How To: Melt Chocolate in Under 1 Minute Without a Stove

When I first moved to Los Angeles, I rented a bed in a tiny studio. I was too broke to afford my own place, so all I had was a mattress in someone else's apartment. Unfortunately, this person had no interest in cooking, and therefore no kitchen equipment whatsoever. To make matters worse, there wasn't even room for my kitchen equipment. Needless to say, I ate a lot of tubs of Trader Joe's hummus, and frequented a lot of taco trucks.

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If only I knew then what I know now! It turns out there are a lot of things you can do without a kitchen, and they're not all boring. You can melt chocolate for crying out loud! And all you need is a hair dryer.

Step 1: Aim a Hair Dryer at a Bowl of Chocolate

Turn on a blowdryer on its lowest setting, and point it at a bowl of chocolate. If you're trying to melt a whole bar of chocolate, break it into small chunks first.

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Step 2: Enjoy

Seriously, that's it! In about 45 seconds you'll have perfectly melted chocolate. When the chocolate looks soft, give it a stir, and then eat it! It really couldn't be easier.

While this hack is great for those without a kitchen—such as college students in dorms or travelers in motels—it's also a handy trick for those who do have a kitchen. A hairdryer is a lot easier than a water bath, so it's safe to say that this is my new go-to for when I'm making desserts.

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