Here's How To Melt Chocolate Chips In Your Microwave

Whether you're drizzling it over fruit or dipping pretzels into it, melted chocolate is a staple that can turn ordinary snacks into sweet treats you'll make again and again. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when melting chocolate chips in the microwave. Since chocolate chips or morsels were created to hold their shape while baking, they can be a bit trickier to melt down than just a regular chocolate bar. With so many different types of chocolate, each with their own quirks, knowing the ins and outs of each kind will help when working with it.

First you'll need a microwave-safe bowl. Make sure the bowl is dry because if there is any moisture or water, the chocolate will seize and not melt smoothly. Next, place your chocolate chips in the bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir with a rubber spatula or other heat-proof kitchen implement. Microwave for 20 seconds, remove and stir. Repeat until the chocolate is smooth. 

Microwaving and stirring in intervals allows for the chocolate to heat evenly so it doesn't burn. However, there is a trick to making the process even smoother and shiner. Adding in a spoonful of coconut oil lowers the melting point of the mixture and acts a lubricant so the chips melt smoothly. A little goes a long way, as you only need about one tablespoon per cup of chocolate chips. 

Long before becoming a cult-favorite but discontinued Costco fave, chocolate chips were brought into society by Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn. As the story goes, she was making butter-drop cookies and ran out of baking chocolate, so was forced to use a semi-sweet Nestle chocolate bar instead. She broke up the pieces, folded them into the dough and expected them to melt down. However, the chocolate kept its shape and thus the chocolate chip (cookie) was born.

The cookies were incredibly popular and prompted Wakefield to strike a deal with Nestlé. She agreed to have her recipe added to the chocolate bar's packaging in exchange for a lifetime supply of chocolate. While this happy accident may have produced one of the most beloved cookies of all time, some say you should reconsider using chocolate chips in your cookies. THat's in part because chocolate chips contain stabilizers, they don't melt down (like Wakefield expected) and thus can't fully disperse into a cookie. For the classic chocolate chip cookie look, they are the optimal choice but there are other options that can add a more pervasive depth and richness to the treat.