How to Melt Chocolate / Call Me PMc

How to Melt Chocolate
Melting chocolate is not difficult but there are a few things you need to know if you’ve never melted it before.
I prefer to melt chocolate in a microwave. This is directions for melting in a microwave:

Get good chocolate melts, not chocolate chips. I prefer Wilton Candy Melts pictured above.
Empty melts into a microwave safe container. I prefer a large glass measuring cup with a handle.
For every 1 1/2 cup of melts add 1 tsp solid vegetable shortening such as Crisco. This will make chocolate smooth and shiny.
Begin by melting chocolate for 30 seconds. Stir completely. You will not see much melting the first 30 seconds, but stir anyway.
Microwave another 30 seconds and stir completely. Do not microwave for more than 30 seconds at a time and stir completely between each interval.
Microwave another 30 seconds and stir. It usually takes my microwave 90 seconds to melt chocolate. When you take the chocolate out this time it will appear to not be melted completely. Keep stirring, more will melt the longer you stir. If you have to place back in microwave do so at 10 to 15 second intervals from this point forward.
Be very careful not to over heat the chocolate. Chocolate has a very low heat tolerance and will scorch easily. Once scorched, you can not ‘undo’ the damage. You’ll need to throw that batch out and start again.
Also, make sure your bowl and spatula (or spoon) is completely dry. Water will make chocolate seize up or “clump”. The chocolate also cannot recover from this; trash it and start again.
Once the chocolate is smooth, begin dipping or coating your candy. Work quickly. If the chocolate begins to dry and harden, microwave it and stir it beginning with 15 second intervals until melted and smooth again.
After dipping candy, cookies, apples, etc lay on waxed or parchment paper to dry and set completely before storing or packaging. Drying time will vary depending on the thickness or chocolate.
If you are dipping more than once, make sure first coat is completely dry before layering on more.
If you want to drizzle chocolate over candy or apples instead of dipping the entire item in chocolate, layer a heavy freezer zip-top bag in a microwave safe bowl and place the chocolate inside the bag. Melt using the method above. (Squeeze the bag to mix instead of stirring.) When melted snip the corner off (very small snip!) and squeeze chocolate into desired pattern on item.