How Long Can a Chocolate Fountain Run?

by

Are you interested in getting a chocolate fountain for an event, gathering, or party coming up? Are you concerned or worried about how long you can leave them on for? Could it run indefinitely, even? Well, here is everything you are going to want to know and consider. 

So, how long can a chocolate fountain run? Chocolate fountains can run for between 3-24 hours, depending on the brand and model. Most fountains designed for home use will run for 3 hours, whereas fountains designed for larger social events can typically run for up to 24 hours.

And you’re going to want to abide by the recommendations provided by the manufacturer of your specific model.

Here is why…

Why You Should Not Let Your Chocolate Fountain Run For To Long

Fountains that aren’t designed to run for extended periods of time can start to clog if they run for too long.

Let’s not forget that huge electricity bill you’re going to rack up as well.

Seriously though, some chocolate fountains just aren’t designed for running for as long as the other commercial ones.

So make sure you read the manual that comes with your chocolate fountain. In there, it will specify how long that fountain is supposed to run.


If you exceed the maximum recommended time, then you run the risk of the fountain clogging with chocolate.

It could also break. After all, cascading chocolate down your tiers is hard work. Some of the fountains just aren’t cut out for the long-distance flowing.

Other reasons why you shouldn’t let your fountain run for too long are more down to the chocolate and the environment it’s in.

For instance, say if you have your fountain in a marque at the party. During the day, it will be fine running.

But in the evening, when the temperature gets cooler, you run the risk of the chocolate cooling and hardening. 

Plenty of problems will arise from this, including blockages and a very tough cleaning job.

Cleaning job? What cleaning job?

Listen to me now, young chocolate fountain fanatic.

Never leave the cleaning for the next morning. You HAVE to clean the fountain immediately after it’s been used. 

Otherwise, the chocolate will harden and take ages to clean off.

Be aware that chocolate will not start to harden until the surrounding temperature drops below 22°C.

On the whole, most chocolate fountains can run for a very long time. So long as the chocolate itself remains in good condition.

Let’s just say it won’t be the fountain showing you that it’s time to turn it off.

Instead, inspect the chocolate. If it’s lost its natural color, its viscosity or it smells bad, then that chocolate probably isn’t best for eating now. So it’s time to turn the fountain off and dispose of the chocolate. 

Chocolate can be reused the next day. So long as it is still fresh enough and can be preserved.

If your chocolate fountain is more for decorative purposes, then the edibility of the chocolate doesn’t actually matter. So long as it just looks good.

Overall, chocolate fountains can run for a really long time without any trouble. Particularly the commercial ones.

Read the manual that comes with your fountain. Then don’t exceed the maximum time it recommends. Otherwise, your fountain could break.

How Long Does It Take For A Chocolate Fountain To Work

The average chocolate fountain machine will work almost instantly, so long as melted chocolate has been added. That being said, if you need to melt the chocolate first, this will take some additional time.

There are two types of chocolate melting for chocolate fountains. 

The first type is melting the chocolate in the basin bowl of the actual fountain. 

The second type is melting the chocolate externally, which could be on a stove or in the microwave.

If you are heating your chocolate in the fountain’s basin bowl, then you should leave an hour to do this. 

Simply pour your unmelted chocolate into the basin bowl, then flick the heating button on.

Stir it occasionally throughout until it is melted to the right viscosity. Nice and smooth and runny. 

Once it’s heated, you just have to turn the motor on, and the fountain will continue to heat your chocolate, but it will also start to flow and cascade down the tiers.

Using a microwave and a hob will melt the chocolate much quicker. This will vary depending on your own method and chocolate melting skills. But as I said, it will be quicker than melting in the fountain’s basin bowl.

For a microwave on a high heat, it should take 3 minutes. Stir halfway through, like everything else in the world that you heat up in a microwave.

Then you just have to add it to the fountain and switch it on. So this is a quicker way to get it done.

So let’s get some approximate numbers down.

The melting chocolate in the fountain basin method:

1-hour max time to melt + 5-second motor power uptime

 = pretty much no more than an hour ever

The chocolate melting method:

3 mins microwave melting time + 20 seconds add chocolate to fountain time + 5-second motor power uptime

= Never more than five minutes

*Please note that melting in a pan on the stove could vary time-wise compared to the microwave method.

Read more: How Do Chocolate Fountains Work?

How To Keep Your Chocolate Fountain Running Optimally

To ensure your chocolate fountain runs optimally, you must choose a suitable location to place it, be aware of external dangers, always add the right melted chocolate to maintain refills, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Choose The Right Location

The location where you place your chocolate fountain is so important. 

Indoors is preferable to ensure it runs optimally.

If you place the chocolate fountain outdoors, then the chocolate could harden upon exposure to the cooler air out there. If the chocolate hardens, the flow is disrupted and in extreme cases completely stopped. This means your fountain isn’t exactly running optimally, is it?

At the same time, putting a chocolate fountain inside doesn’t guarantee the smoothness and consistency of its flow. If a chocolate fountain is placed near a fan or air conditioning unit, then the chocolate could be cooled and hardened this way as well. Again, the result is a fountain that does not run optimally. 

So basically, you want a location where the chocolate isn’t at risk of cooling too much.

You also don’t want the fountain located where other things can fall into it. This would be disgusting, but it could also cause blockages. So again, inside is probably more suitable. 

Overall you need a location where the chocolate can continue to remain at the optimal temperature, so the fountain runs optimally.

You also don’t want it placed somewhere where it could be broken or collided with. Especially if your guests are intoxicated…which leads us onto…

Be Mindful Of External Dangers

I’m talking mainly about your guests here. You need to stop them from doing two things.

A, don’t let them walk into or trip over the fountain. There’s a big chance they’ll break it. So keep the fountain’s wires out of the way.

B, don’t let them misuse the chocolate fountain. So they shouldn’t be leaving lots of bits of food and crumbs in the fountain; otherwise, a blockage will occur, disrupting the optimal running of your fountain. 

Add The Right Melted Chocolate To Maintain Refills

Chocolate fountains require high-quality chocolate melted to the right viscosity. This is how they run so smoothly. Optimally!

So, if you want your fountain to produce a consistent flow then you need to consistently produce it with the chocolate it needs.

A lot of the fancy commercial fountains that get used at big social events can keep running optimally for hours on end. However, that is only if you refill it regularly throughout the party with chocolate that is melted to the right viscosity. 

Follow The Manufacturer’s Instructions

It goes without saying. Every chocolate fountain will come packed with a set of manufacturers’ instructions.

Read and follow these if in doubt. That way, you should be able to ensure the chocolate fountain runs optimally.

After all, the company should know how to run its own fountains!

Finally

If you’ve got a fancy chocolate fountain, buckle up. You and your guests are in for a long ride. Let’s see who can still dip into the fountain after 24 hours!

If it’s a home-based chocolate fountain, then stick to an approximate 3-hour running time.

Choose your method of melting carefully. Some methods take longer than others.

Ensure all the conditions are in place, and your chocolate fountain will run and run and run and run…optimally, of course.

Check out my other chocolate fountain guides: