Q: Last holiday my mom got me a really awesome Rival 3-quart electric fondue pot and since then I've made several types of cheese fondues and some chocolate.
I was wondering if anyone has used it for more than fondue and dips? I'd love to get more versatility out of it. It seems to me I could use it almost as a crock-pot, electric skillet or at least some kind of warmer. Does anyone have experience with this or reasons why I should just ask for more appliances for this holiday?
Sent by Amber
Editor: Amber that's a great question. We've wondered if we could use a fondue pot for hot pot or steamboat.
Readers, any experience with this? Have you multi-purposed your fondue pot in any way?
Related: True Swiss Fondue: A Taste of Switzerland
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Spinach and Artichoke dip!
I also made this spiked orange cranberry fondue for my New Years party last year and it was a huge hit!
http://andreasrecipes.com/2008/12/30/spiked-orange-cranberry-fondue/
We have a couple of fondue pots and use them to keep hors d'oeuvres warm during parties...
I know this isn't an answer to the question, but I think looking for non-fondue alternatives is a bit premature. If all you've done is cheese and chocolate you're missing out on the best fondue.
Hot oil is a popular fondue but not my cup of tea. What we really like are cooking bits of raw meat and vegetables in various broths. The possibilities are endless here from chicken broth with wine and herbs to something Caribbean or even Asian. Also if your pot is shallow and wide enough you could try Shabu Sabu witch is a Japanese form of fondue.
You might spend V-Day at a Melting Pot to get some inspiration.
Whenever I make latkes, I use my fondue pot. The design minimizes splatter (compared to the stovetop, anyway) and it makes me feel like I use it!
Also, I use it if I ever make tempura, for the same reasons.
We use ours for hot-pot all the time. It's perfect! It keeps the broth at a simmer, is easy to control, and there's no need for external heat sources. It helps to have several sets of colored forks since it can get pretty confusing when everyone has several forks in there at the same time.
We also used it once for a make-your-own tempura appetizer. It worked ok as long as we didn't fill it too much, but it was a little small for that purpose.
I have yet to use ours for hot pot (though it's on the list), but I have done bagna cauda in it with excellent results! Our pot is enameled cast iron, so it doesn't hold any fishy smell.
You could use it for melted cheese if you have a warm cheese dip recipe. Or a dinner party where everyone does their own baked potato.
One friend told me to make a wine-butter sauce and poach skewered scallops and small chunks of fish in it.
I haven't tried this yet but I have considered using mine for shabu shabu.
2 words, my friend: Little Smokies.
In all seriousness, growing up and through my adult years, I can't imagine a party without a fondue pot of warm little smokies in bbq sauce on the table with assorted toothpicks in reach!
This is kind of the same thing as fondu, but a little different. I use mine to keep the chocolate warm when I dip cake balls/pops.
When we shovel snow, we pop some frozen homemade soup in ours, so when we come back inside, we have warm soup ready for us! It can take us a good hour or so to clear our driveway and sidewalks of snow when we get hit hard, so it's usually just enough time for two servings of soup to be ready.
A friend mentioned poaching eggs in hers once--she was having her inlaws in for brunch and thought it might be easier to poach eggs to order in her fondue pot than to try and maintain a simmer on her gas stove. I don't know how well it went over--she never said, and I didn't have the heart to ask in case it went badly.
Growing up, our electric fondue pot was used for only one thing: velveeta cheese dip for parties. Not the sexiest of party foods, but no one ever complained either.
Our fondue pot has an electric cord and you can adjust the temp up or down depending on what you are making. We use ours to make donuts (http://www.se7en.org.za/2009/06/10/donuts-and-koeksisters-in-se7en-steps) and other small quick deep fries. Come to think of it we have even used ours to deep fry calamari rings.
Thank you mkhobson13! I make hundreds of chocolate-dipped buckeyes at Christmas, and never thought about using my fondue pot.
I use mine for the japanese dish shabu-shabu. It's just as fun as a fondue party!
Fill the pot with a light broth and lots of hearty veggies. Slice your raw meat ultra thin and your guests can take turns swishing their meat in the pot to cook it with chopsticks and ladleing out veggies to much on. Be sure to include lots of sauces for dipping!
http://wiki.galbijim.com/Shabu_Shabu
YES! This fondue pot is amazingly versatile. I lived in a tiny studio without a kitchen for a while and it saved me from years of frozen dinners and eating out. I boiled spaghetti, fried eggs & ham, made shabu shabu, swiss cheese fondue, oil fondue... It's easy to clean (well, a bit harder in a bathroom sink) and definitely NOT a unitasker...a pot AND a hot plate, all in one!
Homemade yogurt on the lowest heat?
Ditto on the shabu-shabu. My parents bought a fondue pot specifically to use for the Chinese version (hot pot).
I've never heard of shabu-shabu but can't wait to try it now! Thanks for all the super tips!