We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Cheese Fondue?

By Janis Adams
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,929
Share

Finding its origins in the Swiss tradition, cheese fondue is a mixture of various types of cheeses, wine, and spices. It is served warm from a communal pot, where chunks of bread and fruit are dipped, swirled, and coated with the melted cheese mixture before being consumed. Cheese fondue is also credited with having some of its beginnings in French culture, as its very name, fondue, is in fact a French word whose translation is melted or to be melted.

While a variety of cheeses are commonly found in fondue. Kirsch, a colorless brandy, is the most favored liquor to be added to the fondue. One of the reasons Kirsch is often chosen is that, as it is colorless, it does not change or ruin, as many chefs may tend to feel, the natural hue of cheeses used in the fondue.

Cheeses chosen for fondue must first and foremost be those that melt well. If they do not melt well, the mixture will appear lumpy and inconsistent and obviously unappetizing. Cheeses most commonly featured in traditional fondue recipes are Gruyere and Emmentaler cheeses.

To create a truly successful cheese fondue, the temperature of the cheese must remain consistent. The preparer must keep it melted and not allow it to separate or clump. To do this, a fondue pot is typically used, although some choose a traditional pan with a flame device placed underneath it. The fondue pot keeps the cheese at a regulated temperature, while making it easily accessible at a traditional table setting. The cheese must be kept at a consistently warm temperature without allowing for it to burn.

Cheese fondue is offered most commonly as an appetizer, with some type of bread or fruit served alongside for dipping. Long, skewer-type forks called fondue forks are used to dip the bread or fruit. These keep the hands of those using them from getting burned on the edge of the fondue pot, as it tends to maintain a level of heat that is often dangerous.

Though there are many other types of fondue, such as chocolate, cheese fondue remains the most popular of all. Cheese fondues can be made from any variety of cheese that has a successful melting rate. Flavorings from savory to spicy can be added to the fondue mixture. Even vegetables can be crushed or pureed and added to the melted mixture. Whatever the combination, cheese fondue has continued to be a crowd pleaser for decades.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-cheese-fondue.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.