Can Nutella be heated in the microwave? - The Ultimate Guide

Nutella has a lot of potential to be more than just a spread on toast. It can also be a warm, melted chocolate hazelnut syrup that can be drizzled or poured over almost anything you eat.

Can Nutella be heated in the microwave to melt it?

Yes, you can, but you have to be careful not to overcook it because you don’t want to end up with a hard chocolate-walnut paste. 

To melt Nutella in the microwave, follow these easy steps:

1. Never leave it in the original jar
2. Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl
3. Cover to protect moisture levels
4. Microwave in short 20-30 second bursts, stirring well in between.

These are the basic steps, but in this article we’ll explain exactly why each step is crucial to the well-being of your Nutella, as well as advice on how to use melted Nutella and how to store it once melted.

What happens if you heat Nutella in the microwave?

If you microwave Nutella properly, with all the safety precautions right, the chocolate hazelnut paste will melt into a chocolate hazelnut syrup that is silky smooth and so delicious it should be illegal.

If you heat it too long or at too high a temperature, your Nutella will go from thick and spreadable, to a runny syrup and hard as a rock in about 1 minute. Follow the detailed instructions below to avoid reaching that last level.

How to heat Nutella in the microwave - Step by step

It may seem like microwaving Nutella should be simple and straightforward, and for the most part, it is.

But, if you skip one of those steps, you risk ruining your deliciousness.

Follow the instructions carefully until the process is second nature and you’ll always have delicious melted Nutella in a minute.

Step One: Safety First

There are two safety measures that you must follow before heating Nutella in the microwave. First of all, it’s not a good idea to grab a jar straight from the store and microwave it unopened.

This may seem obvious, but it is worth mentioning.

When you first open a jar of Nutella, you’ll notice that it’s sealed with aluminum foil to keep it fresh.  Metal of any kind, including aluminum foil, should never be microwaved.

At best, it will explode and spark. At worst, it will set your microwave on fire and your Nutella will be ruined forever… not to mention your appliance and potentially the rest of your kitchen and home.

The next thing to consider is the jar itself.

Most of the Nutella purchased in North America comes in plastic containers. If you buy the imported versions, you might get a glass jar, but you will most likely receive your chocolate nut spread in a plastic jar.

You should never heat plastic containers in the microwave . For one, it could melt, which isn’t ideal for future storage.

Also, plastic contains dangerous chemicals that are safe when they stay inside the plastic, but toxic when they leach into food. Heat causes this seepage, so don’t microwave plastic containers.

Lastly, unless you’re going to eat an entire jar of Nutella in one sitting, the quality of the spread is compromised if you leave it in the jar it came in. Microwaving the entire container and then storing leftovers can degrade quality much more quickly than necessary.

Step Two: Portion Control

Now that you know you can’t (or at least shouldn’t) heat Nutella in its original jar in the microwave, you’ll need to start thinking about what to transfer to melt it.

For best results, scoop out a reasonably sized portion and transfer to a microwave-safe glass, ceramic, or pyrex container. This can be a storage container, a baking dish, or just a bowl that you previously tested in the microwave for safety.

If you’re going to pour the melted Nutella like a sauce, you can even just transfer it to a sauce boat. Guests and family members will appreciate this elegant way of serving.

If you are going to dip, choose a plate wide enough to fit what you are going to dip.

Also, keep in mind that extra space may be needed if multiple people are going to dunk at the same time. Think of something like a fondue plate.

Step 3: The Lid

Too much heat without an adequate amount of moisture will dry out your Nutella, leaving you with a hard chunk of nutty chocolate instead of decadent syrup.

To prevent this from happening, you have to cover the container strategically.

You have to let the air out, but you want to trap as much of the steam as possible from the spread.

If you’ve chosen a storage container, loosely put the lid on.  If you have chosen a bowl, you can cover it with a suitable size inverted plate.

If you’re a regular microwave cook, you probably already have a lid specifically designed to steam food and prevent splatter in your microwave (this one is our favorite). One of these will work perfectly to maintain a good level of humidity while you microwave the Nutella.

Step 4: The Microwave

Once the Nutella is safely on a covered plate, set the microwave to medium heat. You may never have changed the settings on your microwave, but trust us, it’s worth it.

Melting Nutella in the microwave can go very wrong if you’re not careful.  The longer you heat it and the more temperature you use, the more moisture will be lost. The medium fit is perfect.

Start with a burst of heat for 30 seconds at a time. Mix it well after 30 seconds, and if it has melted enough for your liking and purposes, stop there and use it.

If it’s still too thick, microwave for another 20-30 seconds. Again, give it a good stir to distribute the heat and it will become more runny.

Continue like this until your Nutella is perfectly melted.

Again, keep in mind that there is a breaking point. Nutella is naturally thick and spreadable , but the oils help keep the melted chocolate liquid to some degree.

If you heat it up too much, it will dry out and become more than thick: it will become solid.

How to use the melted Nutella

When the Nutella melts, it turns into a thick chocolate and hazelnut flavored syrup. You can use it in any way that you would use any kind of sweet syrup.

Here are some of our favorite uses for melted Nutella:

• Generously drizzled over ice cream
• As a sauce for strawberries, apples, grapes, pears or any other type of fruit that you cut
• Instead of maple syrup on your pancakes
• Drizzled on top of our favorite French toast recipe
• Mixed into a hot drink, with milk or coffee
• Poured into oatmeal, cream of wheat, or rice pudding
• Like something to dip a hard cookie in

There are many more ways to use melted Nutella, but you’re off to a good start.

How to store melted Nutella

If you have Nutella left over after microwaving it, you can store it in an airtight container, preferably a non-plastic container.

However, you should not return it to the original container, as it can ruin what’s left of your fresh Nutella and compromise the quality of your melted Nutella.

Once it is back to room temperature or cooler, the Nutella will thicken again to a consistency closer to the original.

Depending on how long it’s been microwaved and how it’s been stored, it can be slightly runnier, or at the other end of the spectrum, it can be a little harder than plain Nutella.

Results will vary each time you melt and store the Nutella.

Related questions

How to keep soft Nutella?

Nutella is best stored simply in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. For example, in your pantry. At room temperature, the oils and sugar content of the chocolate hazelnut spread should remain soft. A good scramble will soften it even more.

If it’s still too solid for your liking, transfer a portion to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 20-30 seconds.

How does Nutella harden?

If you put your Nutella jar in the fridge, it will solidify and harden, but it won’t harden all the way.

If you want a chocolate shell-like hardness, the best thing to do is mix the melted Nutella with melted coconut oil and chill.

Coconut oil does harden when cold, and it will take Nutella for a ride. However, as soon as it gets hot, it will start to loosen up, so you’ll have to eat it cold.

How to get the Nutella out of the jar?

When your Nutella jar gets alarmingly close to empty, you’ll start to notice how the shape of the jar influences your access to the last remnants of your chocolate spread.

The packaging is specially designed to make the spread stand out from its nut butter relatives, which come in standard straight-sided spherical containers.

Getting every last ounce of Nutella out of your jar isn’t the easiest task in the world, but there are a few ways to do it.

1. If you’ve found a mason jar, simply microwave it or place it in a hot water bath until the insides liquefy and pour.
2. Pour in some resistant cereal, shake the container well. Pour in some milk, shake the container well once more. Enjoy your Nutella flavored cereal snack straight from the jar.