Some people believe you can use Crock-Pots for almost anything in the kitchen and they’re not far wrong! These appliances are amazing and it seems that we keep finding more uses for them.
Today’s question is, “Can you melt chocolate in a Crock-Pot?” Of course you can! There are just a few watchpoints to be aware of but once you’ve mastered the technique, you’ll be making chocolate-coated treats for your friends and family.
What Kind of Chocolate Should I Use?
The best type of chocolate for melting purposes contains 32% or higher cocoa butter. That’s because although any chocolate will melt, some kinds will lose their glossiness and get a chalky look once they cool and harden.
Look for semisweet varieties and go for couverture if you want the very best that’s prized by candy-making professionals. If you are melting chocolate for a fondue, the chalkiness isn’t an issue as you’ll be eating the chocolate while it’s still melted.
Tips for Melting Chocolate in the Crock-Pot (Or Anywhere)
- You may have bought your chocolate in the form of chips or discs. These are perfect shapes for melting but if you have bought bars, you will have to break them into pieces before attempting to melt them. This ensures even melting.
- One of the most important tips we can give you is to avoid moisture. Chocolate hates water. It causes it to clump and you will ruin the whole batch with a little bit of moisture. Wipe down the inner pot of the Crock-Pot with absorbent paper towels before using it. If you’ll be melting the chocolate in jars or bowls inside the Crock-Pot, wipe these down too. Also, wipe your work surfaces. Wipe everything! Please just get rid of the water. If you will be dipping fruit like berries into the chocolate, bring it to room temperature and pat it dry beforehand. This is to ensure there’s no condensation on it. Even a wooden spoon can be a problem if you’re stirring the chocolate with it because wood absorbs moisture. Rather use a silicone spoon.
- The next vital tip is to keep the heat low. Turn your Crock-Pot to the very lowest setting at all times during the melting process. Chocolate burns very easily – it melts at just 86˚F (30˚C). That’s room temperature on a hot summer’s day. If you feel that it’s getting too hot, remove the inner pot and add a few extra pieces of chocolate to drop the temperature.
Can You Melt Chocolate in a Crock-Pot?
The answer to this question is a resounding, yes. A slow cooker is more than capable of reaching the right temperature on its lowest setting. This means that it is possible to melt chocolate inside of a Crock-Pot.
So, if you’re in the mood for some holiday baking that involves dipped chocolate treats, dust off your Crock-Pot and start melting!
Here’s How to Melt Chocolate in Your Crock-Pot
METHOD 1
This first method is ideal for melting smaller batches of chocolate chips or discs if you need to keep them melted while you dip multiple batches of cookies, fruit or other treats.
- Put your baking chips into heat-resistant bowls or jam jars and put them into the Crock-Pot.
- Add hot water around the jars till it reaches about halfway up the sides. Be careful not to get any water into the chocolate.
- Turn the slow cooker onto High. Do not put the lid on or condensation will drip down into the chocolate.
- Leave it for half an hour then stir the chocolate. It should be completely melted. You must now turn the Crock-Pot down to Low.
- You can now work with the chocolate for an hour or two. You can add more chocolate to the jars as you use it up.
METHOD 2
If you find the jar method too fiddly or are melting chocolate for a fondue, you may prefer to melt the chocolate directly in the Crock-Pot’s inner pot.
After ensuring the inner pot is dry, put the chips or broken chocolate pieces into it and set the heat on Low. Leave the chocolate to melt with the lid off. You can stir it now and again if you like.
To Conclude
As you can see, it is easy and convenient to melt chocolate in a Crock-Pot or any other type of slow cooker. Let us know what you make and which method you used. We’d love to hear from you!