The 4 Finest Fondue Pots of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

Confession time: Although I’m a die-hard New Englander, I don’t prefer to ski. However après ski? That’s a life-style I can get behind. Cue the roaring fireplace, a pair of heat slippers, and a decadent meal shared with mates on a chilly winter evening. And few issues can conjure up these cozy ski chalet vibes fairly like fondue.

We right here at Severe Eats have by no means reviewed fondue pots earlier than. And whilst you might absolutely use an everyday ol’ Dutch oven or saucepan to make fondue, fondue pots provide enjoyable nostalgia. And, in some circumstances, superior efficiency in a compact package deal.

To search out one of the best fondue pots, I examined six of them. 4 have been electrical and two have been conventional fashions that used an open flame to maintain the fondue heat. I put these pots by means of their paces making cheese and chocolate fondue in every, and alongside the best way assessed their skill to take care of a creamy fondue at a constant temperature, their usability, and the way straightforward they have been to scrub. Many (many) kilos of melted cheese and chocolate later, listed below are those worthy of a spot in your winter cooking arsenal.

The Winners, at a Look

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This mannequin was responsive, heated evenly, and had an easy-to-read dial and durable base. It stored the cheese and chocolate fondues emulsified the longest throughout testing, engaging friends to maintain dipping. The nonstick inside of the pot made it a snap to scrub, and the included color-coded forks have been grippy to carry and efficient to make use of. Better of all, it’s inexpensive.

The Finest Conventional Fondue Pot

For many who love the romance of cooking over an open flame and wish to go the normal route, the All-Clad is price splurging on. The intelligent double-boiler design stored cheese and chocolate fondues evenly creamy, with no sizzling spots below the flame. The set is heavy and luxurious-feeling and will final for years to return.

One other Nice Electrical Fondue Pot

This mannequin carried out neck-and-neck with the Cuisinart, holding constant temperatures all through testing and producing completely creamy fondues, particularly chocolate. In the end, it was simply edged out attributable to its barely much less responsive temperature management and lack of quick-release magnetic energy wire, nevertheless it’s a superb choice, particularly if you happen to desire its matte black look (versus the Cuisinart’s chrome steel look).

A Enjoyable Fondue Pot for Events

Whereas it didn’t carry out fairly in addition to different electrical fashions in my lineup, the design and included equipment of this Sprint fondue pot gave it an edge for entertaining. In a state of affairs the place friends is likely to be milling round at a celebration, this fondue pot’s taller, narrower profile and connected ingredient cups take up much less actual property on a crowded desk and is best to eat from whereas standing up.

The Checks 

• Cheese Fondue Take a look at: I made cheese fondue in every pot, monitoring the temperature utilizing an instant-read thermometer over the course of half-hour and periodically dipping in a bit of bread to judge the cheese fondue’s texture and taste. 
• Chocolate Fondue Take a look at: I additionally made chocolate fondue in every pot, once more monitoring its temperature over a 30-minute interval and periodically dipping a strawberry to judge the chocolate fondue’s texture and taste.
• Efficiency, Cleanup, and Usability Evaluations: Throughout each exams, I evaluated how evenly and effectively every pot melted the cheese or chocolate, how straightforward it was to make use of the pot and alter the temperature, the usability of every pot’s included fondue forks, and the way straightforward every was to scrub after cooling.

What We Realized 

What Is Fondue, and Why Does It Want a Particular Pot?

Let’s begin with some fondue fundamentals. Fondue hails from Switzerland, with the identify deriving from the French “fondre” or “to soften.” Cheese fondue is probably the most conventional type of fondue, using the nutty, funky, grassy cheeses which can be produced within the Swiss Alps. A mix of Gruyère and Emmentaler are the normal selections for Swiss-style cheese fondue, however different cheeses resembling Vacherin, Appenzeller, Comté, Reblochon, and Fontina are used within the alpine areas of France and Italy as nicely. The cheeses are melted along with white wine right into a gooey mass, into which you dip crusty, toasted bread items of bread. Other than cheese fondue, different in style types of fondue are fondue au chocolat–a melted ganache of cream and chocolate–and fondue bourguignonne, the place friends spear chunks of meat onto forks and cook dinner them immediately in a pot of sizzling oil.

