Cheese Fondue: Crock Pot Cooking Tips And Tricks

Fondue is a Swiss and French cheese and wine recipe that dates back to the 18th century. Traditionally, it is made by melting cheese in a communal pot over a flame. However, with the advent of modern appliances, it is now possible to make fondue in a crock pot or slow cooker. This method is convenient and easy, allowing you to simply assemble the ingredients and let the crock pot do the work. The challenge lies in maintaining the right temperature to keep the fondue in a semi-liquid state without burning it. By using a crock pot, you can enjoy the classic Swiss cheese fondue with all its gooey, mouthwatering goodness, paired with a variety of dippers such as bread, vegetables, and meat.

What cheeses to use

Cheese fondue is a delightful and indulgent dish, perfect for sharing with friends and family. The type of cheese you use is important to ensure a smooth, creamy, and delicious fondue. Here are some options and tips for choosing the right cheeses for your crockpot fondue:

Swiss Cheese

Swiss cheese is a classic choice for fondue and is often the primary ingredient. It has a creamy and distinctive flavour that is essential to the traditional Swiss fondue taste. Make sure to use processed Swiss cheese, as it melts more easily than natural Swiss cheese.

Gruyère Cheese

Gruyère cheese is another excellent option for fondue. It has a slightly sweet and nutty flavour that pairs well with Swiss cheese. Gruyère is a semi-hard cheese that melts smoothly, adding to the creamy texture of the fondue.

White American Cheese

American cheese might not be the first choice that comes to mind for fondue, but it serves an important purpose. Adding American cheese to your fondue helps the mixture melt smoothly and prevents it from becoming greasy or grainy.

Cheddar Cheese

If you're looking for a twist on the classic, cheddar cheese can be a good option for fondue. However, it requires careful handling due to its tendency to curd. To prevent curdling, you can mix flour or sodium citrate with your shredded cheddar before adding liquids. Heavy cream can also help due to its high-fat content.

Other Cheese Options

While Swiss, Gruyère, and American cheeses are the most commonly used, you can experiment with other varieties. Some people use Velveeta, a processed cheese product, for its melting properties. Additionally, Italian cheese fondue combines mozzarella, fontina, and Parmesan cheeses for a different flavour profile.

When selecting cheeses for your crockpot fondue, consider their melting properties and flavour profiles. By combining different cheeses and adding ingredients like wine, garlic, and spices, you can create a delicious and indulgent fondue experience.

How to prepare the crock pot

Preparing a crock pot for cheese fondue is simple. First, you need to decide whether you will be using a small or large crock pot. A small crock pot is ideal for a single batch of fondue, while a large crock pot can accommodate multiple batches.

Once you have selected the appropriate crock pot size, you need to gather your ingredients. The basic ingredients for cheese fondue include cheese, cornstarch, wine, and spices. You can also add other ingredients such as garlic, lemon juice, or apple cider for additional flavour.

After gathering your ingredients, you should prepare the crock pot by plugging it in and setting it to the desired temperature. Most recipes recommend setting the crock pot to "warm" or "low" to avoid overcooking the fondue.

While the crock pot is heating up, you can start preparing the cheese. Grate or shred the cheese, and toss it with cornstarch to ensure a smooth and creamy texture. You can use a variety of cheeses, such as Swiss, Gruyère, or processed Swiss cheese.

Once the cheese is prepared and the crock pot is at the right temperature, you can start assembling the fondue. Place the wine, garlic, and any desired spices or seasonings into the crock pot. Stir the ingredients to combine them, and then add the prepared cheese to the mixture.

Cover the crock pot and let the fondue cook for the recommended time, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even melting. The cooking time may vary depending on the recipe and the type of crock pot used.

Once the fondue is cooked to your desired consistency, you can serve it with your favourite dippers, such as bread, vegetables, or meat. Enjoy your delicious crock pot cheese fondue!

