How can it be so hard to melt chocolate??

[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.

[Teeki]

Electric frying pan sounds like a good idea. We did have one, but chucked it when we moved because it was cheap and all the non-stick stuff had come off so it burnt everything. Bugger! Definitely going to have another go at this now today, I'm determined to make it work lol.

[nothing2lose]

I use my microwave to melt chocolate. Just do it in 20-30 second bursts (and stir).

It can retain its form but still be melted, so check regularly. It should only take a minute or so depending on how much choc you have.

Good luck!!!!