Fondue presents a few challenges that may make it tough to organize and serve. Each cheese and chocolate fondue (very talked-about types of fondue and the main focus of my exams) are emulsions: cautious suspensions of fats droplets in liquid. In cheese fondue, fats globules from cheese are emulsified into white wine. In chocolate fondue, heavy cream (itself an emulsion of butterfat and water) mixes with the sugar within the chocolate to type a syrup, wherein fats globules from the cream and cocoa butter solids are suspended. To attain a fair distribution of fats and a steady emulsion, the shredded cheese or chopped chocolate must be added regularly to heat liquid and stirred continually. Overheating these emulsions will trigger them to “break,” that means the fats droplets might be compelled to separate from the water and can be part of collectively, leading to stringy, grainy messes with slicks of oil on prime, moderately than creamy suspensions. However let the combination get too chilly, and it’ll shortly resolidify. To maintain fondues creamy, fluid, and dippable, they’ve to remain in a Goldilocks candy spot of not-too-hot and not-too-cold.

Enter: the fondue pot. When held at a constant, perfectly-warm temperature, diners can benefit from the enjoyable of dipping substances into gooey, stretchy fondues on the desk collectively over the course of a meal. Historically, fondues are ready on the range after which held heat on the desk over a candle or different open flame, including a component of cozy heat. Newer designs of fondue pots use electrical thermostats to take care of a constant temperature for much more precision. However which kind is finest?

Conventional vs. Electrical Fondue Pots

You must admit: lighting and tending a hearth at your desk is thrilling! And the nice and cozy glow of a flickering flame is a welcome addition to entertaining within the depths of winter. Reasonably than a candle, most fashionable conventional fondue pots name for gel gasoline, resembling Swiss Fire Gels by Swissmar or “canned warmth” by manufacturers like Sterno. The gel canister will match right into a holder that sits beneath the fondue pot and is lit simply by a match or lighter. Most fashions embody a burner cowl or different mechanism to control the energy of the flame and thus the temperature of the pot. That is, in fact, a reasonably subjective enterprise, and requires some trial and error to seek out the best warmth stage. My favourite conventional mannequin from All-Clad had a burner cowl that successfully lowered the warmth as wanted by partially overlaying the flame. 

Electrical fondue pots use electrical energy to heat a heating ingredient moderately than an open flame. Some work like a sizzling plate, that means they function a small electrical burner upon which a separate pot is ready. Others are all-in-one items, with pots containing heating components which can be built-in beneath. We discovered that the all-in-one types like these made by Cuisinart and Nostalgia have been probably the most conscious of temperature changes and carried out one of the best. Electrical fashions typically use dial thermostats to set the specified temperature and can mechanically flip the heating ingredient on and off periodically to take care of the chosen temperature vary. Most fashions have a lightweight that may illuminate when the ingredient is heating, and switch off when it reaches temperature. I appreciated dials with clear numbers to information customers to the best warmth stage, and manuals that specified which numbers to make use of for which purposes, like with my successful mannequin by Cuisinart. 

Which fondue pot kind is finest is determined by your targets: For probably the most genuine Alpine expertise (and no pesky wire to take care of), a conventional, open-flame mannequin provides the coziest vibes. It provides a little bit of drama and pleasure to your meal and stays true to the roots of fondue’s origins. However for a extra foolproof, set-it-and-forget-it expertise, electrical is the best way to go. I named the Cuisinart electrical mannequin the general winner attributable to its precision, ease of use, and constant efficiency—if you happen to’re going to undergo the trouble of constructing fondue and internet hosting a bunch to share it, it’s good to know that it may be held on the excellent consistency to your friends to get pleasure from with out fuss or stress.

Do You Actually Want a Fondue Pot?

Technically, no. If in case you have a conveyable induction burner, you can use that to maintain a saucepan or Dutch oven of fondue heat on the desk, utilizing the identical design precept as the electrical pots. Nevertheless, most induction burners are pretty cumbersome (and generally noisy) and take up extra desk house than you’d like to surrender. A sluggish cooker might additionally work in a pinch, however they often have very restricted temperature settings, and also you may not be capable to dial in the best holding temperature to maintain the fondue at simply the best consistency. Plus, in every of those situations, you’d even have to purchase fondue forks individually (they are surely nice, see under for extra). I say, if you happen to’re going to fondue, fon-do it proper and spend money on a pot that’s completely constructed for the aim.

