If you plan to include fondue in your restaurant, you will need to learn how to use fondue pots to make everything from appetizers to desserts. Prior to making any purchases or commitments, it is important that you obtain some fondue pots education and training. Learning the difference between a cast iron fondue set and a stainless steel fondue set might not require a college degree, but using all available resources to glean some education will be helpful. Learning how to use fondue pots will help you succeed at your venture, so get serious about your fondue pot training.

You can learn helpful information about restaurant fondue pots and cooking tips through the Internet. There also are plenty of free or inexpensive local resources available in all states. Consider using the following ideas for fondue pots education and training:

1. Check out online guides about cooking with fondue pots.
2. Read tutorials that deal with fondue supplies and cooking techniques.
3. Find trade shows attended by companies that sell fondue pots and provide live demonstrations.
   

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Obtain fondue pot information from the Internet

If you want to find out how to use fondue pots, check out Internet guides and step-by-step instructions dedicated to the subject. Whether you just want to get started in the world of fondue or wish to learn more advanced concepts, the Internet is a great place to find information.

I recommend: Get the basics on using fondue pots with the helpful instructions at Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop. Find out how to set up chocolate fondue fountains with the informative guide at Recipes Food Cooking International.

Watch video tutorials to get education regarding cooking using fondue sets

If you want free training for using fondue pots, consider learning with videos. Most online video tutorials are free and offer you a chance to get training from the professionals. Whether you are a beginner and just need a simple cheese recipe or are ready to learn complex cooking tips using fondue pots, choose video tutorials to meet your training needs.

I recommend: Find videos on how to use fondue pots to make cheese fondue at LucyLearns.com. Allrecipes.com provides a video tutorial with instructions on how to use fondue pots to make classic fondue.

Attend fondue pot supplier demonstrations at trade shows

Many companies that sell restaurant equipment, including commercial fondue pots, attend industry trade shows. Such companies typically offer fondue pots for sale, demonstrations and training at trade shows, allowing you to learn how to cook with commercial fondue pot equipment.

I recommend: The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show occurs annually and includes several restaurant suppliers that sell fondue pots, some of which perform live demonstrations. Sephra Chocolate Fountains is just one fondue-related company that exhibits at The Great American Dessert Experience and offers live demonstrations on cooking with fondue pots.

Fondue pots for sale abound, both on the Internet and in many stores. If you've ever glanced at the website or storefront of a fondue pot supplier, you've probably been overwhelmed by all the choices. Whether you own a restaurant or just want a nice fondue set for your home, rest assured that there is some rhyme and reason when it comes to choosing a fondue pot or fondue supplies.

One simple way to choose a fondue pot is to base your choice on what you are going to cook most often. Unless you are opening a fondue restaurant, it is best to use a specialty pot for each different type of food, if possible. The following types of fondue pots are popular:

1. Glazed ceramic pot;

2. Unglazed ceramic pot;

3. Cast iron fondue pot;

4. Stainless steel pot.

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Use an unglazed ceramic fondue pot to cook cheese

If you plan to mainly cook cheese, it is best to use an unglazed ceramic pot that allows the many flavors to soak into the ceramic over time. This flavor of different cheeses that gradually builds up in the pot is so crucial to the flavor that the pot should not be washed with soap or any other chemicals, but simply rinsed with hot water.

I recommend: Homestead Market offers a large selection of stoneware cheese fondue sets, and Klinq.com carries unique sets, such as one that includes a stoneware tray for easy cleanup.

Create fondue desserts using glazed ceramic fondue pots and supplies

The best pot for chocolate fondue is a glazed ceramic pot, and the desired way to cook it is to use a candle or butane heat source. A fondue pot selected specifically for chocolate should be smaller than a pot made for cheese or meat fondue, as a large pot will take much longer to heat up than is needed.

I recommend: Swissmar offers an affordable, simple ceramic dessert fondue set online, while Zaccardi's features a fun, unique strawberry-shaped pot.

Cook meat in a stainless steel fondue set or cast iron fondue pot

Most restaurant fondue pots are made of either cast iron or stainless steel because they allow you to cook meat thoroughly without burning it. In fact, most commercial fondue pots are made of either metal. This allows restaurants to cook a variety of fondue without the expense of buying a specialty pot for each type of food, although doing so is still recommended when possible.

I recommend: Kitchen Universe offers a stainless steel set that allows for the very high heat needed to cook meat, while Chef's Resource features a quality cast iron fondue set that can be used on the stove.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to know what type of heat source is needed for your fondue pot. Candles usually work fine for cheese and chocolate, but will not work for cooking meat. It is best to purchase extra fuel when you buy your set, just in case it later becomes hard to find.

Decades after fondue pots were all the rage as wedding gifts, fondue is making a big comeback. From local winter festivals to an entire national chain, restaurants are promoting fondue as a social event. The choices for fondue pots and what's served in them have multiplied, too. Whether you are looking for a business casual party that allows people the freedom to play with their food, or setting up a catering business or restaurant, here are the terms you'll need to know to select the right fondue pots.

