Fondue: how it works, what you need & tips for at home

Fondue is a convivial and flavorful way to eat where you sit around the table together and prepare your own meal. Whether you opt for cheese fondue, meat fondue or a version with broth or chocolate, the principle is the same. You heat a pot with contents on a burner or electric element and dip pieces of bread, meat or vegetables into the hot liquid.

In this article we explain how fondue works, the different types, what you need to get started and share practical tips for a successful fondue night at home.

Fondue: how it works, what you need & tips for at home

Discover how to get the most out of fondue – from tasty ingredients to what you need for cheese and meat fondue.

Which vegetables go well with cheese fondue and broth fondue?

With fondue you can use a variety of vegetables.

Vegetables are perfect for dipping with fondue. Which ones you choose depends on the type of fondue:

For broth fondue, use sturdy vegetables that can cook a bit longer, such as:

Broccoli
Carrot
Cauliflower
Zucchini
Bell pepper
Mushrooms

For cheese fondue, softer or briefly cooked vegetables are ideal, for example:

Cherry tomatoes
Boiled potato
Blanched broccoli
Roasted bell pepper
Asparagus tips

Tip: Cut everything into bite-sized pieces ahead of time and serve it on a nice platter. That makes fondue easy and more atmospheric!

Which vegetables go well with cheese fondue and broth fondue?

Which meats are suitable for fondue with oil or broth?

For meat fondue you can use many kinds of meat. Your choice depends on your taste and whether you cook in oil or in broth.

Popular meats for fondue:

Beef steak (beef)
Chicken breast or turkey
Pork tenderloin
Meatballs (homemade or ready-made)
Marinated pieces (e.g., shawarma, teriyaki). Note: Cut the meat into small pieces so it cooks quickly, and keep raw and cooked meat well separated. Vegetarian fondue? Use, for example, vegetarian meatballs, falafel or cubes of halloumi. Tip: Marinate the meat in advance for extra flavour – or choose a herb-flavoured broth for more depth.

Which meats are suitable for fondue with oil or broth?

What is the best and safest oil for fondue?

For meat fondue you use oil in the fondue pan to cook small pieces of meat. You dip the meat into the hot oil, where it is slowly fried until cooked. For fondue you preferably use an oil with a neutral taste and a high smoke point. That prevents splattering or burning. Suitable oils for meat fondue:

Sunflower oil
Grapeseed oil
Peanut oil (arachide oil)Note: Do not use butter, margarine or olive oil, as they burn more quickly and are less safe at high temperatures. What to serve with it? Bread, dips, salads or cold side dishes go well alongside meat fondue. Tip: Warm the oil slowly to about 180°C and never leave the pot unattended. Place the fondue on a stable surface.

What is the best and safest oil for fondue?

What do you need for fondue?

What you need for fondue depends on the type (cheese, meat, broth or chocolate), but the basics are usually the same. So what do you definitely need?

A fondue pan (suitable for the type of fondue you choose)
A heat source: burner or electric
Fondue forks or skewers (preferably a couple per person)
Small bowls for ingredients or sauces
A stable surface and a trivet 🧀 For cheese fondue use a ceramic pot and often white wine, maïzena and grated cheese. 🍖For meat fondue choose a pan that is suitable for oil and stays well heated. 🥣 For broth fondue you usually use a stainless steel or cast-iron pot. Tip: Keep napkins or a damp cloth on hand and ensure a safe setup — especially when using oil or an open flame.

How to do fondue?

How do you do fondue? Well, it's not that difficult! Let's start by preparing all the dishes you'll serve with the fondue in advance. That way you only need to prepare the fondue itself later. Cut the vegetables and meat into pieces and fry or boil them beforehand if needed. Besides vegetables and fruit, bread is also nice to serve alongside! Once the side dishes are prepared, you can make the fondue itself. Going to do cheese fondue? Then either make the fondue yourself or heat the ready-made cheese. For meat fondue heat the oil to 180°C.

Note! At a lower temperature the meat soaks up a lot of oil, which makes it very greasy.

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