How To Use A Fondue Pot? Easy Guideline For Beginners

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Fondue has been around us for a very long time. As the weather starts to turn cold, the warmth of gooey cheese and bread seems mouthwatering, doesn’t it? Oh! And let’s not forget about the combination of melted chocolate with cute-sized pound cake that melts together to create the most delicious dip ever!

Owning a fondue pot means you are on your A-game each time you plan a dinner party. You take things to the next level with the tasty recipes you prepare for everyone. From appetizers and the main course to deliciously prepared desserts, you can rock the table with your culinary specialties.

Does that mean any fondue pot can be used as a meat fondue, or do you need different pots to cook seafood, dessert, and other items?

There are specific rules on how to use a fondue pot to prepare every recipe! Stick to the end of this article to know all the details required to host a successful fondue dinner party.

How To Use A Fondue Pot For Different Recipe?

With so many different fondue recipes, you should know how to use the fondue pot properly for each dish. Here are the simple procedures you need to follow for the three most popular courses:

1. Fondue Bourguignon: Cooking Meat And Raw Vegetables In Oil

Fondue Bourguignon requires you to use high heat for the cooking. Here are the steps you should follow:

Wash and cut the veggies/meat/seafood into bite-sized pieces.
Arrange the raw meat and veggies on separate plates so they don’t contaminate each other.
Refrigerate the ingredients until you are ready to cook.
Before putting the ingredients into a hot fondue pot, ensure the meat and vegetables are adequately dried to avoid dangerous splattering.
Pour some oil (vegetable/peanut/canola/broth) into the fondue pot and use a heat source to bring it to a boiling point.
Dip a small cube of bread into the oil to check whether the temperature is just right. If the bread turns golden brown within 30 seconds, you should know it’s ready to be transferred to your dinner table holder.
Turn on the burner of its holder and prepare the meat and veggies into the fondue for the desired time.
For beef, you need around 15-20 seconds if you like it rare, 25-30 seconds for medium-rare, and 40-45 seconds for well-done meat.
Fish requires approximately 30-50 seconds to cook, and seafood requires a bit longer (around 2-3 minutes) before they get ready to be served.
The lamb needs 1 minute to prepare, while you need to dip poultry for around 2 minutes.
Vegetables require the longest (3-5 minutes) to cook in this process.

Caution Needed While Cooking Fondue Bourguignon

Do NOT leave the pot unattended while cooking.
Do NOT transfer heated oil from a separate pot into the fondue pot.
It’s best to avoid filling up the pot more than 1/3 part to prevent oil splattering.
If a fire erupts accidentally, you should not use water to stop it as this action will only spread it further. Instead, use a lid to cover the container, which will cut off the oxygen supply and quickly stop the fire.

2. Cheese Fondue

Looking forward to enjoying a cheese fondue party, whether with some classic cheese fondue or something more demanding like Swiss cheese or garlic cheese fondue? Let’s learn some cool ways to use the fondue pot and prepare the best cheese fondue recipes without any difficulties!

Let’s learn some cool ways to use the fondue pot to make it easier!

The cheese fondue must be appropriately prepared and heated before transferring to the fondue container.
If you want the cheese to melt quickly, it’s better to use shredded or grated cheese for this recipe.
Stir the mixture into the pot with a wooden spoon to smooth it.
Rub the inner surface of the container with a garlic clove before adding the cheese mixture. That will help add more flavor to your dish.
The crust left at the pot’s bottom is called “la croute.” Scrape the delish part off the pot and serve it to the guest for the best result.

Caution Needed While Cooking Cheese Fondue

Cheese fondue is a delicate dish. To get your desired texture, use a ceramic or cast-iron container and a quality electric fondue pot that equally distributes heat. You will need to buy a Sterno for the flame separately.
Purchasing an electric pot is the best option if you are a fan of automated things. Electric pots will let you control the temperature. However, you will have challenges washing these containers as it is difficult to avoid the plug.

3. Chocolate And Dessert Fondue

Chocolate and dessert fondue is the best way to finish a dinner or romantic meal. You can pair it with some white wine or even some whiskey. Here is what you need to know about preparing this type of fondue:

For making chocolate and desserts in fondue pots, you need chocolate that has above 50% cocoa content.
The chocolate and cream mixture needs to be heated over a double burner. If possible, keep stirring the mixture constantly.
Once the mixture is nice and creamy, it’s time to transfer it to the fondue pot before serving.
A small amount of heat is then required to keep the dish warm in the container. You can use tea-light for this purpose.

