Candy melts are one of the easiest ingredients to use when baking. They are easy to melt and you can use them to decorate your cakes and muffins since they come in different colours. If you would want to learn how to melt candy melts on a stove then simply checkout the article below. It also has a list of other methods that you can also opt for. Carefully follow the steps in order to attain the best results.
Contents
What are candy melts?
Candy melts are a sweet confectionary coating that have a similar look, texture and taste to chocolate. However, in as much as candy melts appear to be chocolate they aren’t in actual fact chocolate. This is because candy melts do not go undergo the tempering process, which is an essential process that all chocolates have to go through. Furthermore, candy melts are different from chocolate because they can be found in a variety of flavours and colours. Candy melts are often used for coating cake pops but, they can also be used for decorating cakes or making ganache.
How to melt candy melts on stove
NB: this is the best method to use when melting candy melts mainly because it allows you to control the heat manually. Furthermore, this method is suitable for melting large amounts of candy melts.
Step 1
When melting candy melts on stove, the first thing is to take a double boiler. If you do not have a double boiler you can improvise by using a pot and glass bowl or metal bowel.
Step 2
The next step is to place a small amount of water in the pot and place it on a stove that is switched on between medium and low heat. The water that you place in the double boiler should not touch the surface of the glass bowl. This is because if the candy melts come into contact with water they will seize.
Step 3
When the water starts simmering place the glass bowl on top and add the candy melts inside. It is worth highlighting that a metal bowel will cause the candy melts to melt faster as compared to when you are using a glass bowl. This means you need to keep a close eye so that the candy melts do not overheat.
Step 4
When the candy melts start to melt, gently stir them using a spatula or a wooden spoon. When most of the candy melts have melted, remove the bowl from the heat even if there are still some small pieces that have not yet melted. Place the bowl on a countertop and continue to stir the candy melts. The residual eat from the candy and the bowl will help to further melt down the remaining pieces. When the candy melts have completely melted they will have a honey like consistency. You can then use them in any way that you like.
NB: although melting candy melts on stove is highly recommended, it has the potential of introducing moisture into the candy melts during the heating process. This is mainly because the method relies on steam from the boiling water to melt the candy melts. So make sure the bowl you are using, sits perfectly on top of the pot and does not allow any steam to escape.
How to melt candy melts in the microwave
NB: this method is prone to scorching candy melts so you have to keep a close eye on them in order to avoid such incidences
Step 1
When melting candy melts in the microwave, start by placing the candy melts in a microwave safe bowl.
Step 2
Place the bowl in the centre of the microwave and close the microwave door. Adjust your microwave power to half power or less. This will help to ensure that the candy melts are heated up evenly and also so that they do not burn.
Step 3
Microwave the candy melts in short bursts of 15 seconds and stir them during each interval. This will help to ensure that they melt evenly.
Step 4
When most of the candy melts have melted, remove the bowl from the microwave and continue to stir the mixture until all the candy melts are completely melted. When they are fully melted you can then use them in whatever way you like.
How to melt candy melts in candy melting pot
NB: this method is ideal for melting small amounts of candy melts. This is mainly because the candy melting pot can only hold about 2 ½ cups of candy melts at a time.
Step 1
When melting candy melts in a candy melting pot the first thing is to place the candy melts in the candy melting pot. Turn on the setting to melt and let the candy melting pot do its job.
Step 2
Use a spatula to gently stir the candy melts so that they can melt evenly. When most of the candy melts have melted, switch to the warm setting and continue to stir the candy melts. The residual heat from the candy melting pot will help to melt all the remaining pieces of candy melts.
Step 3
Once all the candy melts have melted you can then use them in any recipe of your choice.
Tips for melting candy melts
- Avoid overheating candy melts. This is mainly because the candy melts will become scorched. So in order to avoid this make sure you use low heat when melting candy melts.
- Avoid adding moisture or water to candy melts during the melting process. This is mainly because the candy melts will start to clump up.
- When using a wooden spoon to stir the candy melts, always ensure that it is completely dry. This is because wooden spoons retain moisture which can then be transferred to the candy melts when you are stirring them.
Conclusion
Candy melts are an exciting ingredient to use in the kitchen and no matter which method you use to melt them, you can always achieve satisfactory results if you follow the simple steps.
