Fondues should be smooth
Fondue is making a comeback as the perfect party appetizer, and you can make it perfect with some simple tips. Some of the best ways to make the most of your fondue include choosing the proper pot and proper dipping fare. You should also know quickly troubleshoot fondue that becomes too runny, too thick or, worst of all, curdles.
Pot Type
Pot types matter. Desert and cheese fondues do best in ceramic pots. Fondues that have an oil base or are fried need a pot a lined with metal. All fondue can be started off in either pot on the traditional stove and then transferred to the fondue station for serving. This hastens cooking time immensely. Also check out fondue pots that are currently on the market, rather than relying on some old fondue set you dug up from the 1970s. Fondue pots and sets are much more stable, versatile and won't fall over as easily as their older counterparts.
Melting
Any fondue should be smooth, silky and have an even consistency. For best results with melting cheese, you can submerge and soak grated cheese in chilled wine for at least one hour to prepare it for easy melting. Thin fondue can be thickened up by cornflour. Dissolve a bit of cornflour in cold wine, turn up the fondue heat, and stir the mixture into the fondue pot. Thick fondue can be thinned down by turning up the heat, adding a dash of wine and stirring constantly. Fondue that begins to curdle can be fixed by putting the pot on the stove to bring to a boil after adding a dash of the cornflour mixture and a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Dipping
Chunks of white bread are the standard fare for dipping fondue, although you can jazz it up a bit with other options, like small pieces of bagel or buttered toast. You can also opt for vegetables, with mushrooms, celery sticks, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots or even baby corn. Veggies can be raw or blanched so they are bit tender but remain crisp. Fruits work well, especially strawberries in a chocolate fondue, but you can also use slices of apple, pineapple or pear.
Tags: adding dash, should smooth
