Do you need some melted white chocolate in a hurry? If so, the microwave oven will be your best friend. White chocolate melts quickly. In a minute or so you will be ready to drip, drizzle, dip, bake, or decorate.
It is time to dip and decorate with melted white chocolate. The microwave is the best tool to get your white chocolate ready.
The best way to melt white chocolate in the microwave is to heat it on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir.
If necessary, microwave again for 10-second intervals at 50% power. When the chocolate is 85 to 90% melted, remove from the microwave. Stir it and let the residual heat finish melting it.
This article will teach you how to melt all kinds of white chocolate and candies in the microwave to perfection. It is a useful tutorial you can refer to when you need it.
Learn the supplies you need for success. Find out the differences in types of white chocolate (and white candy). Get step by step instructions to melt each kind of white chocolate. Understand issues to be aware of and how to troubleshoot problems that may arise.
Ready to melt? Let’s go.
RELATED: See other helpful baking tips. And checkout all the chocolate recipes and articles.
Jump to:
- Essential Supplies to Melt White Chocolate in the Microwave
- Is That Really White Chocolate? All About White Chocolate and White Candies
- White Chocolate Baking Bars
- White Chocolate Chips vs White Baking Chips
- White Melting Wafers
- Almond Bark (vanilla flavored coating)
- White Candy Coating
- Candy Melts
- Troubleshooting White Chocolate Melting Problems
- What Can You Do with Melted White Chocolate?
- Get Your Chocolate Education
- Comments
Essential Supplies to Melt White Chocolate in the Microwave
You need very few items to successfully melt white chocolate in the microwave. Let’s break it down.
- Microwave with turntable. You must have access to a microwave to melt white chocolate in the microwave. Obviously. What may not be obvious though is the importance of a microwave turntable.
A turntable rotates the bowl of white chocolate as it melts. The rotation helps melt the chocolate evenly. Rotating helps reduce “hot” and “cold” spots in the microwave. And it helps prevent chocolate from scorching.
- Microwave-safe bowl. Glass, ceramic, and silicone heatproof bowls are safe to use in the microwave. Always check the bottom of the bowls for a microwave-safe label.
If the edges of the bowl have a rim or handles, all the better. A bowl rim is cooler than the rest of the bowl, making it easier to carry.
Never put a plastic bowl in the microwave. Most plastic bowls contain phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). These chemicals are hormone disrupters and unsafe. Microwaving plastic can leach these chemicals into food.
- Spatula, whisk, or heat-proof spoon. Use a silicone or rubber spatula to scrape the bottom of the bowl. This will mix all the pieces of melting chocolate together.
Never use a wooden spoon. Wood can retain moisture and moisture is bad for melting chocolate. Even a few drops of water can ruin white chocolate. Wooden spoons can also absorb and transfer odor.
Also, avoid plastic spoons or spatulas because chemicals can leach into the food.
- White chocolate. Melt up to two cups of white chocolate at a time. If you have more than two cups to melt, melt in batches.
White chocolate chips, white baking morsels, white wafers, white chocolate baking bars, almond bark, candy coating, and candy melts can all be melted in the microwave.
Like regular chocolate, white chocolate begins to melt at about 80° F, but it melts best between 104° and 113° F.
| Type of White Chocolate | Microwave Power | Microwave Time |
|---|---|---|
| White chocolate bars | 50% power | 1 minute |
| White chocolate chips | 50% power | 1 minute |
| White morsels | 50% power | 1 minute |
| White melting wafers | 50% power | 30 seconds |
| Almond bark coating | 100% power | 1 minute |
| Candy coating | 50% power | 2 minutes |
| Candy melts | 50% power | 1 minute |
Is That Really White Chocolate? All About White Chocolate and White Candies
The FDA precisely defines real white chocolate. White chocolate must have a minimum of 20% cocoa butter, a minimum of 14% milk solids, and a maximum of 55% sugar.
No wiggle room. Anything outside of this scope cannot legally be called white chocolate in the United States.
That is why you will find products you may consider to be white chocolate not labeled as white chocolate. For example, Nestle’s white morsels, not white chocolate chips.
If it does not have cocoa butter in it, consider it a candy. It will probably have more than 55% sugar and will taste quite sweet.
Let’s define each type of “white chocolate” you may find, how to best use it, and how to melt it in the microwave.
White Chocolate Baking Bars
Baking bars are the easiest real white chocolate for home bakers to find. Ghirardelli, Baker’s, Lindt, Simple Truth Organic, and even Great Value (Walmart brand) make real white chocolate baking bars.
Not Nestle’s white baking bar though. See how easy it is to find real white chocolate by looking at the label?
White chocolate baking bars usually come in 4 oz. Often the chocolate is scored so you can break off the amount you need.
Baking bars are easy to melt and the best choice for baked goods, white chocolate sauce, and white chocolate ganache.
