What is the best way to make a highly viscous substance spreadable?

[Jerod Broussard]

Is adding hot water the best way to do it?

I'm talking about molasses or something similar.

[Ernest]

Heat sous vide style or double boiler.

[MBMorgan]

Pretty much what Ernest said ... Just set the jar or can in a sink filled with hot water. You might have to put a weight on top to keep it from floating. It's what I do when preparing to brew some beer. The malt (like a really thick molasses) hardly wants to pour if not heated a bit.

[Jerod Broussard]

Cool. Thanks.

[Breadhead]

Nuke it for 1 minute...👍

[RonB]

Nuking it will work, but I'd suggest using maybe 50% power to give you more control.

[BriggsBBQ]

I would go with MbMorgan on this one and put it in a boiling water bath. Depending on the container that would probably give 180F of heat which should not caramalize (mallards anything) soon or very fast. Nuking it I could see it going too long or having to do 30 seconds then look over and over.

I have done what Mb has done with malt extract which is like molasses.

[DWCowles]

I agreed with everyone

[Jerod Broussard]

OK. I checked the recipe and I might be adding a little something else that will allow me to "paint" it on.

Glad DW is/was on board, at least in the past tense.

[Huskee]

I use 10w-30 molasses. Spreads better at cooler temps.

[Jerod Broussard]

Both our vehicles take 5w.