Fondue + How to choose?

Fondue is a dish whose origin is attributed to Savoy and the French part of Switzerland. The dish is several hundred years old and was invented by sheep herders who began to melt cheese over a fire in earthenware pots. They then dipped their pastries into the melted cheese. The first fondue had a cheese form, and the popularity of this dish later gave rise to meat and chocolate fondue.

Fondue is the name given to a vessel in which cheese and chocolate are kept in a heated state. In the case of meat fondue, oil is poured into the pot, in which the pieces of meat are then fried. Individual diners then sit comfortably and consume at will. Fondue is therefore an ideal way to prepare an unusual treat for family and friends. The preparation is very simple, you can take inspiration from the many recipes or come up with something original.

Choosing a fondue is not difficult, you will only be interested in the production material and the heating method. With modern electric fondues, you can also take advantage of some practical features.

Best fondue

Types

You can prepare several foods with fondue. Each is more suitable for a different heating method and production material.

• Cheese – Cheese fondue is prepared in a flat-bottomed enamel pot. The pot can be heated with an electric or gas burner.
• Meat, fish – In this case, it is necessary that the kettle be made of metal. You can choose between stainless steel and copper. In the case of meat preparation, the oil in which the meat is fried is poured into the cauldron. Fish is usually prepared in broth.
• Chocolate – Sweet fondue is preferably prepared in a porcelain or ceramic cauldron. A tea light candle or electricity is used for heating. You can then dip any fruit into the melted chocolate.

Material

Depending on what you want to prepare in the fondue, you will choose from two production materials. The different materials behave slightly differently during the preparation process and are not suitable for the preparation of any fondue.

• Stainless steel fondue – The stainless steel kettle is designed for the preparation of cheese or meat fondue. The advantage of a metal kettle is quick heating and long life. This material is not suitable for preparing chocolate, which has a tendency to burn.
• Ceramic fondue – is designed for the preparation of sweet dishes. They do not burn due to slower heating. Ceramic is a fragile material which can break if handled carelessly.
• Plastic/metal – for the preparation of chocolate you can buy fondue made of these materials. The body is plastic and the chocolate container is made of metal. The advantage is that the container with melted chocolate can be carried freely, which can be used for example when decorating cakes or other desserts.

Heating method

The production material is very closely related to the heating method of the kettle. While ceramic fondue is usually heated using a tea light, you will need a burner to heat a stainless steel kettle. This can be filled with gas or alcohol. The burner is usually included in the package. If you are not comfortable with this method for safety reasons, you can also heat the pot using an electric heater.

You can also speed up the preparation of the fondue before preparation, which is recommended to be done on a conventional stove. The melted mixture can then only be maintained using the burner.

Special electric fondues are also available, which can also be used for heating chocolate. This method of preparation is quicker and you can also control the temperature more easily. As a result, the chocolate will not burn during consumption.

Set

Those who want to try cheese, meat and chocolate fondue do not need to buy two pots for heating, but purchase a special set. As a rule, this is a stainless steel pot, but inside there is a ceramic container that is heated by means of a water bath. You can use this to prepare both chocolate and cheese fondue.

After removing the ceramic part, you fill the stainless steel part with oil and you can enjoy your meat fondue. In this case, the gas burner takes care of the heating.

The set also includes special bowls and forks, on which you can skewer the ingredients. The bowls are placed in a rotating stand. Fruit or other ingredients are placed in the bowls and all those attending the fondue feast can feast comfortably thanks to the swivel stand.

Size

Fondue pots are available in several sizes. Choosing the right size depends on the number of people you will be preparing fondue for most often. There are fondues suitable for 2, 4, 6 or more people.

Features

Fondue is a very simple vessel that usually does not have many other functions. You may want to pay attention to the shape and material of the forks. The forks should be long enough to prevent burning when heated. The handles are usually wooden.

With electric fondues you will find the possibility of adjusting the temperature infinitely, and this ranges from 40 to 190° C. Thanks to this, you can prepare everything directly in the kettle. A light diode will alert you when the desired temperature has been reached. For safety reasons, electric fondues should be equipped with overheating protection.

It is also practical to store the power cord in the body of the appliance. Some appliances can also be equipped with a function grill function. For this purpose, the appliance is equipped with a grill plate.

Brand

Fondue can be purchased from well-known brands including, Clatronic, Nedis, Kela and several others.

Maintenance

The maintenance of fondue is usually not difficult. Whether you buy just a container or a fondue set, the containers can be taken apart and the dirty parts put in the dishwasher. However, it is advisable to check the washing method in advance.

Questions and answers

How to prepare cheese fondue?

You can base it on a traditional recipe, in the case of the Swiss recipe you will need emmental and gruyere cheese. First you need to heat dry white wine, to which you add the grated cheese mixture. You add a pinch of pepper, nutmeg and finally cherry brandy.

This mixture is then poured into the fondue, where it is kept at the desired temperature. The Italians make a cheese fondue of Parmesan and mozzarella, while the French use a combination of Emmental and comté.

What meat is suitable for fondue?

Traditional fondue is made with beef. It can be prepared in oil or broth. Ideally, beef fondue should be prepared from sirloin. Pork may be used from pork tenderloin. Turkey or chicken is also popular and you can also use shrimp.

What does the fondue set contain?

The most important thing is, of course, the container with the burner. After that, the individual sets differ in the number of accessories. The basic ones include forks, intended for skewering the ingredients. Bowls that can be placed on a rack are also a common accessory. Others include special spoons or serving plates.

Conclusion

Fondue or also heated bowl is the ideal way to treat your loved ones quickly, easily and originally. Few can resist delicious chocolate, delicious melted cheese or roasted meat.

In terms of purchase, the most suitable option is a fondue set that allows you to prepare all the variations. For pastry chefs, an electric fondue can also be a great option to use when decorating desserts, candies and cakes.

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