A Word About Fondue Forks and Fork Rings

Fondue forks are designed to spear chunks of meals and cling onto them whereas dipping, all whereas protecting your hand out of vary of something too sizzling (like an open flame). They must be heat-resistant, so the forks are often created from chrome steel, even when the handles are comprised of wooden, plastic, or nylon. Conventional cheese fondue forks have three tines, and people used for oil fondue often have two tines in additional of a prong form. All the units we examined included two-tined forks aside from the Swissmar Lugano mannequin, which is particularly designed for cheese fondue and contains three-tined forks. And sure, you’ll be able to certainly spear toasted bread cubes and use them for cheese fondue with a two-tined fork, which is probably going why most producers go this route–they’re probably the most versatile form that you need to use with many types of fondue. One phrase of warning, although: When utilizing chrome steel forks in a pot with a nonstick-coated inside, watch out to not scratch the floor of the pot. With a bit of meals on the top, it’s often not a difficulty, however be very light when putting an empty fork within the pot to keep away from injury.

Conventional fondue etiquette states that you need to by no means eat your meals immediately off of the fondue fork. As an alternative, diners ought to spear their meals, dip it, then switch it to a plate and eat it with an everyday fork. This eliminates the potential for germs being transferred from somebody’s mouth to the pot of shared fondue through the fork. To maintain the fondue forks corralled throughout this course of, many of the pots in my lineup included fork rings. All have been created from chrome steel and match into the mouth of the pot, with notches round their handles to carry the forks in place. That is the place the color-coding system of fondue fork handles is useful. Diners can slot their fork right into a spot within the ring when not in use and can know which is theirs once they come again to it for an additional dip (so long as they keep in mind which shade they selected!).

Did my friends and I at all times observe this etiquette? No. The need to pop that tacky dice in your mouth instantly was generally simply an excessive amount of! It was typically simpler to dip into the pots with out the fork ring in place, particularly if the opening of the pot was slim. In that case, we stored our fondue forks on our plates, which labored simply wonderful. The great factor about all of those fashions is that the fork ring, if one was included, is non-compulsory, so you’ll be able to fondue nevertheless works finest for you.

The Standards: What to Search for in a Fondue Pot

An ideal fondue pot ought to maintain a set temperature persistently to maintain fondues creamy, be conscious of temperature changes, and must be straightforward to scrub since some fondues are sticky. Electrical fashions have been probably the most foolproof and exact for temperature management and consistency, and nonstick-coated fondue bowls made cleanup a snap. A large, shallow bowl was the best to make use of for dipping on the desk, and I appreciated longer forks with grippy, color-coded handles.

The Finest Fondue Pots

What we favored: This mannequin had probably the most exact temperature management of the group, with a clearly numbered dial that made fast and responsive changes. The guide supplied particular warmth ranges to make use of when making and holding varied fondues, which was very useful (and turned out to be fairly correct). The ingredient heated up shortly, bringing wine for cheese fondue and cream for chocolate fondue to a simmer in moments, then shortly and effectively melted cheese and chocolate because it was regularly added. The bottom stored the pot safe and regular on the desk whereas stirring in substances, and the large, shallow form made it straightforward to stir and, later, dip into. It was easy to regulate the temperature up and down as wanted to maintain the fondues fluid whereas holding them, and the magnetic breakaway wire supplied peace of thoughts in case the wire was by chance yanked or tripped over. The included forks have been a pleasant size and felt safe in hand with their grippy handles. Due to the nonstick inside, any leftover cooled fondue slid out of the bowl simply and the pot was a breeze to scrub with a swipe of a sponge.

