Everytime I try to melt choc or Wilton candy melts in the microwave I get smoking and sparks - scary. My husband said that you are not supposed to do that (like I should have known) but I've never heard of this rule!
Anyone know why?? Is there a way to melt without the pain of the double boiler?

TIA1

What is it that's sparking and smoking? The chocolate itself? I have no experience with candy melts. But I melt chocolate in the microwave all the time.

Here is a good guide to melting chocolate in the microwave.

http://candy.about.com/od/workingwithchocolate/a/meltchocolate.htm

I think the most important thing to remember is to do it at 50% power and for short bits at a time so you don't over cook it. And you're not using a metal bowl by any chance, are you? That will cause sparking and smoking.

Plastic or silicone MICROWAVE SAFE bowl, 50% power in short burst, stir every time the microwave stops--works like a charm with no chance of getting water vapor in it and having it seize.

Rae

What kind of bowl are you using? Chocolate or candy melts by themselves SHOULD NOT spark!

Dude, take it out of the foil package and put it in a plastic or glass bowl.

I melt chocolate and candy melts in microwave. Just like they say.....always 50% power and small amounts of time and stir inbetween

I melt candy melts, chocolate, and chocolate chips in the microwave all the time. Use a plain glass bowl, a transparent one works the best. I don't even reduce the power to 50%. I just put it in for 10-20 seconds at a time, stir to see if they have melted, and put it back for 10-15 seconds more if needed.

I think the sparks could be from a metal-lined bowl that you are using in the microwave. Or maybe something's wrong with the appliance?

I had the exact same problem. Turned out it was a problem with the microwave itself. The unit inside the microwave (can't remember the name) that creates the actual heat wave was faulty. After it was replace I had not problem at all.

Are you trying to melt a small quantity? I was defrosting a handful of frozen blueberries the other day and the same thing happened to me, after some research (thank you Google) I discovered this can happen if you have small quantities of a food and all the pieces aren't touching.