How to thin chocolate for dipping
How do you make chocolate thin enough to dip strawberries?
If I make it thin enough to dip (with butter) will that affect allowing it to set-up and harden?
I saw another question about the thickness but nothing about hardening.
Best Answer
How do you make chocolate thin enough to dip strawberries?
Melt it. I'm not trying to be funny here -- you should have no problem dipping strawberries or pretty much anything else (that's solid) in melted chocolate. When candy makers coat things in chocolate, that's all they're using -- they don't add anything to make the chocolate thinner. If you're really having trouble in this respect, then perhaps your chocolate isn't fully melted, or perhaps it's something other than real chocolate.
If you want the chocolate to be "tempered" when it hardens/dries/crystalizes, you're going to have to read up on tempering and be pretty careful with the temperature (but you'll end up with a superior product if you do).
If I make it thin enough to dip (with butter) will that affect allowing it to set-up and harden?
Yes, that will definitely affect the way the chocolate sets up. When chocolate hardens, the cocoa butter contained in the chocolate forms crystals. The crystals can actually take several different forms, and only one of those forms makes for the best appearance and hardness. That's why you temper chocolate, btw. Adding other substances, particularly another fat, will affect or prevent that crystallization process.
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Quick Answer about "How to thin chocolate for dipping"
Add oil, butter, or shortening to thin a small amount of chocolate. The best way to thin chocolate is with the addition of a fat. The exact amount of oil you will need will depend on the thickness of your chocolate and your desired consistency. Start by stirring in just a little splash, then add more if you need to.How do you make dipping chocolate more liquidy?
How to Thin Out ChocolateWhat do you do when melted chocolate is too thick?
If the chocolate remains thick or lumpy, try straining it through a sieve first. If this doesn't solve the problem, add a spoonful of vegetable oil or melted vegetable shortening and stir thoroughly.How do you thin chocolate down?
The best ingredient to add is fat. Try adding a small amount of vegetable oil, butter, or shortening as this will melt into the chocolate and make it thinner. Chocolate already has a large amount of fat, so by adding more of an ingredient already present, you won't risk disturbing the composition of the chocolate.Can you add water to chocolate to thin it?
As the chocolate is melting, add 2 tablespoons light corn syrup, 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, and 1 \xbd teaspoons water in as well. With a wooden spoon, keep stirring the mixture till the chocolate morsels have melted properly. We want the mixture to be smooth in consistency.How To Thin Out Melting Chocolate | Almond Bark | I Am Fee Tv
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Answer 2
Caleb has great answer that pretty much covers it.
The only thing I would add is this: If you want to lower the melting point of your chocolate (or keep it liquid longer), I add cream.
The cream stops it from solidifying quickly, which is great if you have fondue set which is warmed with a candle.
It also doesn't affect the flavour (much).
Be careful though, adding too much can stop it from solidifying at all.
Answer 3
adding just a little melted wax works fine for me, and helps it set up when it cools. I do this particularly for dark chocolate, which is really too thick for dipping.
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