What we didn’t like: Since that is an electrical mannequin, there’s a wire to take care of, which isn’t that aesthetically pleasing, and will require an extension wire to get it to, say, the center of your eating room desk. Whereas the wire is indifferent earlier than cleansing, the remainder of the pot is all one piece, which makes it somewhat awkward to scrub. You additionally must watch out to not immerse the port that connects to the wire in water, which can be somewhat nerve-wracking to some. Visitors thought it seemed a bit “appliance-y” or industrial, given its chrome steel supplies.

Key Specs

• Sort: Electrical
• Capability: 3 quarts
• Supplies: Brushed chrome steel bowl with nonstick inside; chrome steel base
• Included equipment: 8 (9.5-inch) chrome steel fondue forks with color-coded handles, fork ring
• Care directions: Solely stir substances within the pot with plastic, nylon, or wood utensils to stop injury to the nonstick inside. Hand wash pot and equipment in sizzling, soapy water; additionally dishwasher-safe. Don’t immerse the wire or temperature management probe in water.

The Finest Conventional Fondue Pot

What we favored: For a cord-free, open-flame fondue expertise, this mannequin did an incredible job. It has a wise double-boiler design: For cheese and chocolate fondue, you fill the outside bowl to a clearly marked line with water, then place the nonstick forged aluminum insert inside. As soon as the flame is lit beneath, the water surrounding the insert warms to a simmer and evenly disperses its warmth, leading to creamy cheese and chocolate fondues with out sizzling spots. The burner cowl makes it straightforward to control the flame by partially overlaying it to show down the temperature, then successfully smothers the flame when totally closed. The supplies for the pot, insert, stand, and forks for this set are heavy, well-made, and really feel high-quality and splendid. Each the pot and insert are stovetop appropriate, which is a pleasant plus. I discovered it was simpler to organize the fondue within the insert on the stovetop, then switch it to the water bathtub below the flame to maintain heat, versus getting ready the fondue on the desk with this mannequin.

What we didn’t like: This mannequin was the priciest of our lineup, making it a splurge. You even have to purchase the gasoline individually and be sure to have it readily available everytime you want it; the guide requires a 7-ounce can of gel gasoline (resembling Sterno brand), which is obtainable at most {hardware} shops and a few huge field shops (or on-line, in fact). I discovered that the burning gel gasoline gave off some fumes, so I made certain to crack a window when testing. For those who do wish to put together your fondue on the desk over the flame, it’s going to take for much longer than with the electrical fashions for the liquids to return to a simmer and for the cheese or chocolate to soften, for the reason that surrounding water has to warmth first. And whereas the forks for this mannequin are substantial and the tines do a superb job piercing meals, they have been quick, and friends should attain somewhat additional to dip.

Key Specs

• Sort: Conventional
• Capability: 3.5 quart exterior bowl (for oil or broth fondue or for water bathtub); 2.5 quart insert (for cheese or chocolate fondue)
• Supplies: Stainless-steel pot with bonded base; forged aluminum nonstick insert; chrome steel fondue stand and gasoline holder
• Included equipment: 8 (8.25-inch) chrome steel forks, fork ring, fondue stand, gasoline holder
• Care directions: To scrub exterior chrome steel pot: Immerse in heat water and use a comfortable material to rub in a paste of wonderful powder cleanser. Then, hand wash in sizzling, soapy water and dry instantly. To scrub insert: Hand wash in heat, soapy water. Don’t use steel instruments or abrasive scouring pads/powders to scrub nonstick insert.
• Good to know: Requires a 7-ounce can of gel gasoline (resembling Sterno model), not included

One other Nice Electrical Fondue Pot

What we favored: This pot from Nostalgia actually gave the Cuisinart a run for its cash. It heated up liquids shortly, melted the cheese and chocolate simply, and maintained its temperature very nicely as soon as set. It did a very good job with the chocolate fondue, protecting it ultra-creamy and velvety all through testing. It was compact on the desk, whereas nonetheless providing a pleasant large opening that made it straightforward for a number of friends to dip gadgets on the similar time. Some friends most well-liked the matte black look of this mannequin to the chrome steel pots, calling it “smooth and horny.” The forks have been mainly an identical to these included with the Cuisinart pot, that includes grippy nylon handles that have been color-coded on the ends. The nonstick inside made it very straightforward to scrub, permitting the cooled fondue to slip out with ease. On the time of testing, it was additionally the least costly fondue pot of the group (although solely a smidgen much less expensive than the Cuisinart).

