If you want to start enjoying delicious fondue in the comforts of your own home, the first thing you'll need is a fondue pot. But there's some things you should know before you buy your first fondue pot.
You should know what kind of fondue you plan on making before buying a fondue pot. Not only is there the popular cheese fondue but there's also chocolate fondue and hot oil or broth fondue. Not all fondue pots are designed to make all types of fondue dinners. It would be best to pick up a fondue recipe book and figure out what you'd like to make before buying a fondue pot.
Those old fashioned fondue pots with a small tea light candle underneath them are cute but not very effective at melting cheese. If you get one of those, you'll have to heat your ingredients on the stove and then move them into the fondue pot on the dinner table. The best way to go is an electric hot pot. Just turn the dial and it heats up. No open flame to worry about and even the most stubborn chocolate will melt nicely in an electric fondue pot.
Another great new feature that some fondue pots have is a magnetic cord that just snaps apart if pulled. This comes in very handy if you have pets or children who never sit still and may trip over the electric cord. Chocolate covered pets are probably pretty hard to clean so these new snap off cords really come in handy.
Be sure that the fondue pot that you pick comes with fondue forks. If you were to buy them separately it will definitely cost more money. Most fondue forks are color coded so that you don't mix them up. Setting rules about double dipping is up to your but everyone having their own fork is good way to bring up the subject.
If you want to cook hot oil fondue or broth fondue, you'll need some control over how hot the fondue pot is getting. An electronic thermostat is the easiest possible way to do this. If the recipe requires that the oil be heated to 350 degrees fahrenheit, then you would just turn the dial to 350. It doesn't get easier than that. Otherwise you'll have to break out a thermometer and have to adjust the heat up and down to maintain the correct cooking temperature.
Cleaning up is never fun. But you'll wind up putting your fondue pot in the attic if it's a hassle to clean. Imagine trying to scrub burnt cheese off the bottom of the pot. That's no way to enjoy yourself. Go with a non-stick pot.
A dishwasher safe fondue pot is the easiest thing in the world to clean because all you have to do is put it in the dishwasher. If you have a dishwasher in your house, then you should make a point of trying to find a dishwasher safe fondue pot.
Another nice to have feature is the cool touch handle. It probably isn't a great idea to try and move a hot fondue pot but in case you have to, you're going to want a handle that doesn't get hot. Of course you could always use an oven mitt to accomplish the same thing so don't fret if the pot that's on sale doesn't have this feature. You can skip it.
If you intend on cooking hot oil fondue, then do not buy one of those ceramic pots thats made for chocolate fondue. The pot will crack and the hot oil will get all over the place and most likely someone will get hurt. Fondue is supposed to be a fun meal for small dinner parties and get together. Don't cut any corners when it comes to safety.
These are some of the things to remember when buying a fondue pot. Try to pick one that has the features that are most important to you and you'll be making fondue in no time. - 15634
You should know what kind of fondue you plan on making before buying a fondue pot. Not only is there the popular cheese fondue but there's also chocolate fondue and hot oil or broth fondue. Not all fondue pots are designed to make all types of fondue dinners. It would be best to pick up a fondue recipe book and figure out what you'd like to make before buying a fondue pot.
Those old fashioned fondue pots with a small tea light candle underneath them are cute but not very effective at melting cheese. If you get one of those, you'll have to heat your ingredients on the stove and then move them into the fondue pot on the dinner table. The best way to go is an electric hot pot. Just turn the dial and it heats up. No open flame to worry about and even the most stubborn chocolate will melt nicely in an electric fondue pot.
Another great new feature that some fondue pots have is a magnetic cord that just snaps apart if pulled. This comes in very handy if you have pets or children who never sit still and may trip over the electric cord. Chocolate covered pets are probably pretty hard to clean so these new snap off cords really come in handy.
Be sure that the fondue pot that you pick comes with fondue forks. If you were to buy them separately it will definitely cost more money. Most fondue forks are color coded so that you don't mix them up. Setting rules about double dipping is up to your but everyone having their own fork is good way to bring up the subject.
If you want to cook hot oil fondue or broth fondue, you'll need some control over how hot the fondue pot is getting. An electronic thermostat is the easiest possible way to do this. If the recipe requires that the oil be heated to 350 degrees fahrenheit, then you would just turn the dial to 350. It doesn't get easier than that. Otherwise you'll have to break out a thermometer and have to adjust the heat up and down to maintain the correct cooking temperature.
Cleaning up is never fun. But you'll wind up putting your fondue pot in the attic if it's a hassle to clean. Imagine trying to scrub burnt cheese off the bottom of the pot. That's no way to enjoy yourself. Go with a non-stick pot.
A dishwasher safe fondue pot is the easiest thing in the world to clean because all you have to do is put it in the dishwasher. If you have a dishwasher in your house, then you should make a point of trying to find a dishwasher safe fondue pot.
Another nice to have feature is the cool touch handle. It probably isn't a great idea to try and move a hot fondue pot but in case you have to, you're going to want a handle that doesn't get hot. Of course you could always use an oven mitt to accomplish the same thing so don't fret if the pot that's on sale doesn't have this feature. You can skip it.
If you intend on cooking hot oil fondue, then do not buy one of those ceramic pots thats made for chocolate fondue. The pot will crack and the hot oil will get all over the place and most likely someone will get hurt. Fondue is supposed to be a fun meal for small dinner parties and get together. Don't cut any corners when it comes to safety.
These are some of the things to remember when buying a fondue pot. Try to pick one that has the features that are most important to you and you'll be making fondue in no time. - 15634
About the Author:
Once you buy a Fondue Pot you'll need some Fondue Recipes. Visit GoFondue.com for tons of delicious cheese, hot oil and chocolate fondue recipes today.