What to dip in the fondue

When it comes to cheese fondue, the possibilities for dippers are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Bread

A classic choice for cheese fondue, crusty bread is perfect for soaking up all that cheesy goodness. Go for a baguette, sourdough, rye, focaccia, brioche, or even pretzels. You can also toast the bread before dipping to help it stay in one piece.

Vegetables

For a crunchy and healthy option, try dipping vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, carrots, or cherry tomatoes. You can dip them raw or lightly steamed/roasted for a slightly softer texture.

Meat

Meatballs, steak bites, bacon-wrapped smoked sausage, and cured meats like salami or chorizo are all delicious options for meat lovers. Chicken poppers and poached chicken are also great choices, as the mild flavour of chicken pairs well with the cheese.

Fruit

The crisp, sweet flavour of apples and pears goes surprisingly well with cheese fondue. Granny Smith apples and Bosc pears are especially good choices, as the tartness of the apples and the cinnamon and nutmeg undertones of the pears complement the cheese perfectly.

Seafood

For a luxurious option, try dipping lobster tails, crab legs, shrimp, or scallops into your fondue. The briny flavour of seafood pairs surprisingly well with the rich, melted cheese.

Other options

Other possibilities include roasted baby potatoes, pickles, gnocchi, fried wontons, carrot sticks, and even potato chips. Get creative and experiment with different dippers to find your favourites!

How long to cook for

The cooking time for cheese fondue in a crock pot varies depending on the recipe and the type of crock pot used. Here is a step-by-step guide on how long to cook for:

Firstly, it is important to note that different crock pots have different temperature settings and heat intensities, so adjust the timings as needed. As a general rule, it is recommended to cook cheese fondue on a low heat setting to avoid overcooking or burning.

Start by preparing your ingredients. Most recipes call for a combination of grated or shredded Swiss cheese, Gruyère cheese, and sometimes processed cheese such as American cheese or Velveeta. You will also need cornstarch, garlic, and wine or apple cider. Some recipes also include spices such as nutmeg, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Once your ingredients are ready, combine the wine, garlic, and any spices in a saucepan and heat on medium for about 5 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.

While the wine mixture is simmering, place the grated cheese into the crock pot and cover with a lid. After the wine has reduced, pour it over the cheese in the crock pot. Use a whisk to combine the cheese and wine mixture. This may take a few minutes to come together, so be patient.

If there are still large chunks of cheese after whisking, you can turn the heat up to high for 5-10 minutes, whisking continuously until the mixture is smooth. Be careful not to overcook the fondue, as it can seize or become grainy.

Once the cheese is fully melted and the mixture is smooth, your fondue is ready to serve. Keep the crock pot on a low heat setting to keep the fondue warm and prevent it from hardening.

The total cooking time for cheese fondue in a crock pot is generally around 45 minutes to 1 hour, including the preparation and cooking of the wine mixture. However, it is important to monitor the fondue and adjust the heat as needed to ensure it does not overcook.

How to serve

Preparation

Before serving your cheese fondue, it is important to whisk the mixture to ensure that all the ingredients are well combined. You can then leave your slow cooker on the "keep warm" function for up to an hour, stirring occasionally, to ensure that your fondue stays warm and gooey.

Dippers

The beauty of fondue is that you can dip a variety of foods into the warm, cheesy mixture. While bread and vegetables are the traditional choices, you can also experiment with different dippers to make the dish more interesting and visually appealing. Here are some ideas:

• Bread: crusty bread, rye, pumpernickel, multigrain bread, pretzels, sourdough, ciabatta, or bread cubes
• Vegetables: crunchy vegetables, Brussels sprouts, fingerling potatoes, artichoke hearts, cauliflower florets
• Meat: sausage, chicken, cured meat, salami, or turkey kielbasa slices
• Fruit: apples, pears, or sliced apples

Presentation

When serving your cheese fondue, it is a good idea to place the crock pot in the centre of a table, surrounded by a platter of dippers. You can also provide each guest with a small plate and a fork or skewer for spearing their chosen dipper.

Frequently asked questions