How can it be so hard to melt chocolate??

[Phteven]

What happen was you got a drop or two of water in your chocolate and it seized. You can use seized chocolate to make chocolate mousse or chocolate cakes so all isn't lost.

To make chocolate for rocky road you will need to temper it - melt it all and then chuck in some unmelted chocolate and stir it until it cools - then you get smooth chocolate with snap in it.

[nothing2lose]

Exactly what Onyx said.

[Teeki]

Ah that makes sense! Thanks Because the stupid water was boiling it was somehow coming up the sides between the saucepan and the bowl, it would have easily gotten in the chocolate. I've never actually tempered chocolate before, but I'll give that a go

I reckon I might have a go without the wooden spoon too, it didn't seem to be helping things. It definitely wasn't on the heat for very long, but as soon as the water started boiling it went down hill!

[Raupe]

The water shouldn't be boiling - that burns the choc and makes it seize up. If your stove is "all or nothing", heat the water first, turn the stove off, THEN put the glass bowl with choc on it. The residual heat will melt it! Plus what Onyx said! Good luck xx

[Cranky Kitten]

Mmmmm, all of the above. Definitely use either a metal spoon or even a plastic spreader/spatula for stirring - you'll thank us come washing up time, getting melted chocolate off a wooden spoon is a pain in the butt.

You can also melt chocolate in the microwave - low power and very slowly, stirring every 10-15 seconds, once the majority is melted and you've only got a few lumps the rest should melt on it's own while you stir.

[Teeki]

Yeah I've got a plastic spatula, don't know why I didn't use it in the first place! I don't know what to do about the stove top and boiling the water. It's gas, and I was expecting it to be so much better than my old crappy electric one. But on the lowest setting, it still boils - and quickly too! It's a real PIA.

[Cranky Kitten]

Easiest way is to leave the pot of water on the stove (make sure you top up the water if needed) and to shift the bowl as required. Put it on to warm up, take it off once the choc starts melting nicely, repeat as necessary. PITA, but it works as choc has to be treated gently if its not to burn and taste horrible

[Phteven]

Do you have an electric fry pan? Maybe you could put some water in that and sit your bowl in it.

You can put a couple of bowls in for different types of chocolate just as long as they are heat proof.