December 14, 2022, 4:09 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
For many, fondue is simply part of the holiday season. Depending on the type of fondue—cheese, broth, or chocolate—you’ll need the right equipment. “Stiftung Warentest,” a German consumer organization, took a closer look at fondue sets.
During the holidays, friends and family gather, sit together at the table, and enjoy a convivial evening. What many people consider essential: fondue. Alongside raclette, it’s the quintessential holiday meal. A large pot in the center of the table—and there’s something for everyone. Particularly popular are fondues with cheese, hot broth, oil, or chocolate. “Stiftung Warentest” examined a total of ten fondue sets. The test shows: Not every fondue set is suitable for every type.
10 Fondue Sets Tested
“Stiftung Warentest” tested a total of ten fondue sets (“test” issue 01/23)—six with electric heating plates and four with traditional burners. The latter heats the pot using fuel paste or alcohol in a small metal dish. There was a clear difference from the start: the price.
The traditional burner models cost between 80 and 265 euros, almost twice as much as the electric versions, which range from 48 to 150 euros. Heating with an electric plate is also cheaper than using paste. However, both are generally good: Of the ten sets tested, eight received a “good” rating, while only two burners achieved a “satisfactory.”
Not Every Device Can Handle Every Fondue Type
It depends on what you want to use the devices for. When frying meat or vegetables, the testers were only convinced by the electric devices. The reason: The oil must always be hot enough. Burners cannot maintain such high temperatures. Cheese or chocolate fondue, on the other hand, can also be successfully made with burners.
Related: Which Cheese Varieties Are Best for Raclette and Fondue
However, the manufacturer must have approved the device accordingly. The test winner, the electric “Lono Fondue Set” (rating 1.7) from WMF, is not intended for cheese or chocolate fondue. Among the burners, the “Kela Lancy” (2.2) performed best, but it is only suitable for cheese fondue.
For those looking for an all-rounder for all three fondue types, “Stiftung Warentest” suggests three “good” electric devices: “Unold Elegance,” “Tefal Base Ronde EF 3000,” and “Rommelsbacher F1200” (each rated 2.3).
With material from dpa