Caution Needed While Cooking Chocolate And Dessert Fondue

Do NOT place the mixture over direct heat. Only use a double boiler before placing it into the pot.
If the guests take a longer time to come, preheat it on the stove before serving it into the container. Remember, a fondue pot can only keep things at a constant temperature, however, it can NOT cook.

How To Clean Fondue Pots Properly?

Before cleaning/storing the container, ensure it has cooled down completely.
To ensure all the parts of fondue sets are adequately cleaned, wash them in soapy hot water.
As ceramic material is dishwasher safe, you can put your ceramic pots inside the dishwasher.
The burner needs to be cleaned regularly. To clean that, you can use a damp cloth to wipe off the outer surface. If any stain occurs, use a stainless-steel cleaner and soft sponge to clean that up properly.

Tips For Making The Best Use Of Fondue Pots

As hot fondue pots can damage your table, it’s a good idea to use a trivet for protecting its surface.
Limit your pot to a certain group of people. A medium-sized container should be used to entertain no more than 4 people. If there are more people in the gathering, invest in more pots.
Hate splattering of oil or broth from the container? Keep the amount of food in the food to a certain amount so that it doesn’t spill over accidentally.
Only use the fondue fork while COOKING, not EATING. These forks can get extremely hot and spread germs if used for eating.
Place your container on flat, smooth ground and then insert the burner inside the rack safely.
Do NOT put the container inside any oven.

Types Of Fondue Pot Fuels

Electric

Electric fondue makers feature adjustable temperature settings to make them compatible with various recipes. The set typically includes a base, bowl, temperature probe, forks, fork rack, etc. While this pot type isn’t considered the traditional one, it is certainly convenient if you want a shortcut to make fondues.

Candle-Lit

Like making dessert fondues? Dessert fondue pots are smaller than the regular ones and don’t require a high flame. As fuel, you can use a tea light candle under the pot, and the dish will be ready to serve in due time. However, if your pot is larger, it may result in slow and uneven heat in that case.

Butane Fondue Burner

The butane fondue burner is one of the newest models available on the market. Its unit stores butane in its tank. Using this fuel to make beef fondue, broth, or even cheese fondue is relatively easy. However, using it for more delicate items like chocolate fondue is not recommended.

Alcohol Fuel

When used with an adjustable burner unit, alcohol fuel is an excellent source for fondue making. With a small flame generated by alcohol fuel, you can make chocolate fondue. Turn up the heat a little, and you will have your own cheese fondue. We recommend the highest flame of the whole setting for oil or broth recipes.

Gel Fondue Fuel

Gel fondue fuel works as well as alcohol or butane ones. This particular type of fuel is recommended for making chocolate or cheese fondues. It’s best to try the other fuel types mentioned in this category for oil or broth recipes.

Materials Used For Fondue Pots

1. Enamel Cast-Iron

You can make any fondue in an enamel cast iron as this material heats up very fast and can hold the temperature for a long time.

2. Metal

Looking for a pot that can withstand high temperatures? Metal pots are there to save your day! These pots retain high heat for a long time, making them great for preparing various broth recipes. Although metals can conduct heat quickly, the heat often isn’t conveyed evenly. As a result, there might be some hotspots that can ruin delicate items like chocolate/cheese recipes.

3. Ceramic

Ceramics are one of the best materials for making fondues. A ceramic container heats up slowly and holds the same temperature for a long time. Foods that require low melting points, like chocolate or cheese fondues, are usually made in a ceramic pot.

4. Stainless-Steel

Stainless steel is another popular material used in making these types of containers. Steel pots heat up faster, and they are quite durable. If taken care of properly, you can use them practically forever. However, some steel containers have a thin bottom, which might cause your chocolate or cheese desserts to burn immediately.

5. Individual-Sized Pot

These types of individual containers can hold 12-ounce fondues in them. That is the perfect size for yourself or a small group of people. If you have a crowd to feed, you should go for pot sets that can hold at least 3-quart fondues.

Final Words

Are you planning to host your kid’s birthday next week? Or are you thinking about celebrating New Year’s Eve with your friends and family? Either way, you can never go wrong with a classic fondue with some delicious dippers on the side, as it’s a total hit item for adults and kids!

Now that you know how to use a fondue pot and make delicious dishes, we hope you will have fun while taking your fondue experience up a notch. Remember to use the right fondue pot for each dish, and you are all set to create the perfect recipe.

Also, remember that certain ingredients work together better than others and that some particular dipping is very popular. But when it comes to making up your combo, even the oddest combinations can win everyone’s hearts. So, don’t be afraid to experiment!