How to melt chocolate without a double boiler?

Without a double boiler on hand, melting chocolate can be tricky process. Using the wrong container for melting chocolate can lead to sticking, burning and other all around un-tasty results. Luckily, with some improvising you can fashion your own makeshift double broiler. read more

Add the chocolate to top of a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, you can easily place a light, non-plastic bowl set over a pot of lightly steaming water. The steam will slowly heat the chocolate above. Make sure not to let the bottom of the bowl (holding the chocolate) have contact with the steaming or boiling water. read more

Make your own double boiler-start a pot of water gently simmering-put the chocolate in a bowl that will either 1) sit over the top of the pot-or 2) sit down inside it-put the chocolate in and stir til its melted. if your immersing the bowl in the water lower the temp to just barely simmering and watch it closely. read more

To make ganache, you actually heat the cream and then pour it over chocolate in a heatproof bowl to melt it; therefore, no double boiler is required. For pastry toppings or coating cakes or cookies, this may provide a great alternative to melting chocolate on the stovetop. read more