The word fondue comes from a French word that means “to melt”. It is a Swiss tradition and started as a way for poor farmers to use up their last scraps of food in winter.
Some cheese (usually Gruyere) was melted with a little wine and garlic in a saucepan to make a sauce that was served with stale bread.
Later, in the 1930s, the Swiss Cheese Union promoted fondue as a way of increasing cheese consumption in the country. Fondue only came to the U.S. in the 60s and 70s and it quickly became a popular dinner party option.
Fondue is seeing a revival today but many of our younger readers may not know how to host a fondue or even how to light the burner. No worries! We have some useful tips for you today.
How to Light a Fondue Burner
A fondue set usually consists of a small alcohol burner that provides heat under a saucepan that holds the sauce.
The burner is a small metal container with a lid with holes in it and a handle for regulating the size of the holes. There is often an absorbent pad or mesh inside.
A saucepan is placed over this burner on a special stand. This is what holds the melted cheese sauce, oil for cooking meat cubes, or dessert sauce. Then there are the long-handled fondue forks for spearing the bread cubes for mopping up the sauce.
Various Fuels for Lighting a Fondue Burner and How to Light Them
1. Tea Light Candles
Some types of fondue sauce just need to be kept warm. These include chocolate and caramel sauces in which cubes of cake, fruit, or marshmallows are dipped. Unscented tealight candles work well here.
One should be placed on the burner about 2-3 inches from the bottom of the saucepan. It should simply be lit with a match or lighter when you are ready and will probably burn for up to three hours.
The sauce itself is made on the stove first and when it’s ready, brought to the table in the saucepan and placed over the candle to keep warm.
2. Liquid Alcohol
If you are doing a cheese fondue, you will need a higher temperature than candles can provide. Again, you would prepare the sauce on the stovetop and then bring it over to the table when the guests sit down.
Liquid alcohol is the most commonly used fondue fuel but it is highly flammable and you must be careful of spilling. It is readily available from pharmacies and supermarkets but can’t be bought online because of its flammable nature.
Liquid alcohol burns cleanly, odorlessly, and won’t leave sooty marks on the bottom of your fondue pot.
To use it, first remove the burner from the fondue set and take it to a safe working area such as a sideboard or a kitchen counter. Carefully pour the liquid into the bottom of the burner.
When the fuel reaches the holes or mesh, stop pouring. Wipe off any spilled fuel using a paper towel and bring the unit back to the table. Place it under the pot. Ensure all spills are wiped and that there is no paper or flammable material nearby.
Open the air holes on the burner lid to maximum and bring a lit match or lighter close to the holes. The fuel should ignite. The size of the holes can be adjusted to obtain the right temperature.
3. Gel Fuel
Gel fuel is basically alcohol fuel in a safer form. It is less easily spilled than liquid. It burns at a slightly lower temperature than liquid alcohol but it’s fine for fondue purposes. It usually comes in convenient single-use packs sealed with a foil lid.
To use, simply insert the pack into the fondue burner base and tear off the foil lid. Cover with the burner lid and leave the holes wide open. Light the fuel with a match or lighter, then adjust the burner holes.
Safety Tips When Hosting a Fondue
- To avoid crowding, it is best to provide one fondue burner and saucepan set for every 4-6 guests.
- Never refill the burner when it is hot. Allow it to cool first.
- Never fondue when there are small children around.
- Wipe up any fuel spills immediately.
- It is best to place the burner and saucepan on a table lower than the guests. Many dining room tables are too high and the fondue set can be easily knocked over when the guests are stretching up to reach inside the pot.
- Don’t use methylated spirits for fuel instead of liquid alcohol. It may contain added denaturants that are unhealthy to inhale when burnt indoors.
We hope now that you know how to light a fondue burner you will go ahead and host one of these fun dinner parties. Let us know how it goes!