These are Our Top Fondue Pots for a Romantic Night or a Group Hang (2024)

Cuisinart's products have generally performed well in our Lab tests, so, while we have not yet tested this fondue pot, we feel confident recommending it based on its helpful features. This electric fondue pot holds up to 3 quarts, and the bowl has a wide enough opening to let everyone dip without fighting for space.

It also comes with a notched fork rack to keep the eight color-coded forks upright and separated — a boon for keeping track of whose is whose at a party. We like that it functions via a temperature probe that lets you choose from eight settings, meaning you can set it to high to get your broth boiling to cook meat or slowly reduce the heat over the course of the evening if you're serving cheese or chocolate fondue. This can help to prevent scorching. As the volume in the pot gets lower thanks to dipping, you'll want to dial down the heat.

When considering fondue pots, our experts focused on sets that would suit a variety of fondue fans: those who love cheese, those who love chocolate, those who keep it small and those who want to go big. We considered the material, selecting pots that would be easy to clean as well as responsive to changes in heat, which helps you melt quickly on high and can prevent scorching on low. We also made sure both electric and non-electric models were represented.

We favored pots that came with a reasonable number of forks for their size (smaller fondue makers might have just two, but larger pots needed to have more). We also assessed the attractiveness of the fondue machines. Some appliances can get away with function over style, but these devices are designed for parties or at least for use at the table (even if you're dipping alone!), so we prefer those that are nice looking.

✔️ Type: There are two main kinds of fondue pots to consider:

• Electric fondue pots: These might have a heating element built into the base or they might sit on an electric burner. The advantage of an electric model is that it’s easy to adjust the heat. They’re better than tealight models when cooking with oil or broth because they allow you to reach a high enough temperature. They're also a good pick for cheese and chocolate because you can dial down the heat as the volume in the pot decreases to avoid scorching the pot.
• Manual fondue pots: This style of fondue pot is usually set over an open flame, though some can also be used on burners or on the stovetop. Some models require only a candle. For those who wonder whether tealights work for fondue, the answer is yes, with caveats: They can be useful for small pots and are helpful for warming fondue that was cooked in the microwave or on the stovetop, but they may be slow and uneven for larger vessels. Newer versions include a fuel source for the burner and allow you to adjust the flame. The advantage of manual sets is that they work anywhere — no need for an outlet.

✔️ Material: Our pros stress that you want a material that's easy to clean and allows you to lower the heat as the fondue session goes on.

• Stainless steel: You'll likely get years of use out of a stainless steel fondue pot: They're durable and usually easy to clean. They also tend to heat quickly, but some are thin and can burn your cheese or chocolate over the course of the evening.
• Ceramic: Ceramic is slow to heat, but once it gets to temperature it holds heat well. It's also generally a breeze to clean up.
• Enameled cast iron: This coated cast iron can heat faster than ceramic, and it also holds heat well. A bonus: Most come in appealing colors.
• Cast iron: These look great and hold heat well, but that makes it difficult to adjust the temperature. And they can be difficult to clean.

✔️ Temperature control: Most modern electric fondue pots allow you to dial up to high heat for melting food or cooking with oil as well as to reduce the heat so that you don’t burn your chocolate or cheese (especially after you've been dipping for a while and the volume in the pot decreases). Check for an adjustable burner on manual fondue sets as well. Many let you open and close the fuel holder so you can control the heat under the pot.

✔️ Safety measures: Does the pot include a handle or handles? Does an electric model include a breakaway cord, so that the hot fondue is less likely to spill if someone snags the cord? Does a manual set include a snuffer so you can extinguish the fuel safely?

✔️ Forks: How many forks are included with the set? Are they color-coded so each person can keep track of their own at a party? Is there a fork ring for the pot, so forks don’t slip into the fondue?

✔️Size: A small fondue pot might hold only 12 ounces, which will work for you and a buddy. But for a crowd, you’ll want a fondue set that holds 2.5 to 3 quarts — or more if you're a serious cheese lover.

Sarah Wharton is the senior editor and analyst for the Good Housekeeping Institute. She's written about cookware such as carbon steel pans, and she led the testing on warming devices like heated mugs and milk frothers. She's also a cheese lover with a fondness for fondue and queso.

Nicole Papantoniou, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, has been testing and developing products since 2014. She specializes in cookware and countertop appliances like the air fryer. She uses her expertise to guide product selection across all categories of kitchen gear.