How to melt chocolate video - How to cook

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Melting chocolate

Discover how to melt chocolate and make chocolate curls for decoration.

Break chocolate and place into a heatproof bowl.
Sit over a pan of barely simmering water (a bain marie) and allow the chocolate to melt, stirring occasionally.
Once melted, use as required. Make curls by spreading melted chocolate over a baking sheet in a thin layer.
Leave to set until firm but not completely solid.
Hold a knife at a 45 degree angle to the surface of the chocolate and push along the chocolate so it scrapes a thin layer that curls up as you push.

Make sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water, and that no water comes into contact with the melting chocolate, which will cause it to seize and become unusable.
Do not let the water get too hot - the chocolate may burn and then split.

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