Fondue Fuel: Choosing The Right Burner Fuel For Your Fondue

Fondue fuel is an important consideration when preparing a fondue. The type of fuel you use depends on the type of fondue you're making. For chocolate fondue, as well as butterscotch and coffee dessert fondues, an unscented tealight candle is best to keep the liquid warm without overheating it. Meat, seafood, and vegetarian fondues require higher temperatures, so you'll need a different type of fondue burner and fuel. Options include liquid alcohol fuel or gel fuel, which can be purchased in cartridges or as pourable gel. It's important to follow safety precautions when using fondue fuel, especially with liquid alcohol fuel, as it is highly flammable and can easily spill.

Fondue fuel types: gel, liquid alcohol, or tea lights

Fondue burners use different types of fuel depending on the type of fondue being cooked. For example, a chocolate fondue requires a lower temperature than a meat fondue.

Tea lights

Tea lights are best for chocolate, butterscotch, coffee, and other dessert fondues. They are simple, unscented tea light candles that are burned about two to three inches from the bottom of the pan or melting dish to keep the temperature at the optimum level. They will keep burning for 4 to 5 hours and present none of the dangers associated with liquid fuels.

Liquid alcohol

Liquid alcohol is a good fuel for cheese, meat, or seafood fondues as it burns to a higher temperature than tea lights and does so without odour. It is available from most groceries and drug stores and can be used for lamps and cleaning purposes as well as for fondue fuel. You will need a special fondue burner to use alcohol fuel.

Gel

Gel fuel is essentially a jelly-like form of alcohol. Gram for gram, it burns at a slightly lower temperature than liquid alcohol, though it will burn for longer. It can be poured into a normal fondue burner and used in the same way as liquid fuel. The main advantage of gel fuel over liquid fuels is increased safety. The higher viscosity means that the gel is less likely to spill from the bottle or burner, and will not run if it is spilt. This means there is less danger of fire and if a fire is caused it will be less dangerous than the kind associated with liquid fuel.

Using liquid alcohol fuel

• Fill the burner base: Pour about 2 to 3 ounces of liquid alcohol fuel into the burner base. The amount of fuel depends on the desired burning time. Use 2 ounces for 1 hour of burning time and up to 3 ounces for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Place the burner: Put the burner cover on top of the base and set the burner firmly on the fondue stand. Once it's stable, remove the burner cover.
• Ignite the fuel: Use a lighted match to ignite the fuel. Bring the match towards the hole in the centre of the burner until the fuel catches the flame.
• Adjust the flame: You can adjust the flame by exposing or covering the holes in the top of the burner. Moving the handle on the base of the burner will raise or lower the flame.
• Extinguish the flame: To put out the flames, simply set the burner cover back on top of the burner base. This will smother the fire.
• Refilling the burner: Always wait for the burner to cool down to room temperature before refilling it with more fuel. Do not refill the burner while it is still hot.

It is important to note that liquid alcohol fuel creates higher temperatures than gel fuel. Therefore, liquid alcohol fuel is ideal for hot oil and hot broth fondues. Additionally, make sure to use the type of fondue fuel indicated by the manufacturer of your fondue burner. You can usually find liquid alcohol fuel in your local grocery store, near the BBQ supplies. Always be cautious when handling liquid fuel, and avoid spilling it, especially near open flames.

Using gel fuel

Gel fuel is a jelly-like form of alcohol. It can be used in a normal fondue burner, and is poured in and used in the same way as liquid fuel. Gram for gram, gel fuel burns at a slightly lower temperature than liquid alcohol, but it will burn for longer.

Advantages of Gel Fuel

The main advantage of gel fuel is safety. The higher viscosity of gel fuel means that it is less likely to spill from the bottle or burner, and will not run if it is spilt. This means there is less danger of fire, and if a fire is caused, it will be less dangerous than with liquid fuel.

Chafing Fuels

Chafing fuels are also gel fuels, but they are packaged in screw-top tins which also constitute the burning device. The advantage of this is that the fuel and container are designed to be burned, extinguished, and then burned again. However, the disadvantage is that it is less aesthetically pleasing to use than a proper fondue set, and temperature control is not as precise.

Refills

Gel fuel refills are available in various sizes, from 3-ounce cans to 16-ounce refill bottles.

Using tea lights

Tea lights are easy to use and require little preparation. Simply light the tea light with a match or lighter and place it beneath the fondue pot. Tea lights will burn for 4-5 hours, so you won't need to worry about replacing them mid-fondue.

For best results, prepare your chocolate or dessert fondue on the stove in a pot or double boiler before transferring it to your fondue dish. This will ensure your fondue is melted and ready to serve when you light the tea light. Remember to stir frequently to prevent your fondue from burning or forming a skin.

While tea lights are a great option for dessert fondues, they are not suitable for cheese, meat, or seafood fondues, as these require a higher temperature to stay warm and cook effectively.

Where to buy fondue fuel

When purchasing fondue fuel, it's important to consider the type of fondue you will be making, as different fondues require different fuel types and burners. Chocolate, butterscotch, coffee, and other dessert fondues only require low heat to keep the liquid warm, so simple, unscented tealight candles are the best option. These can be easily found at local stores or online.

For cheese, meat, or seafood fondues, a higher temperature is needed, and you have a few fuel options. Liquid alcohol fuel burns without odour and won't leave soot stains. It is available at most grocery and drug stores. You will need a special fondue burner for this type of fuel. Take extra care not to spill liquid fuel.

Gel fuel is another option for cheese, meat, or seafood fondues. It is essentially jelly-like alcohol and can be poured into a normal fondue burner. Gram for gram, it burns at a slightly lower temperature than liquid alcohol but will burn for longer. Gel fuel is also safer, as it is less likely to spill and won't run if it does. Swissmar Swiss Fire Gel 3-Ounce Fondue Fuel Tin, found at Walmart, is an example of gel fuel.

Newer fondue sets may use pressurised butane gas, which offers excellent temperature control and is easy to reuse. This option is slightly more expensive but is a safe choice as long as the canister is handled with care.

When purchasing fondue fuel, you can find a variety of options at your local grocery or drug store, as well as homeware stores like Walmart. Amazon also offers a wide range of fondue fuels, including gel fuel options such as the Swissmar F65300 Fire Gel Refill, 16-Ounce, and liquid fuel options like the Gas One 6 Hour Chafing Fuel.

Frequently asked questions