Cooking & Kitchen

Chocolate Melting Calculator

One cup of chocolate chips weighs about 170 g, and a tablespoon of butter per cup keeps melted chocolate smooth and glossy.

This result gives the chocolate as a cup measure and the butter to add, so it shows how much melted chocolate the weight makes and how much butter keeps it smooth.

Formula

Cups = grams / 170. Butter (tablespoons) = cups x 1.

How it works

Chocolate seizes when even a drop of water gets in, so keep bowls and spoons completely dry. Melt gently — a bowl over simmering water, not direct high heat.

Butter is optional but helpful for dipping and drizzling, since it keeps the chocolate fluid as it cools.

Worked example

For example, 200 g of chocolate gives 200 ÷ 170 = 1.18 cups, so about 1.2 tablespoons of butter are added for smooth melting.

FAQs

Why did my chocolate go grainy?
Almost always water contact, or overheating. Both make chocolate seize into a stiff paste.

Can I melt chocolate in the microwave?
Yes, in short 20–30 second bursts with stirring between each, so it never overheats.

Do chips melt differently from bars?
Chips contain stabilisers that hold their shape, so chopped bar chocolate usually melts more smoothly.

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