What we didn’t like: This mannequin did appear to run a bit sizzling typically, and it was somewhat more durable to inform the place “low” or “medium-low” is likely to be, as a big portion of the dial is taken up by an arrow between settings 0 and 1. It was the one electrical mannequin from this lineup that didn’t function a quick-release magnetic wire attachment, which is simply too dangerous, because it’s a pleasant function. Whereas straightforward to scrub the inside of this pot, it was more durable to scrub drips on the skin of the pot in the event that they fell close to the handles, that are set fairly near the perimeters.

Key Specs

• Sort: Electrical
• Capability: 3 quarts
• Supplies: Black chrome steel bowl with nonstick inside
• Included equipment: 8 (9-inch) chrome steel forks with color-coded nylon handles; chrome steel fork ring
• Care directions: Hand wash the pot and equipment in heat, soapy water with a non-abrasive material. Dry completely. Wipe the bottom with a dry, non-abrasive material. Don’t put any components within the dishwasher, and by no means immerse the bottom or wire in water.

A Enjoyable Fondue Pot for Events

What we favored: This fondue pot from Sprint didn’t carry out in addition to different fashions, however its design makes it an honorable point out to be used at events. Reasonably than being all one unit, this mannequin has a two-part building that includes a sizzling plate-esque electrical burner base and a chrome steel pot that sits on prime of it. This makes it get up taller than different fashions, and the pot is narrower and deeper, taking over much less actual property on a full desk. A serving ring might be connected to the bottom, that includes six plastic cups that hook onto all of it the best way round. Every cup might be crammed with gadgets to dip within the fondue, which appears cute and entices friends to strive completely different combos. It could be well-suited to a celebration the place friends are circulating and will entry the pot on all sides to strive completely different bites. The pot was straightforward to scrub due to its nonstick inside, and it was good that it was separate from the bottom, with no fear about uncovered electrodes getting moist.

What we didn’t like: This mannequin’s supplies felt rather less substantial than these of different pots, and the bottom gave off a slight plasticky odor when heated. It appeared to run cooler than the opposite fashions and needed to be bumped above the degrees beneficial within the guide to deliver liquids to a simmer and soften cheese and chocolate. The cheese fondue did overheat and separate barely towards the top of the 30-minute check, however the chocolate fondue held nicely–if something, it was a bit too chilly. Total, not probably the most constant in temperature management. The taller profile and slim pot made it simpler to make use of whereas standing up, versus sitting down at a desk. And the serving cups, whereas a enjoyable thought, did wobble a bit when attempting to stab gadgets to dip with the fondue forks, and have been extra issues to scrub afterward.

Key Specs

• Sort: Electrical
• Capability: 3 quarts
• Supplies: Brushed chrome steel bowl with nonstick inside
• Included equipment: 8 (9-inch) chrome steel forks with color-coded handles, chrome steel fork ring, serving ring with plastic fondue cups (for substances to dip)
• Care directions: Use plastic, nylon, or wood utensils to stir fondue to stop injury to the nonstick floor. Hand wash pot and equipment in sizzling, soapy water; additionally top-rack dishwasher secure. Don’t immerse the ability wire or base in water.

