on the lid which will drip into the chocolate and cause it to crystalize.
- Chop white chocolate into even-sized pieces to help them melt evenly.
- Substitute with white chocolate chips instead of larger pieces. The chip size is already small enough to melt.
- White chocolate burns at about 110 degrees Fahrenheit, so measure the temperature with a thermometer to avoid overheating.
- Add about 1 tablespoon of butter for every 6 oz of white chocolate to avoid seizing.
Place evenly sized pieces into a microwave safe bowl, set to 50% power level and nuke for 15 second intervals. Stir after each length of time, and repeat if necessary until most of the while chocolate is melted. Use the warmth of the bowl to carry over the heat and fully melt the white chocolate by stirring until smooth.
White chocolate is not real chocolate, instead its a combination of cocoa butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Follow these microwave tips and melting instructions to make glazing, topping, or coating so that recipes taste even more delicious.
