How To: Melt chocolate to the proper consistency

Chocolate. Everybody loves chocolate. Unless you're allergic. If you want to melt chocolate, then this video tip is the perfect recipe for melting chocolate, straight from Real Simple.

Chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-dipped cookies?perfectly melted chocolate can take a simple dessert from delicious to divine. Low heat is the key; excessive heat can easily burn it or make it grainy. Here are some quick steps to melt your chocolate to the proper consistency.

What You Need:
Bar of chocolate, cutting board, serrated knife, large saucepan, heat-proof bowl (large enough to cradle in top of saucepan), rubber spatula

1. Chop the chocolate: Roughly chop the chocolate into small pieces, about the size of sugar cubes (a serrated knife works well for this).

2. Place chocolate in heat-proof bowl: Set chocolate pieces in the bottom of your metal or glass bowl, making sure it's heat-proof.

3. Place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water: Bring about an inch of water to a simmer in your saucepan. Set the heatproof bowl in the mouth of the pot, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl.

4. Stir the chocolate: Stir chocolate occasionally as it softens. When you have just a few small unmelted chunks, remove bowl from heat (residual heat will melt the rest).