Do you need to decorate, dip, drizzle, or drip with white chocolate? Do you need to melt white chocolate chips and change them into a silky-smooth texture?
Then, learn the method to melt white chocolate chips in the microwave. Even though there are many other ways to melt it, the most comfortable and easiest way to do so is in the microwave.
White chocolate is a combination of sugar, milk, vanilla, cocoa butter and fat, and therefore, it is a little trickier to melt it as compared to dark chocolate or milk chocolate. It has a lower melting point and melts between 82 and 84 degree Fahrenheit.
Below is the method to melt white chocolate chips in the microwave.
Things required:
- Microwave with turntable – The microwave with the turntable is preferred for melting white chocolate chips. As the turntable rotates, melting of chocolate chips occurs evenly and hot and cold spots in the chocolate are reduced which prevents scorching of chocolate.
- Microwave-safe bowl – Always make use of a bowl which has a microwave-safe label at the bottom. Generally, it is safe to use either glass, ceramic, or silicone heat proof bowls in the microwave to melt chocolate. Plastic bowls should be avoided as they can leach chemicals into the food.
- Spatula – A silicone or rubber spatula is required to scrape the bottom of the bowl to mix the melting chocolate chips. Be careful to never use a wooden spatula as the water gets retained in it and for chocolates, moisture is bad.
Method:
- Take a microwave-safe bowl and add 1-2 cups of white chocolate chips to it. If you need to melt more amount of white chocolate chips, do it in batches.
- Adjust the power of the microwave to 50% and microwave the white chocolate chips for 30 seconds.
- Do not cover the bowl to prevent condensation and spoiling of white chocolate.
- After 30 seconds, take the bowl out of the microwave, stir with a spatula. Also, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- If the white chocolate chips are not melted properly, microwave for 10 seconds more. Stir in between each interval.
- Once the white chocolate chips are 80-90% melted, take the bowl out of the microwave as the chocolate will continue to melt on its own with the help of the residual heat.
- Keep stirring the chocolate chips until all of them are melted.
How long to microwave white chocolate chips?
It requires approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute to microwave around 2 bowls of white chocolate chips. In this time duration, white chocolate chips melt perfectly but ensure that the power of the microwave should be set at 50%. At high power, the chocolate may get burnt.
The method by which white chocolate chips can be melted in the microwave is provided above.
There are other methods too to melt white chocolate chips but the microwave is the most convenient way to do so. It takes less time as compared to other methods and is hassle-free as well.
My white chocolate chips not melting in microwave, why?
There are two main reasons for white chocolate chips not melting in the microwave:
- If the chocolate has come in contact with water, it may not melt properly and start seizing. If the chocolate comes in contact with even the smallest particle of water, it will seize because as water comes in contact with dry particles, they stick together and form dry clumps causing seizing of the chocolate. If such a thing happens, the white chocolate chips will not melt and will become dry and clumpy.
- If the white chocolate chips have been microwaved at super high temperatures, they will not melt. White chocolate has a low melting point and when it is heated at high temperature, it clumps up and becomes dry and muddy. Therefore, while melting it in the microwave, you must be careful to not overheat it. Also, the power of the microwave should be adjusted to 50%. You should microwave for 30 seconds at one time, stir, and then again microwave it, if required, for not more than 30 seconds.
What happens if you microwave white chocolate chips too long?
If you microwave white chocolate chips too long, they will become overheated and will burn. Also, the chocolate will lose the rich, glossy, and shiny texture of the melted white chocolate. Instead of this, it will become dull and have a muddy appearance with a thick, sludgy texture.
Also, if the white chocolate chips are microwaved for a long time at a high temperature, it will become hard to save them from burning.
However, if you turn off the microwave at the right time, the white chocolate chips can be prevented from getting spoiled completely and you can still save them to some extent.
- For this, immediately, transfer the mix to a cool, dry bowl and add about ½ cup of white chocolate chips to it. Keep stirring the mixture until the new chips are dissolved.
- You can also try to remove lumps by straining them through a sieve or use a handheld immersion blender to make a smooth mixture.
Since white chocolate is highly sensitive to temperature, it is also advised to use a thermometer to get the best results while melting white chocolate chips.
How to melt white chocolate chips without microwave?
Below are some methods to melt white chocolate chips without a microwave:
Double Boiler Method
- Take a large pot and pour water up to 1-2 inches in it.
- Heat the water until it becomes hot.
- Take another small pot and add 1-2 cups of white chocolate chips.
- Put this small pot on the top of the large pot with hot water. This forms a double boiler.
- Heat the chocolate chips for 2-4 minutes and as the chocolate chips began to melt, keep stirring it with a spatula.
- Once the white chocolate chip is 80-90% melted, remove the small pot from the double boiler.
- Continue to stir until all the white chocolate chips are melted evenly.
Stove Method
- Put the white chocolate chips in a pan and put them on the burner.
- Turn on the burn at the lowest heat possible.
- Stir it continuously with a spatula and keep a close eye on the chocolate as it can burn easily.
- Once the white chocolate chips are 80-90% melted, remove the pan from the burner and keep stirring them until all the chocolate chips are melted.
Slow Cooker Method
- Take a mason jar and add white chocolate chips to it.
- Place the mason jar in the slow cooker.
- Add water to the slow cooker up to 2-3 inches. The water level should be about halfway of the mason jar.
- The slow cooker should be turned on high. Do not cover the slow cooker with a lid.
- Stir the chocolate chips. It may take about 15 minutes to completely melt the white chocolate chips by this method.
Conclusion
Based on the above discussion, you must have understood that melting white chocolate chips in the microwave is the easiest way and when done at the right temperature for the right duration of time, you get a perfectly melted white chocolate with a shiny texture.
In case you still have any questions related to the melting process of white chocolate chips, do write to us and we will get back to you soon.
Enjoy making tasty delicious dishes with white chocolate.