Anyone have a chocolate fountain?

[Disneymaniacs]

My DBIL gave me a beautiful triple level chocolate fountain for Christmas last year and I have tried to use it 3 times. Each time the chocolate clumps or does not come out at all. I have tried chocolate chips, melting chocolate, and Wiltons chocolate fountain melts in the red bag. Nothing works for me. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong or does anyone of a better product for these fountains. I would really love to use it.

 

[carole88]

Are you melting the chocolate with oil? I don't have the ratio in front of me, but I have never had a problem with clumping.

 

[Disneymaniacs]

I just had a chocolate party and used the Wilton chocolate melts and a friend tried to add oil because it was not coming out. It did start to flow but not smooth and pretty like when you are at a wedding reception. I do not know how much we ended up mixing in. We were scared we would make someone sick by putting too much oil in but if that is the correct thing to do then I will just add more. If you have a good recipe that works for you I would really love to try it!

 

[kidgamesafetydotcom]

My DBIL has one as well (chocolate fountains must be a DBIL thing I guess.... ). When we use it he'll usually pre-melt the chocolate before putting it in the fountain - usually with the microwave.

 

[Disneymaniacs]

My DBIL has one as well (chocolate fountains must be a DBIL thing I guess.... ). When we use it he'll usually pre-melt the chocolate before putting it in the fountain - usually with the microwave.

All of the men who were at my party tonight were obsessed with this machine! They are impressive when they work but mine has been a gloppy mess so far. After adding oil it did work but it wasn't the beautiful flowing chocolate that I had hoped for. I will try try again.

 

[HunnyPots]

Yep, the oil to chocolate ratio has to be just right and it needs to be perfectly level for it to flow correctly. I actually had the best luck with hershey kisses and a little canola oil.

 

[DevilDuckie]

There is chocolate that is specially made for fountains. You can get it at Michaels and probably most large craft stores. It is near the candy making stuff but is NOT just the Wilton melts. It works beautifully and I love, love, love my chocolate fountain.

 

[aprilgail2]

If you go to a good chocolate store they have special chocolate for the machine, it tastes great, not like those fake chips that people use to make "homemade" chocolate pops- home made chocolate is NOT real chocolate, those chips like merkens, or wilton do not have the same ingrediants as real chocolate (check the labels!). The good chocolate that works for the machine without needing to add oil (which I think is really gross anyway to add all that oil to chocolate) goes for about 5.00-6.00 a pound but it is worth the price.
I have been working for a chocolate company for 20+ years and even my daughter at 3 would bite into a chocolate pop and if it was one of those homemade ones she would say "eww- fake chocolate" LOL. Since many people give them out as birthday party favors she would take it nicely thank the person and then toss it when we got home.

 

[aprilvaca04]

No chocolate fountain here but I do have a DH who is banned from them He was away on business and tried to use one after a meeting and ended up wearing the choclate...ruined the shirt because he never thought to try to do anythin to get the choclate off before putting back in his suit case Not such a bright move...you can tell the guy doesn't do his own laundry!!!!!!

 

[Kath2003]

I have one but rarely use it as it's such a pain in the butt to clean!

 

[chobie]

I have one but rarely use it as it's such a pain in the butt to clean!

The one time we did use it we used Ghiradelli 60% bitter sweet chips and the recommended vat of oil. It came out great and those chips hold their flavor well against a gallon of oil, but it is a mess to clean up and I'm a purist when it comes to chocolate and only like it diluted with heavy cream for ganache purposes.