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Before You A Fondue Set

By Donna Pilato, About.com

If you're looking for a cozy and intimate way to entertain friends, few things beat hosting a fondue party. What could be more intimate than dipping tasty tidbits into a communal pot of melted cheese or chocolate? Once a party favorite back in the '60s, fondue has made a comeback over the last decade. Buying the right fondue set will make dipping your fondue as enjoyable as eating it.

Decide which type of fondue you will be preparing.

Will it be the classic cheese fondue or a meat fondue that is cooked in broth or hot oil? And don't forget chocolate fondue. With chocolate fondue you just need a small fondue pot. Meat fondues cooked in hot oil require a fondue pot than can withstand very high heat. A thicker pot that will hold the heat without scorching the contents is better for cheese and chocolate fondues.

Pay attention to the fuel required by your set.

Make sure when you purchase your set that the required fuel is readily available. If not, purchase a sufficient amount of fuel when you buy your fondue set. Some of the chocolate/cheese sets are warmed by candles, which will work fine for those varieties, but don't try to cook a meat fondue using candles

What other accessories are in your set?

How many fondue forks are included with your set? Do they have some kind of coloring or other demarcation so your guests can tell the forks apart? Meat fondues are usually served with accompanying sauces. Are fondue sauce dishes included in your set? Is a lazy Susan part of the setup so that sauce dishes can be easily passed among your guests?

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