It all started harmlessly enough. Mid-century American families loved their chocolate fondue, so they served it in single-family-sized fondue pots as dessert on special occasions.

Flash forward through decades of excess and unbridled food experimentation, and you have behemoth-sized, towering tiers of condiments for every occasion.

1. Hot Sauce

For those who carry a bottle of Frank’s, Tabasco or Cholula with them. True hot sauce lovers would find different ways to use this fountain daily. Best with: Sandwiches, vegetables, meat, mac & cheese, scrambled eggs, pretty much anything…

2. Ketchup

The all-american food fountain. Ten billion ounces of ketchup are consumed annually. And while 97 percent of households keep a bottle handy at all times, a much lower number are equipped with this fancy ketchup fountain to demonstrate their true love for the sweet and savory red sauce. Best with: Burgers, hot dogs, french fries, fast food, eggs, breakfast, potatoes, pretty much anything…

Laughing Squid

 

3. Matcha

If you’ve somehow missed the matcha craze, let me fill you in: It’s delicious. It is made from finely ground green tea powder and was traditionally used in ancient Japanese tea ceremonies. It’s believed to be rich in antioxidants, and the gorgeous green color lends itself to mouthwatering social media-worthy images. It’s consumed pretty casually in the United States — you can find a matcha frappe at your local Starbucks — and it can now be found widespread in pancakes, cookies, pudding and more. Best on: Desserts, donuts, cookies, pasta, brownies, bread, popcorn, chicken or stirred into your beverage. 

4. KFC Gravy

Yes, it’s true. KFC inspired the most incredible food fountain of them all with that glorious, spicy, salty liquid heaven they call gravy. Usually reserved for Colonel Sanders’ style mashed spuds, fans can now dip until they drop. Best on: KFC (obviously), french fries, Thanksgiving dinner, sandwiches, breakfast, appetizers, finger foods, pretty much anything…

KFC

 

5. Ranch

Ranch dressing practically has a cult following. Its creamy, garlic and herbal kick goes with just about anything. Best on: Pizza, salads, fried foods, potatoes, appetizers, vegetables, french fries, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, pretty much anything…

6. sausage gravy

Not to be outdone by its KFC cousin, sausage gravy (the white kind) has made an appearance as a fountain food. Breakfast and brunch will never be the same. Best on: Biscuits (of course!), sausage, ham, potatoes, french fries, anything for breakfast, anything for brunch 

Chive Nation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Cheese

You knew it was coming… the mother of all dipping experiences. Cheese. Created by Velveeta, this fountain truly exemplifies their claim to sell “liquid gold.” Best on: Everything. Cheese makes absolutely everything better.

8. Chocolate and Caramel

Okay, so chocolate is delicious, but it’s the classic. Caramel is the relative, delicious newcomer. Best on: Apples, fruit, Rice Crispy treats, chocolate, brownies, desserts, cakes, pound cake, ice cream, chicken fingers, marshmallows, graham crackers

9. Nutella

If you are going to go for chocolate, why not make it Nutella. A jar of Nutella is sold every 2.5 seconds proving that one can never have enough of the milky, hazelnut spread. Best on: Toast, croissants, biscotti, cookies, apples, bananas, strawberries,, kiwis fruit, cookies, cakes, ice cream, brownies, desserts, pretty much anything…

10. Maple Syrup

Craving maple syrup mornings, but tired of the same old squeeze bottle? A maple syrup fountain is the answer for all of your a.m. dunking desires. Best on: Waffles, pancakes, sausage, chicken, chicken and waffles, and, as this video would have you believe, Pop-Tarts, pretzels, ice cream, Cheetos, Funyuns, and pretty much anything…

https://youtu.be/M-TLF3uQfPw

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Author

Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.