How To Make A Double Boiler - Baking Bites

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Homemade double boiler

When you put a pot on the stovetop, it gets hot – especially the parts of the pot that make physical contact with the heating element, be it flame or electric coil, of the stove. I’m not going to speculate about how hot your stove gets, since it depends on how your stove is powered, but that flame or coil is very hot. When heating something in a pot, the portion that comes in contact with the very hot bottom of the pan will heat up more quickly than the rest of the food. This isn’t a problem for most foods, but it is a big problem for some things, such as chocolate and delicate sauces, that burn very easily. The solution is to use a double boiler.

A double boiler consists of a bowl placed on top of a pan of simmering water. The bowl does not touch the water, but creates a seal with the bottom pan to trap the steam produced by the simmering water. The trapped steam keeps the top bowl going at just about 212F (100C), the temperature at which water turns to steam and a far lower temperature than could be achieved by putting the bowl directly on that burner. Inside the top bowl, you can melt chocolate without worrying that it will stick and burn.

You can buy a double boiler, but it’s easy to make one at home. All you need to make a double boiler is a mixing bowl (preferably glass/pyrex or metal) and a saucepan that the bowl will fit on top of. The two should fit tightly together; you don’t want a gap between the bowl and the saucepan, nor do you want a bowl that sits precariously on a tiny saucepan. To use the double boiler, add water to the pan and bring it to a simmer, then place the bowl on top and fill it with whatever you intend to cook or melt.

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106 Comments
  • Ria Stone
    June 26, 2018

    Appreciated your article on explaining and on how to make a double broiler.

  • Tips for Melting Chocolate | If You Give A Blonde A Kitchen
    November 8, 2015

    […] you don’t have a double boiler set, it is very easy to make one.  Just add a bit of water to a sauce pan and place a metal bowl on top so it is resting on the […]

  • Fruity Popcorn Balls Recipe | Food For Thought
    November 21, 2015

    […] on sheets of waxed or parchment paper. Melt two cups of chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler. Dunk each popcorn ball into the chocolate and return to the waxed or parchment paper. Let cool […]

  • A Few Things To Start | Essential Hope
    January 12, 2016

    […] Another thing that is essential is a double boiler. You can buy one but it’s much easier to just make one. All you need is a small pot and a heat-proof bowl (I use a stainless steel one). If you don’t know what a double boiler is then check out this link. […]

  • It's a Sparkly Life
    January 13, 2016

    […] dipped biscotti: Let biscotti cool once out of oven. Set aside. Using a double boiler, or even just two pots, melt 8 ounces of chocolate. With a small spoon, slowly drip chocolate over one end of biscotti. […]

  • boozy black cherry brownies « Laura's Mess
    January 26, 2016

    […] and butter into a sturdy glass or metal bowl over a pan of simmering water (using the ‘double boiler’ technique). Allow to melt gently, stirring […]

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