melt chocolate?

[mac]

If I have no double broiler handy, is it suitable to use a stainless steel bowl on top of simmering water? What methods would you best recommend?
Thanx

[kwormann]

We did that this Christmas when we melted chocolate, and it worked like a charm!

After it was melted, I turned it to low to keep the chocolate "melted". I was very pleased!

Good luck!

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Gail]

That's one way, or you can do the old pan- within-a-pan thing. Or, if you've got a microwave, nuke it.

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 01-09-2001).]

[slknight]

I've melted chocolate both ways that Gail mentions. One word of advice, if you melt it in the microwave, make sure you don't do it on high or it will end up scorched. I usually use level 3 or 4.

[aka]

Hi, Here are two untried tips from my Cooks Illustrated magazine:
Place chocolate in a small, heatproof bowl, cover with plastic wrap, place bowl on teh burner plate of a coffee maker. Turn coffee maker on and the gentrle heat of the burner melts the chocolate w/o burning it.

Another option:
Line a metal bowl with a heating pad. Place a second metal bowl on top of the pad and put the chocolate to be melted into this bowl. Turn on the heating pad. To melt chocolate quickly, cover the top bowl with plastic wrap, lifting the wrap occasionally to stir with chocolate until smooth. (My note: if condensation should form on the wrap, be careful: if it drips into the chocolate it will sieze the chocolate and ruin it). To keep the chocolate at an even temperature, remove the plastic wrap and set the heating pad to low.

[mac]

Thank you all for the help. I tried your ideas and the chocolate turned out great!