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Fondue

Derived from the French word for 'melted,' fondue actually originated as a Swiss specialty. The classic fondue is a pot of melted cheese thinned with wine around which diners gather, each holding a fork and dipping cubes of bread into the bubbling mixture. But there are many other kinds of fondues, from meats cooked in broth to fruit dipped in chocolate.

I recommend: FondueBits.com has more on the history of fondue. Visit The Melting Pot to see how this old custom has been reinterpreted in a modern restaurant chain. FonduePotSets.com lists some of the innovations that are part of the fondue revival.

Caquelon

The traditional cast iron fondue pot is known as a caquelon, and that name is still applied to all fondue pots by some European manufacturers. Today's fondue pots are available in a wide variety of materials, with certain types more suited to certain ingredients.

I recommend: Scroll down the recipe page at Oakdale Cheese & Specialties to find out how to season a new caquelon. View the variety of caquelons and fondue pots available at FonduePots.com.

Rechaud

The traditional fondue pot sits on a stand known as a rechaud (from the French for 'reheat') that holds a container of liquid fuel or a gel pack. Electric fondue pots have heating elements built in, but may be designed to look as though they are sitting on a rechaud for aesthetic purposes.

I recommend: See an example of a traditional rechaud at GourmetSleuth.com.

Emmenthaler, Gruyere

Cheese for fondue needs to be of a particular consistency suitable for melting without separating. The classic Swiss cheeses Emmenthaler and Gruyere are the traditional choices, often combined with local favorites. The melted cheese is thinned with cider, dry wine or liqueur, never water, which would make the mixture indigestible.

I recommend: See recommended fondue cheeses at iGourmet.com.

Coup de milieu

A traditional Swiss fondue custom is the coup de milieu, or 'cup in the middle'--a glass of kirsch, a cherry-flavored brandy, set at each guest's place. Diners either dip their bread cubes in the coup de milieu before dunking them in the cheese, or drink the coup de milieu halfway through the evening. According to custom, the kirsch makes the heavy cheese meal more digestible.

I recommend: In its Swiss travel tips, Fodor's recommends what to drink (including the coup de milieu kirsch), and what not to, with fondue.

Fondue fountains

The fondue revival may have had its roots in the continuing popularity of another kind of fondue pot, the chocolate fountain, a staple of wedding receptions and other catered events. Fondue fountains can also be used for serving more traditional fondue entrées as well as salad dressings and sauces.

I recommend: See the range of fondue fountains available from Sephra, and compare the sizes and capacities necessary for different numbers of servings.

Fondue pots are a fun way to set a casual service for business gatherings. Fondue is also an interesting addition to a restaurant’s menu. With all the many fondue set options available to you, you may be wise to spend a bit of extra money up front for commercial fondue pots so that you can expect many years of service from them.

Of all the fondue pots types and styles on the market today, you should look for fondue sets that provide the service you want. If you plan to use them to serve cheese and chocolate fondues, you may want a ceramic fondue pot rather than a cast iron fondue set. No matter what kind of fondue pots you ultimately choose, pick ones that suit the image you wish to project to your patrons. In addition to ceramic pots, you might choose:

1. Copper fondue pots.

2. Stainless steel fondue pots.

3. Cast iron fondue pots.

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Choose gel fuel fondue pots

Traditional Swiss fondue pots use gel packs to heat the contents of the pot. This gel fuel keeps the fondue at the proper serving temperature for a considerable amount of time. You can find gel fuel fondue pots for sale from a number of businesses.

I recommend: FonduePots.com offers a variety of fondue pots for sale that use gel fuel to heat the fondue. Its fondue sets come with a full line of accessories. Chef’s Resource offers gel-fueled restaurant fondue pots, where you may also purchase fondue supplies.

Select candle-warmed fondue pots

This is another popular option. A small tea-light style candle keeps the ingredients of the fondue pot at the correct temperature for serving. If the candle burns out, it's simply a matter of inserting a new candle in the holder and relighting it. If an open flame is a problem for insurance reasons, this may not be a good option for fondue pots. Chocolate and cheese fondues work well in a candle-warmed fondue pot.

I recommend: The fondue pot supplier, ChocolateFountains.com, offers candle warmed fondue pots and supplies. The stainless steel fondue set offered by Crate and Barrel allows you to keep chocolate and cheese at the right temperature with a candle.

Pick electric fondue pots

Although they are not as traditional as gel fuel fondue pots, electric fondue pots keep the food at the desired temperature for extended periods of time with a minimum of fuss. Electric fondue pots are available in a number of metals, including stainless steel and cast iron.

I recommend: Best Buy offers a stainless steel fondue set heated by an electrical element. Kitchen Collection offers two models of electric fondue pots for sale as well.