Did You Know You Can Melt Chocolate With a Hairdryer?

For melting chocolate, Im on record as preferring the water bath, but others opt for a double boiler, and some use a microwave. Any way you do it, you must avoid contact with moisture and excessive heat. Milk and white chocolates are the trickiest. New cooks are often daunted, and experienced cooks find it a chore. Luckily, theres another way thats clean, quick, and safeno water baths, double boilers, microwaves, or stove tops necessary.

Here's how to melt chocolate with a hair dryer:
Make sure your hands, cutting board, knife, spatula, and bowl are completely dry. Chop or break the chocolate into piecesno need to chop finelyand put them in the bowl. Hold a hair dryer 8 to 10 inches from the chocolate, pointing it straight down into the bowl. Turn it on and move it around to warm the chocolate, stirring from time to time, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.

I dont think more needs to be said. Couldnt be easier.

P.S. This is terrific way to melt chocolate in a dorm room.

Alice Medrich

Photos: James Ransom