Problembeginnerdraft
Chocolate seizes when melting
Also searched as: chocolate goes stiff, grainy chocolate, seized chocolate
In short: A few drops of water have turned the sugar into syrup that glues the cocoa particles together.
Picture it
Like icing sugar hit by a drop of water: suddenly the powder becomes a stiff lump.
What happened in your kitchen?
Question 1
Could water or steam have got to the chocolate?
All causes, by frequency
- A little water or steam
Even one drop makes the sugar sticky and the cocoa particles clump.
Next time: Stir in boiling water a spoonful at a time until smooth · Then use it for a sauce or hot chocolate
- Too hot
Overheated chocolate turns thick and crumbly.
Next time: Melt gently over a water bath · Microwave only in short bursts