The Best Fondue Pots in 2022

What’s the quickest approach to a meals lover’s coronary heart? Is it by chocolate? By way of cheese? Should you mentioned fondue pot, you’re overlaying all of the bases. Should you’re undecided how to buy one of the best fondue pot, we’re right here to resolve all of your hard-pressed questions. As consultants like Alexandra Jones, a Philadelphia-based meals author and the creator of Stuff Every Cheese Lover Should Know will inform you, you ought to be searching for “sturdy building, the power to evenly distribute and retain warmth,” and “the power to go from stovetop (the place you’ll in all probability be doing the preliminary heating) to the desk.” There’s a lot extra to think about, too, which is why we examined by six completely different pots in the hunt for one of the best methodology of bringing melty cheese and chocolate to your mouth. 

In our quest to seek out the final word in fondue-ing, we convey you a totally vetted breakdown of what we liked, what we preferred, what we didn’t look after, and what we suffered by within the title of science. Lengthy dwell the soften! 

Our Prime Picks

Greatest General: Swissmar Lausanne 11-Piece Copper Fondue Set

Capability: 1.9 quarts | Dishwasher-Protected: no | Energy Supply: gel burner  | Materials: copper with ceramic insert

Why we selected it: This easy-to-use, all-purpose fondue pot has quite a lot of nice qualities. 

With nice warmth distribution, giant capability, and a pleasant aesthetic, we discovered that this fondue pot was nice for a crowd. It’s good for many who have by no means used a fondue pot earlier than, and may maintain cheese from burning or breaking. The copper, whereas fairly to take a look at, tarnishes shortly (you’ll want particular supplies to retain luster). It’s additionally hand-wash solely, so take notice. However in the event you’re searching for a primary, moderately priced mannequin that received’t endure too many pitfalls and that appears good on the desk, it’s arduous to go improper with the Swissmar Lausanne.

Greatest Worth: Nostalgia 6-Cup Stainless Steel Electric Fondue Pot

Capability: 1.5-quarts | Dishwasher-Protected: sure | Energy Supply: electrical  | Materials: chrome steel

Why we selected it: An affordable mannequin that’s good for the fondue novice. 

With temperature controls and color-coded forks, this cheap fondue pot has a few of the bells and whistles of prime fashions–and it’s even dishwasher-safe. The capability is extra on the medium facet, so plan accordingly. It’s additionally constructed from cheaper supplies, so cheese tends to burn or break in the event you’re not being vigilant because it’s much less heavy-bottomed. The true sacrifice is that the pot just isn’t as stunning as a few of the tonier fashions.

Greatest Electrical: Cuisinart 3-Qt. Electric Fondue Set

Capability: 3-quarts | Dishwasher-Protected: sure | Energy Supply: electrical  | Materials: brushed chrome steel

Why we selected it: An electrical mannequin that may maintain the get together going even whenever you’re doing one thing else. 

With its giant capability and nonstick inside, this electrical fondue set is made for a crowd. Teflon makes this pot extraordinarily straightforward to scrub, and it’s additionally dishwasher-safe, a enjoyable two-fer. As a result of it’s electrical, this pot can get very popular, which means there may be some danger of scalding. It will also be tough to control temperature at instances. 

Greatest Candlelit: Boska Candlelight Twinkle Fondue Set

Capability: 1 quart | Dishwasher-Protected: Not disclosed | Energy Supply: tealight | Materials: ceramic

Why we selected it: A romantic and delicate addition to the world of fondue. 

This gorgeous fondue set is microwave-safe, and ceramic as an entire is dishwasher-safe, although we should disclose that Boska doesn’t particularly say whether or not this vessel can go within the dishwasher. The aesthetic right here is streamlined and romantic. It’s a pleasant approach to serve fondue, even when the heating will be uneven at instances. Ceramic, although, will be susceptible to breakage, and there’s no approach to regulate temperature. At one-quart, this is without doubt one of the smaller fondue pots, and it’s greatest for these trying to entertain smaller teams.

Greatest for Chocolate: Boska Ceramic Chocolate Fondue Set

Capability: 13.5 oz. | Dishwasher-Protected: no | Energy Supply: candlelit | Materials: ceramic and chrome steel

Why we selected it: A fondue set that’s greatest for the chocolate crowd. 

This chocolate-specific fondue set comes with a double-lined pot that stops chocolate from burning, a should with this temperamental ingredient. The ceramic is straightforward to scrub and the set appears to be like cute on any dessert desk. It’s not, nevertheless, dishwasher-safe, and its small capability and two-fork setup implies that it’s actually solely designed for the tiniest of events.

Greatest Splurge: All-Clad Cast Aluminum Fondue Pot

Capability: 2 ½-quarts  | Dishwasher-Protected: no | Energy Supply: gel burner | Materials: aluminum

Why we selected it: The crème de la crème of the fondue pots, this pot may even go within the oven. 

With a restricted lifetime guarantee, slotted rim for resting forks, and talent to enter the oven, this mannequin seemingly has all of it–and a price ticket to match. It’s costly, which is a disadvantage for some, and it has no temperature regulation. It additionally can not go within the dishwasher, which some fondue lovers could discover problematic at this value level.

