Instant Fondue: Making Melty Goodness In An Instant Pot

Making fondue in an instant pot is a fun and easy way to impress your guests. Whether you're a chocolate or cheese lover, there's an instant pot fondue recipe for you. The instant pot can be used as a portable double boiler to melt your chocolate or cheese, and keep it warm for as long as you need.

Characteristics	Values
Type of fondue	Chocolate or cheese
Ingredients	Chocolate, heavy whipping cream, vanilla, semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, wine, garlic, nutmeg, pepper, shredded Gruyère, shredded Fontina, shredded Raclette cheese, cornstarch, bread, broccoli, apples, oranges, strawberries, banana slices, graham crackers, Nilla wafers, marshmallows, brownies, cinnamon bears, pretzels, etc.
Instant Pot settings	Sauté, Keep Warm, Custom 300°F
Fondue pot options	Electric, ceramic, or cast iron

Using an Instant Pot as a double boiler

To use your Instant Pot as a double boiler, start by placing around 2 cups of water inside the Instant Pot liner. Then, set a stainless steel bowl, or a glass/Pyrex bowl, inside the pot. Make sure that the bowl doesn't go into the pot and that it hovers over the water. You can place a wooden spoon or another utensil between the pot and bowl to prevent them from sticking together.

Next, turn on your Instant Pot using the "Saute" function on "More" or "Normal" heat. Allow it to warm up, then add your chocolate or other meltable ingredients to the bowl. Stir occasionally until everything is melted.

If you're melting chocolate, you can add 1 tablespoon of ghee or coconut oil for every cup of chocolate to help it melt smoothly. You can also add a little cold water to the bowl if the chocolate starts to thicken.

Once your ingredients are melted, use hot pads to carefully remove the bowl from the Instant Pot. You can now use your melted chocolate or other ingredients in your favourite recipes!

Remember to always supervise your Instant Pot when using it as a double boiler and be mindful of the water temperature to prevent overboiling.

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The best cheeses for fondue

When it comes to making fondue, the cheese is the star of the show. The best cheeses for fondue are those that are creamy, buttery, and melt smoothly. Using good-quality cheese will make a huge difference to the final product, so it's worth investing in some decent cheese.

The best all-around cheeses for fondue are fontina, Gruyère, and gouda. If you're not sure what to pick, using equal amounts of these three is a great option. They create a lush and complex fondue.

For a more traditional Swiss fondue, a mix of traditional, firm mountain-style cheeses is best. Gruyère, Swiss cheese, and gouda are all perfect choices.

Other great options for fondue include Comté, Emmentaler, raclette, and vacherin. If you want to experiment with different flavours, you could try using Cheddar, Appenzeller, or even a combination of manchego and Monterey jack.

To ensure your fondue is smooth and lump-free, grate the cheese instead of chopping it. This will help it melt faster and more evenly. It's also important to toss the cheese with cornstarch to thicken the fondue and prevent clumping.

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How to prepare the cheese

The best cheeses for fondue are typically Swiss, Gruyère, and Gouda. However, other options include Fontina, Raclette, Comté, Emmentaler, Vacherin, Cheddar, and Appenzeller. It's important to use good-quality, creamy cheese that melts smoothly.

For quicker melting and a smooth fondue, grate the cheese instead of chopping it. Grated cheese melts faster and more evenly, resulting in a smoother fondue. You can use the grater blade of a food processor or the coarse side of a box grater or a coarse microplane grater.

Toss the grated cheese with cornstarch to thicken the fondue and prevent clumping. Cornstarch is generally preferred over flour as it leaves less of an aftertaste and makes the fondue gluten-free.

You can also add a splash of wine to your fondue. Classic cheese fondue calls for dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, or an unoaked Chardonnay. The acid in the wine helps keep the cheese mixture smooth and gives it an even texture. If you'd like to avoid alcohol, you can substitute it with unsalted chicken or vegetable stock.

When adding the cheese to your fondue, do so slowly and stir constantly. Add a small handful at a time, stirring well between each addition to ensure a smooth fondue. Don't dump all the cheese in at once, as this can result in a chunky, lumpy fondue.

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How to keep fondue warm for serving

To keep fondue warm for serving, you can use a fondue pot, which will keep the fondue at a constant temperature. If you don't have a fondue pot, you will likely have to keep returning a regular pot to the stove to rewarm it.

If you are using an Instant Pot, you can keep the fondue warm by pressing the "CANCEL" button and then the "KEEP WARM" button. This will keep the water warm enough to keep the fondue hot. You will want to occasionally stir the fondue to make sure it continues to be smooth.

If you are serving fondue to a group, it is recommended to use a designated fondue burner, as it will be the safest and most aesthetically pleasing. If you are serving more than four people, you will need a second stove and saucepan.

Another option is to suspend the fondue pot over a tealight candle. A single candle will be enough to keep the fondue warm, provided it has been preheated.