How to fix seized or overheated chocolate — Tum Yum Yum — Tum Yum Yum (2024)

Written By Kelly C

Have you ever been making a chocolate based treat involving melting chocolate and had the horror of it seizing up and becoming a stiff, grainy, lumpy mess? I have! The worst thing is I rarely have chocolate spare to start over and in any case, what a waste it would be to bin it!

Never fear though, there is a way to save it and return it back to a smooth, satiny concoction.

I tend to find this happens when chocolate is heated too aggressively. Apparently chocolate is also prone to seizing when it comes in to contact with some kind of moisture during the melting process. So, what do you do to save it if your chocolate seizes?

Funnily enough, it’s super simple. First boil some water. Second, very slowly, as in 1-2 tsp at a time add in the boiling water and whisk the chocolate vigorously until the mixture is smooth again. The hot water will essentially melt the clumps back to a liquid consistency.

I have pictured the various stages of unseizing here. First you will see the chocolate will start to loosen but it will still be very grainy.

Next it will start to look quite smooth but almost oily. Don’t worry, keep going, adding just a teaspoon of water at a time at this stage.

Finally you will see the chocolate revert to a smooth and runny consistency.

The chocolate will still be perfectly usable for sauces, drizzles or when I last did this I used mine as an awesome topping on a rocky road. It will be diluted though and so I advise caution if planning to use it in baking. I believe there are ways to try and save seized chocolate for baking by adding additional fats but I have not personally tried this.

How to fix seized or overheated chocolate — Tum Yum Yum — Tum Yum Yum (2024)

FAQs

How to fix seized or overheated chocolate — Tum Yum Yum — Tum Yum Yum? ›

Funnily enough, it's super simple. First boil some water. Second, very slowly, as in 1-2 tsp at a time add in the boiling water and whisk the chocolate vigorously until the mixture is smooth again. The hot water will essentially melt the clumps back to a liquid consistency.

How to fix melted chocolate that has seized? ›

Quick Fixes

Begin by incorporating a tablespoon of warm water into the mixture, stirring gently to revive the silky consistency. Should the chocolate persist in its seized state, introduce a touch of melted butter or coconut oil – the culinary alchemists' secret weapons.

Can you fix chocolate that has been overheated? ›

As mentioned above, the lumpy mixture is a result of overheating. To fix seized chocolate, you need to quickly cool it down to regain the original consistency. One of the best ways to go about this is by adding more chopped chunks of chocolate to fix the seized chocolate.

Can you still eat overheated chocolate? ›

But don't despair! This chocolate can still be used (as long as it isn't burnt) so don't bin it immediately. If the chocolate has seized because it has been overheated, try stirring in a couple of pieces of solid chocolate (this will not work if the chocolate has seized from moisture).

Can I still use seized chocolate? ›

Although you can't use the chocolate for its original purpose now, which was coating sweets with pure melted chocolate, you can use the seized chocolate to make brownies, chocolate sauce, mousse, or any dessert that calls for melting chocolate with some butter or a greater quantity of liquid.

Can you add milk to seized chocolate? ›

To fix seized chocolate, you can use one of the following methods: Add warm liquid: Gradually add a small amount of warm liquid (e.g., milk, cream, or water) to the seized chocolate while stirring continuously. Start with a teaspoon and increase as needed until the chocolate becomes smooth and glossy again.

Does overheated chocolate taste bad? ›

This is because milk and white chocolate contain powdered milk, which alters its melting point. Burnt chocolate will have a burnt aroma and taste, as well as a lumpy and grainy texture.

Can hot chocolate be saved? ›

Storing and Reheating Hot Chocolate

To reheat hot chocolate, transfer it into a small sauce pot and heat through just until hot. Make sure to reheat it slowly over medium-low heat.

Does heat ruin chocolate? ›

"When chocolate is subject to extreme temperature changes it can cause blooming, both from the fat in the cocoa butter which will surface if it gets too warm, and the sugars, (which) can crystalize from humidity and leave discoloration on the surface." Blooming does not mean you cannot eat the chocolate, but it does ...

What happens if you overheat chocolate in the microwave? ›

Overheated chocolate will be thick, lumpy, and very dull looking. Unfortunately, overheating is hard to come back from (I typically just toss my chocolate and start over when it happens).

Can you eat chocolate that has melted and solidified again? ›

Although it may have an unappetizing appearance and texture, chocolate that has "bloomed" is still generally safe to eat. There are actually two forms of chocolate bloom, Fat Bloom and Sugar Bloom, read more about these below. Fat Bloom: Fat bloom happens if the chocolate has encountered temperature changes.

Why won't my melted chocolate harden? ›

The chocolate wasn't tempered (or pre-crystallised)

As a result, your chocolate won't harden and will continue to feel wet. Always temper your chocolate properly before working with it.

How do I Unseize my chocolate? ›

One method you can use is mixing teaspoons of boiling water into your seized chocolate over a double boiler. Add the teaspoons one at a time, mixing thoroughly each time, until your chocolate is liquid again.

Can melted chocolate go back to solid? ›

When a melted chocolate is kept in a refrigerator it solidifies on cooling. However when it will be kept at room temperature, it will absorb heat and melt again. Hence, it is a reversible process..

Why add oil to melting chocolate? ›

Adding a tablespoon of coconut oil or vegetable oil while microwaving helps the chocolate melt more smoothly and makes it the perfect consistency for dipping! The caveat here is that once cool, the chocolate won't set up quite as hard as it did to begin with due to the added fat content.

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