The Best Way To Melt Velveeta Cheese And Avoid Burning It

For a rich, smooth bowl of cheese, Velveeta can deliver. From an extra creamy mac and cheese to a spicy chili queso, there's a lot this simple ingredient can do. While the golden sauce is delicious, it comes with a big con too: It can very easily end up burnt. Whether you opt to microwave this cheese or heat it on the stovetop, a perfect bowl of Velveeta void of any burnt edges can be hard to achieve. 

If you want to melt Velveeta cheese and avoid burning it, try using a double boiler. This handy piece of hardware can perfectly melt fragile substances like Velveeta without burning because it avoids direct heat. Here's how it works. 

A double boiler is made up of two distinct pieces: A large pot on the bottom and a smaller one stacked on top. To use it simply fill the large pot with water and let it simmer, then put your ingredient of choice in the smaller pot to melt. (You don't need the water to boil, as the heat from the simmering water is enough.) As the water simmers, the steam from the large pot will rise and heat the smaller pot, gently melting the substance inside. Because of the consistent convection within the bottom pot from the constant stream of steam, no hot spots will form within the top pot, so no burning will happen either. Instead, your Velveeta will gradually melt into a soft, sensational cheese just like it's supposed to. 

While this gadget might be intimidating at first mention, it's actually very easy to use, so even beginners can feel confident giving this heating method a try. For all those without a double boiler in their kitchen, you can always buy a set online or in-store. (Or you can even just grab a second bowl for your KitchenAid.) Still, if you're in a pinch or simply a big lover of a DIY project, you can easily create a makeshift double boiler at home with just two common kitchen tools: A pot and a heatproof bowl. To do this simply put a pot on the stove filled with water and stack your heatproof bowl on top (glass or stainless steel will work best.) That's all there is to a double boiler.

Whichever type of double boiler you opt for, know that you only need to fill the bottom pot with an inch or two of water and simmer it low for this tool to work. Then you can place your bowl or pot with a bit of butter in it, making sure it's stable first, then wait for the butter to melt. (Ensure that the top bowl is not touching the water as the ingredients might get too hot.) Once the butter melts, add in your cubed Velveeta and stir until it melts and the mixture combines. Soon, your cheese will be ready to eat.

A double boiler might be the perfect tool to heat Velveeta, but it's also a great tool for plenty of other temperature-sensitive ingredients. For example, one of the most common ways chefs use double boilers is for melting chocolate. Chocolate heated on the stovetop has a tendency to burn and separate. Using a double boiler instead is much more ideal to prevent seized or otherwise lackluster chocolate. Those same sad realities can happen to other popular ingredients like gravy, melted butter, or custards such as creme anglaise. These substances are just too fragile and require a gentler heat than normal to come together. That's where a double boiler comes in.

Some ingredients crave the gentle heating system that only a double boiler can provide, so it really is a great thing to keep on hand in the kitchen. Even if you don't buy the set, it's a super easy tool to DIY, so keep this hack in your back pocket when it's time to melt fragile ingredients like chocolate or soft Velveeta cheese.