Fondue is a Swiss communal dish. Historically during the cold months of winter the families in Switzerland had to make the stockpile of cheese and bread last throughout the cold months.

The bread became hard as well as the cheese. In order to remedy this, the cheese was melted and mixed with wine; the crusty bread was dipped into the melted mixture. This made the two ingredients much more enjoyable.

The word fondue means to melt in French. Fondue was made popular in the U.S. in the 1950’s after tourists discovered it during visits to Switzerland. The popularity of fondue began to fade in the late seventies, but is recently enjoying a comeback.

There is some etiquette that goes along with enjoying fondue in a group of people. The tongue or lips should not touch the dipping forks and when eating meat fondues the meat should be removed from the dipping fork with a dinner fork first, then eaten. Some older traditions include party foul penalties. For instance if a man lost his bread in the fondue then he would have to buy the next bottle of wine, if a woman lost her morsel then she was supposed to kiss the man on her left.

The thin crust of cheese left in the pot after is a cracker-like wafer (it should not be burnt if the pot is cooking at the right temperature) that is often shared by all or traditionally given to the children. Children were not allowed to use the pot because of risk of burns. If children are involved they should be carefully supervised.

Fondue sets vary depending on their intended use. The pot can be warmed by candle, fuel such as propane or kerosine, or with electricity. Candle and fuel burners are good for chocolate and cheese because they keep the food at just the right temperature. For meat fondues it’s a good idea to use electric so that it can be ensured the oil or broth reaches high enough heat for proper cooking.

If chocolate fondue will be the main use, you should look for a ceramic glazed pot, heated by candle. The glazed ceramic makes it easiest to clean. Candle is the best for chocolate; the mixture can be heated on stove top first, and then maintained by the candle at a perfect temperature. If a fuel burner set is the only one available then keep the burner at the lowest setting at stir often to prevent the bottom of the mixture from burning.

For the traditional cheese fondue an unglazed pot should be used. This is so the ceramic can absorb the various flavors of the cheeses and wines used to give the fondue a uniquely aged flavor after a few uses. A fuel burner is ideal for cheese fondues because the heat can be controlled – remember a thin toasty crust is a treat afterwards, no one wants a burnt crust though. After use the pot should be washed using warm water only. This will allow the pot to retain the flavors absorbed during the meal.

Meat fondues use oil or broth to cook the meat in. The pot needs to be extra hot to make sure the meat reaches a safe temperature, so electric heating is the best bet. An all metal pot will work most efficiently. Copper lined with stainless steel is a good option because copper transfers heat well, cheaper stainless steel sets will do but the ultimate for meat fondue is a cast iron fondue pot. The pot will take longer to heat, but it will retain heat for a long time.

Because of the high heat needed to cook meat fondues, extra caution should be exercised. Slotted splatter guards that have openings large enough for the fork to reach the oil will minimize the chances of hot oil splattering. A good fondue set designed for meat will come with this guard. Also use oil that heats quickly, such as peanut oil. This will make extreme temperatures less likely to be needed.

A fondue set usually comes with four, six, or eight dipping forks. The forks will have long handles and the best sets have different colored handles so that the guests can keep track of their fork. To host a complete fondue meal consider purchasing two or three sets so that each menu item can be served and placed on its individual ideal setting.

Enjoying delicious fondue meals and hosting intimate fondue parties are just a click away when the right set is found online. Look for accessories with the set like dipping sauce dishes and a serving tray. A complete fondue set will provide many fun meals and good times for years to come when taken care of properly!