Chocolate Chips Won’t Melt: What to Do?

It is common for people to choose baking chocolate or chocolate chips when they need to cook or bake something sweet. However, many people have found that chocolate chips do not behave the same way as baking chocolate when it comes to cooking or baking, i.e., chocolate chips do not melt easily. So, what should you do when chocolate chips are reluctant to melt?

When your chocolate chips do not melt, you should try adding a little bit of water. Warm water might make it easier for the chocolate chips to start melting. However, this might also not always work, so try adding a few drops of oil to smooth the texture. 

This article is a solution in a situation when your chocolate chips might not seem to be melting. Here, you will read why sometimes it is difficult to melt chocolate chips, and what you should do in a situation like this. I have provided some ways to melt chocolate chips and what to expect once you have taken the appropriate steps for melting. 

Why Are Some Chocolate Chips Not Melting?

It is a well-known fact that chocolate chips melt in a more difficult way than baking chocolate, so you should not be surprised to find that your chocolate chips cannot melt during the process of cooking. This is because chocolate chips are made to withhold their structure, i.e. they have wax to keep them firm. That is why chocolate chips are a good ingredient for cookies or baked goods that require some unmelted chocolate inside.

So, what to do when chocolate chips don’t melt?

What to Do When Chocolate Chips Don’t Melt?

If you notice that no melting will happen, you should lower the temperature of your stovetop or microwave. In addition, you might consider adding a few drops of vegetable oil to make the mixture smooth and aid the melting of the chocolate chips. 

The main reason why your chocolate chips might not melt is due to a high temperature. Chocolate chips should be melted at a low point heat, so you will not ruin them.

How to Melt Chocolate Chips?

There are a couple of ways you can try to melt chocolate chips successfully. However, you should take into consideration that not all chocolate chips have the same ingredients. Therefore, you might notice that not every time you will be successful in the melting process.

So, it is recommended that you monitor the melting closely, so if something goes south, you can immediately react, and salvage the process. 

There are two main ways in which you can try to melt chocolate chips. The first one is in the microwave, and the second one is on the stovetop. You should choose the one that seems more convenient for your cooking or baking needs. 

Melting Chocolate Chips in the Microwave (The Right Way)

Although melting chocolate chips in a microwave should be an easy task, there are some things to keep in mind so it doesn’t burn. For example, cocoa butter has melting point around a human body temperature, so it is really easy to exceed that number.

If this is your first time, I would recommend melting your chocolate chips in small quantities, so you don’t mess things up.

The most common mistake people do is they add the chocolate chips inside the microwave, see that they begin to melt and leave it that way. What comes out is burned solid chocolate. The reason for this is that the temperature exceeds the melting point and although the melting starts, it also starts to overheat, and burned chocolate comes out.

Here is how to melt the chocolate chips the right way:

1. Put the chocolate chips inside a bowl and put it in the microwave.
2. Heat the chocolate chips in microwave for around 25 seconds. A little bit of melting should be visible at this point. Chocolate temperaute should be around 95°F at this point.
3. Take the chocolate chips out of microwave and use a spoon to stir the chips a bit so you encourage the melting.
4. Put the bowl back in the microwave and heat for 15 more seconds. The temperatue of the chocolate chips should be around 115°F now.
5. Again, use a spoon to stir the chocolate chips and further encourage the melting.
6. If needed, repeat the process one (or two if needed) more times. Each time, heat the chocolate chips in microwave for a less time (around 10 seconds for a third time, and 5 seconds for a fourth time).

And here you have it, perfectly melted chocolate chips that didn’t burn.

Melting Chocolate Chips on a Stovetop

Melting chocolate chips on a stove is an easy task. Simply put a pot with water on a stove and turn it on to boil the water. Once the water is boiled, put the bowl with chocolate chips on it.

Start stirring the chocolate chips. The important thing here is to continue to stir the chocolate chips all the way until they melt.

If you see that your chocolate will not melt, use some vegetable oil to aid the whole process, and you will be good to go. 

Will Chocolate Chips Harden After Melting?

The chocolate chips can harden after melting if you leave them to chill for a long time. For instance, it will take 10-20 minutes for the chocolate to harden in the fridge, while about an hour for it to harden at room temperature. 

Chocolate chips are usually harder to melt, so you need to know the proper techniques, so you will do it the right way. If it seems that the chocolate chips cannot melt, use some methods that can help you make the melting happen.