How to Melt White Chocolate Bars in the Microwave
- Break the white chocolate bars into small (about ½ inch) pieces. Or use a sharp kitchen knife to chop the chocolate. Try to get the same sized pieces so they will melt uniformly.
- Place chocolate pieces in a microwave-safe glass, ceramic, or silicone bowl.
- Set the microwave to the 50% power level. Microwave the white chocolate uncovered for 1 minute. The chocolate should have a shiny finish at this point.
- Remove the glass bowl. Stir the white chocolate with a silicone or rubber spatula. Be sure to scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl. If most of the chocolate has not melted, microwave on the 50% power level for 10-second intervals. Stir in-between each interval.
- Keep a close eye on the chocolate. When 80 to 85% of it is melted and only a few lumps remain, remove the bowl. Scrape the sides of the bowl with the spatula. Stir the white chocolate until smooth. The residual heat will finish melting the remaining chocolate.
- Use the melted chocolate immediately for dipping or drizzling. As the chocolate cools it will thicken.
White Chocolate Chips vs White Baking Chips
Most “white chocolate” chips do not contain cocoa butter. That means “white chocolate” legally cannot appear on the label. Almost every chocolate chip brand you can buy at the grocery store is not true white chocolate.
Instead, the label will read white baking chips, white crème chips, or white morsels.
White baking chips are great in baked goods like cookies. Although white morsels do not melt as smoothly as white chocolate, they still can be melted. You can use melted morsels to dip, drizzle, and decorate.
Is there such a thing as real white chocolate chips? Yes. And the package label will clearly indicate this.
Finding real white chocolate chips can be difficult. They hide in specialty food stores and online markets. Reading the label is an easy way to tell if the product is real white chocolate or just a white candy.
RELATED: See the best substitutes for white chocolate.
How to Melt White Chocolate Chips and White Morsels in the Microwave
The directions for melting white chocolate chips and white morsels is almost identical. The differences? First, white chocolate chips melt quicker and smoother than morsels. Second, you may need to add shortening or oil to the morsels to achieve smoothness.
- Place 1 cup of the white chocolate chips or morsels in a microwave-safe glass, ceramic, or silicone bowl.
- Set the microwave to the 50% power level. Microwave the white chocolate uncovered for 1 minute. It should have a glossy finish, but still maintain its shape.
- Remove the bowl. Stir with a silicone or rubber spatula. Scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl to incorporate everything. If necessary, microwave again on 50% power for 10-second intervals. Stir in-between each interval.
- For white morsels only: If the white morsels are melting, but are not melting smoothly, add a little vegetable oil. About ¼ teaspoon of vegetable oil (coconut oil or shortening) per cup. Stir. If necessary, return to the microwave for a 10-second interval at 50% power.
- Keep a close eye on it. When 80 to 85% of the white chocolate chips are melted and only a few lumps remain, remove the bowl. Scrape the sides of the bowl with the spatula. Stir it until smooth. The residual heat will finish melting the remaining chocolate.
White Melting Wafers
Ghirardelli white melting wafers melt like a dream. They are quicker to melt than baking chips and smoother when melted.
As the name suggests, they are also not real white chocolate. Wafers contain no cocoa butter.
However, they are easy to find in grocery stores, easy to melt, and are good for dipping and drizzling on your favorite desserts.
Try it with any white chocolate Chex mix.
How to Melt White Melting Wafers
Girardelli white melting wafers are made to melt. If you do not overcook them, they will be perfect.
- Heat the wafers in a microwave-safe container at 50% power for 30 seconds.
- Stir thoroughly.
- If they are not completely melted, continue to microwave at 50% power for 15-second intervals. Stir until smooth.
- Do not overheat.
Almond Bark (vanilla flavored coating)
Almond bark is a candy coating that is easy to melt, dip, and drizzle. It melts smoothly and quickly without adding oil or shortening.
Do not use almond bark in baked good, like cookies because they will melt in the oven. It is not made to hold its shape. Instead, use it to dip strawberries, pretzels, or cake pops. It also makes a pretty cake drizzle.
RELATED: Learn more about when to use almond bark vs white chocolate.
How to Melt Almond Bark in the Microwave
The microwave is the preferred method to melt almond bark.
- Place the amount you want to melt in a microwave safe bowl.
- Heat at full power for 60 seconds. Stir thoroughly.
- Continue to heat in 15 second increments until it is smooth.
- Do not overheat or the almond bark will burn.
White Candy Coating
It can be hard to find almond bark in the grocery store. Walmart is the only store I find that carries it most of the time. An alternative is vanilla candy coating.
Candy coating is found in many grocery stores, often as a store brand. Some candy coating resembles the perforated rectangle squares like almond bark. And some candy coating is sold in a big lump.
The Target brand (Good & Gather) sells the big lump candy coating in a tray. It is convenient to melt, and the tray is handy for dipping.
How to Melt White Candy Coating in the Microwave
The microwave is the best method to melt candy coatings.
- Remove the candy coating tray from the package. Remove the inner film from the tray.
- Microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes. Stir well.
- Microwave at 50% power for 15 second intervals until it is smooth.
Do not overheat or it will burn, get hard, and become unusable. Do not heat at 100% power.
Store opened packages in an airtight container. Remelt leftovers when needed following the same directions.
Candy Melts
Candy melts are not white chocolate. Sometimes they are used in white chocolate’s place, especially for decorating.
Candy melts do not have any cocoa butter at all. Instead, they are made with sugar, oil, and milk solids.
They can be temperamental. If they have been in hot temperatures, they will partially melt and stick together. When this happens, they lose the ability to melt into a smooth liquid.
Beware. Many stores have these damaged candy melts on the shelf. Check the bag before you buy it.
If you see (or feel through the bag) that the wafers are stuck together, do not buy the bag. At some point between manufacturer and you, they were exposed to high temperatures, damaging them.
When you buy the candy melts, store them in a cool, dry place. They may be fine when you bought them, but if they get too hot in your pantry, they will stick together and be difficult to melt.
Dip, coat, or decorate with candy melts. Do not use them for baking. They won’t hold their shape. And honestly, they do not taste very good in baked goods.
RELATED: Want to learn more? Check out my post on candy melts vs white chocolate.
How to Melt Candy Melts in the Microwave
Heat candy melts in a microwave-safe container or a decorating bag.
- Microwave at 50% power for 1 minute.
- Stir (or knead decorating bag).
- Continue to microwave at 50% power for 30 second intervals until it has melted.
- When the candy is smooth, do not heat it anymore or it will thicken. If it is too thick, add 1 teaspoon of shortening per 6 oz. of the candy melts.
Troubleshooting White Chocolate Melting Problems
Seizing and burning are the two most common problems when white chocolate is melted.
How to Deal with Seized White Chocolate
What does it mean for chocolate to seize? Chocolate that has seized gets grainy, lumpy, and hard during the melting process. It seems to happen all at once. First, the chocolate was melting fine. The next minute instead of melting it gets lumpier and lumpier.
Chocolate seizes when a small amount of water gets in the chocolate. This happens less when melting chocolate in the microwave since there is no water or steam needed for the process.
However, if your bowl had even a drop of water in it when you added the chocolate, it may seize. If you stirred the white chocolate with a damp wooden spoon, the chocolate may seize.
Finally, if you overheated the chocolate, it may look seized, but it may actually be burned.
How to Fix Seized White Chocolate or White Baking Chips
If your white chocolate has seized, you may be able to fix it.
To fix seized white chocolate, add 3 tablespoons of warm water for every 6 ounces (1 cup) of chocolate. This may seem counterintuitive since drops of water were what caused the problem in the first place.
But it does work. Make sure the water is warm and you add the right amount.
Heat in the microwave on medium heat (50% power) for 15-second intervals. Between each interval, whisk with a wire whip. Wire whips work better than spatulas in restoring seized chocolate.
How to Fix Lumpy Candy Melts or Morsels
If candy melts start getting hard as you microwave them, instead of melting, stop microwaving them.
Instead add shortening or coconut oil. Start with ½ teaspoon for every cup of candy melts. Stir and try to melt the remaining candy with residual heat. If necessary, heat in the microwave at 50% power for 10 second intervals.
If the candy melts start to melt again, you are on the right track. Evaluate and determine if more shortening is needed to smooth the white chocolate out.
Can You Fix Burned White Chocolate?
Unfortunately, there comes a point when you have gone too far. If you have overheated the chocolate, failed to use a microwave turntable, or not paid attention to the warning signs, you may have to throw out the chocolate.
Before abandoning ship, try adding shortening or oil and stirring. If the addition of shortening does not reverse the hardening process, you will have to discard the batch and try again.
However, if you pay attention to the chocolate, microwave it on 50% power, and watch it carefully, you should be able to prevent problems. The end result – smooth, dreamy white chocolate.
What Can You Do with Melted White Chocolate?
Now that you have smooth, melted white chocolate, make white chocolate Chex mix with M&M's. It is easy and the perfect holiday snack. Serve it along with chocolate chip hot chocolate.
Get Your Chocolate Education
Check out these resources about all types of chocolate. They include information on milk chocolate, dark chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and white chocolate.
- Learn the different ways to melt white chocolate chips. Melt in a slow cooker, try the double-boiler method, or melt on the stove. Experiment and you may find your new favorite method.
- Going beyond white chocolate? Learn how to melt regular chocolate chips in the microwave or melt chocolate chips on the stove. It is different than melting white chocolate.
- One of the best ways to improve chocolate baking is to learn how to measure chocolate chips correctly. It can be a little tricky.
- To be an excellent baker, learn some of the most common chocolate chip conversions, like how many ounces of chocolate chips in a cup.
- Learn some useful trivia too, like how many chocolate chips in an ounce, a tablespoon, and a cup.
- Compare white vs. milk chocolate or dark vs. white chocolate.
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