The Competitors 

• Swissmar Lugano 9-Piece Cheese Fondue Set: On the outset of testing, I assumed I used to be going to like this conventional Swiss mannequin. Sadly, by the top of testing, I…fon-didn’t. Its enameled cast-iron pot and wrought-iron base seemed spectacular and have been well-made, however in each the cheese and chocolate fondue exams, the flame beneath brought on a scorched patch on the underside of the pot that took hours of soaking and scrubbing to take away. Even when the vents of the burner have been partially closed, the direct warmth within the middle of the pot was simply too highly effective. The highest layer of the cheese fondue was nonetheless creamy and scrumptious to eat, and as I realized later, the crusty slab of cheese beneath is definitely prized in Switzerland (if you happen to can pry it off of the underside of the pot), however the work it took to scrub was daunting. Sadly, the chocolate fondue fully seized and cut up over the excessive warmth, so this mannequin is basically solely best-suited for cheese fondue, limiting its usefulness. Although it undoubtedly provides alpine-romantic vibes in its design, the All-Clad is a significantly better guess for open-flame fondue.
• Trudeau Alto 3-in-1 Electric Fondue Set: Although it makes use of an identical thought to the All-Clad of making a double-boiler setup, this mannequin simply didn’t carry out nicely. Customers are instructed to fill an outer bowl with boiling water, place it on the separate electrical burner, then place a ceramic insert inside and preserve the water at a simmer to maintain the fondue heat. The dial didn’t have numbers, so it was onerous to know what stage to decide on to maintain the water sizzling. And if allowed to boil, the water would spit and splutter out of the perimeters, which was messy and harmful. Even when held at a low setting, the chocolate fondue cut up and seized dramatically. The cheese fondue was extra profitable however ended up with overcooked, crusty edges across the sides by the top of the 30-minute check. And eventually, this mannequin isn’t actually a fondue “maker” as a lot as a fondue “hotter”—you need to make your fondue in a separate pot on the stovetop earlier than including it to the insert.

FAQs

How do you employ a fondue pot? 

For conventional open-flame fashions, you’ll must buy a gel gasoline supply individually. The guide to your mannequin will specify what sort and measurement of gasoline to make use of. Gentle the gasoline below the pot with a match or lighter, then alter the energy of the flame with a burner cowl, if included. For electrical fashions, merely plug in and use the dial to decide on your warmth stage. For many fashions, you’ll be able to put together the fondue proper on the desk, bringing wine or cream to a simmer within the pot, then regularly including shredded cheese or chopped chocolate as directed, stirring continually till a creamy, uniform combination kinds. Flip down the warmth to maintain the fondue heat after cooking. For some fashions (just like the All-Clad), it’s quicker and simpler to organize the fondue within the pot on the stovetop first (as lengthy it’s secure to make use of on the range), then hold it heat over the flame, although it’s potential to make it both method.

How do you clear a fondue pot? 

First, extinguish the flame or flip it off, unplug the pot, and let any leftover fondue cool to room temperature. Detach the wire for electrical fashions and discard any leftover fondue (nonstick-coated bowls make this straightforward!). A lot of the fashions in our lineup then name for hand washing with sizzling, soapy water, although a couple of have been dishwasher-safe as nicely. For electrical fashions, be sure that to not immerse the wire or electrodes in water. For the All-Clad pot, some sooty residue on the underside of the chrome steel exterior bowl from the open flame was simply eliminated with Barkeeper’s Friend, restoring the shiny floor.

What are one of the best issues to dip in fondue?

That is the place you’ll be able to actually get inventive! For cheese fondue, toasted bread cubes are the normal selection, however you’ll be able to broaden into a wide selection of choices to make it a meal. My friends and I liked steamed broccoli, cherry tomatoes, items of salami, and chunks of apple, however different enjoyable selections are steamed or roasted asparagus, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, strips of bell pepper, items of cooked steak, or cooked shrimp. (Personally, I actually wish to strive tater tots!) For chocolate fondue, hulled strawberries, pineapple chunks, items of pound cake, and pretzels are all pretty. Take into consideration your favourite sweet-and-savory combos and let your creativeness run wild.

Why We’re the Consultants 

• Afton Cyrus spent eight years at America’s Take a look at Kitchen as a recipe developer and meals editor earlier than changing into a contributor to Severe Eats in 2023. She has realized from one of the best tips on how to execute rigorous and goal tools testing protocols and is obsessed with making cooking enjoyable and accessible for residence cooks of all ages and talents. Her meticulous method to tools testing, recipe growth, and meals writing has contributed to award-winning and New York Occasions bestselling cookbooks for America’s Take a look at Kitchen, Ten Pace Press, and different shops.
• For this overview, Afton spent 25 hours testing six fondue pots through the use of every to make cheese and chocolate fondue, holding every for half-hour to evaluate temperature management, and cleansing every per the producer’s directions. She grated 10 kilos of cheese, chopped eight kilos of chocolate, and held fondue events for a wide range of friends to evaluate group use.