The Swiss tradition of fondue seems to be making a comeback in the West so it’s time to dust off those old fondue sets you may have lying around.
Hosting a fondue is a fun and interactive way to entertain. Just be careful to invite just a few friends over at a time as having a crowd over for fondue is difficult and becomes dangerous.
Also, we do not recommend hosting a fondue if there are going to be children around.
What does a fondue consist of?
Fondue is essentially made of Swiss melted cheese or a cheese sauce that is served in a pot with a small flame under it.
Bread cubes and other small food items are dipped into the sauce using long forks specifically designed for the purpose. Some people heat oil in the fondue pot and cook small cubes of meat or chicken in it.
These are then dipped into various cold dips and sauces that are served in small bowls. For dessert, you can also prepare a fondue pot containing melted chocolate or caramel sauce and dip marshmallows or pieces of cake or fruit into it.
How to Keep Fondue Warm
For the fondue to be successful and delicious, the cheese sauce or other options need to be kept warm and preferably hot (although not boiling) if you don’t want a cold, gloopy mess.
To do so, there are several options. We’ll look at three of them here.
1. Stove
If you want to keep the cheese in a melted condition and also want to follow the traditional presentation for the fondue, you will need to use a special fondue stove.
These are usually sold in a “fondue set” consisting of a small stove with a burner, a small copper or stainless steel pot, and a set of forks.
If you don’t have one of these but still want to have a fondue, there are several small tabletop stoves or hotplates on the market that will serve the purpose.
The important thing is that you can safely place the stove on the dining table and that the flame or heat can be turned down extremely low. The sauce needs to be just kept at a simmer.
That said, it is best to use a designated fondue burner as it will be the safest and most aesthetically pleasing. You would normally seat a maximum of four guests around such a stove, so if you have more people, you will need a second stove and saucepan.
2. Tea Candles
Another great idea that you can use to keep the fondue pot warm is to suspend the pot over a tealight candle.
A single candle will be enough to keep a pot warm provided it has been preheated. Serve the fondue on the table and keep it warm while the guests partake.
If you don’t have a proper burner to hold the candle and support the saucepan, you can make a stand for your pot or just keep it at a certain height to ensure that the pan you are serving the fondue in is not touching the table.
For example, place the candle in a small saucer then place a brick on either side of this. Sit the pot so that it balances (securely) on the two bricks over the candle.
3. Heat it Before Serving
Another thing that you can try out if you don’t have a suitable heat source on the table is to ensure that you heat the sauce in the pot before serving it. For this, simply use your regular kitchen stove.
The only problem here is that from time to time, you will need to carry the pot back to the stove because the contents will cool down after twenty minutes or so.
However, this method isn’t ideal and should only be used when you are left with no other alternatives and you need to serve the fondue. It is an emergency fix only.
To Conclude
We hope we have helped you with how to keep your fondue warm. Enjoy this fun way of eating with your friends and family!