How We Selected These Merchandise

Nearly all of these pots had been examined utilizing an ordinary basic cheese fondue recipe. The chocolate fondue pot was examined utilizing a basic chocolate fondue. A fondue was ready exterior of the pots after which positioned into the pots to check warmth retention, potential for burning, potential for breaking of cheese/chocolate, potential to dip meals in, capability, ease of use, security of use, and ease of cleansing.

Options to Hold in Thoughts When Purchasing for a fondue pot

Sorts of Fondue Pots

Fondue pots are available numerous shapes, sizes, types, and supplies—and with numerous options, which ought to inform your decision-making, says Alexandra Jones. Electrical pots, she says, “can be utilized for quite a lot of completely different fondue types,” together with high-heat cooking in broth or oil, or low, even melting of cheese or chocolate. There are some cons, just like the requirement of an outlet, however some fashions include breakaway plugs. “A small, candle-powered pot could also be much less intimidating to a first-time fondue maker than one heated with a Sterno or butane burner, however a single candle received’t be capable of maintain greater than a small amount of cheese molten.” Supplies used vary from chrome steel to ceramic to enamel-coated forged iron.

Warmth Supply 

“Usually, candles are used for smaller pots and sterno for bigger pots,” says Tia Keenan, cheese skilled and creator of three cheese-focused cookbooks. “What’s most essential is that the warmth supply is enough for the scale of the pot, and that it burns lengthy sufficient to maintain even warmth all through the session.” Some pots are additionally heated through an electrical warmth supply, and people are controllable by dial. 

General Design & Aesthetics 

Design, Keenan says, is definitely an integral a part of the fondue expertise. “Fondue meals embody the communal pleasure of consuming,” she says. “They need to beckon you to take pleasure in and experiment, so I believe aesthetics are crucial. An exquisite pot introduced with artfully organized components are part of the entire expertise.” Should you really feel drawn to a selected pot, so be it: maybe that’s the pot for you.

Temperature Controls

Not all pots are geared up with temperature management settings (you’ll discover these, extra notably, on the electrical pots). They can help you improve and reduce the settings on the pots, which is especially helpful in the event you’re heating chocolate or utilizing oil in your fondue. Temperature controls are usually not mandatory on fondue pots, however they are often helpful, and a few folks do desire them. 

Security

As with something involving meals and hearth, fondue can turn out to be a security hazard. “The primary rule for safe-fonduing is to by no means depart your pot unattended,” Keenan says. “That being mentioned, I had a ceramic pot crack and “explode” from getting too scorching after I left it unattended. It was an enormous pot that I used as a part of a buffet on Christmas Eve. Nobody was injured, however there was quite a lot of scorching cheese all over the place!” Some fondue pots supply built-in security precautions, like fork holders, warmth rings, and pot guards, which you’ll search for when procuring. 

Ask the Specialists

Q: What are you able to dip in cheese and chocolate fondues?  

“You’re actually solely restricted by your creativeness,” Keenan says. “For cheese I like to supply a lot of veggies—some uncooked, some cooked, and a few pickled–and actually nice breads reduce into bite-sized items. For chocolate, I like fruits, meringues, marshmallows, and cubes of pound cake and even toasted bread sprinkled with sugar and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.” The choices, she says, are virtually countless.

Q: How do I clear a fondue pot if it isn’t dishwasher-safe?  

Truly, a fondue pot isn’t as arduous to scrub as you would possibly assume, Keenan says. “If there’s something left in your fondue pot (there shouldn’t be!) pour it out,” she says. “Soak the pot in dish liquid and scorching water for 20 or so minutes, then wash with a sponge.” 

Q: What else can I make in a fondue pot?

There’s just one reply, Tia Keenan says: nothing. 

Q: What’s the greatest materials for a fondue pot?  

“Materials is fairly essential,” Alexandra Jones says. “It’s going to find out what melts greatest in your pot. Glazed ceramic is conventional. It holds warmth nicely and helps distribute it evenly. This fashion of pot is greatest for forming the crunchy crust of toasted cheese on the backside of the pot that historically concludes a fondue session. Enameled forged iron is the opposite go-to for low-and-slow melts like cheese and chocolate, nevertheless it’s sturdy sufficient that you need to use it for broth and oil, too.” Stainless-steel, Jones says, will work so long as the underside is heavy, and copper-clad retains warmth properly, however they’re tougher to scrub. “As stunning as they’re, I’d draw back from classic fashions, which are typically constructed from skinny aluminum, and which might warmth inconsistently and received’t maintain warmth in addition to forged iron or ceramic.”

Our Take

Fondue pots vary in fashion from electrical to candlelit to every little thing in between. Our greatest general, the Swissmar Lausanne, struck a contented medium between conventional and luxe: it’s a copper-finished pot with a big capability and glorious warmth distribution that may stand the check of time. Nonetheless, in the event you’re out there for a smaller, extra high-tech, or inexpensive pot, we’ve examined the professionals and cons of all these fashions, too. 

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