Cheese fondue at home made easy: everything you need

Which cheese should you use for cheese fondue? How much cheese fondue do you need per person? What should you drink with it, and what can you dip? In this beginner's guide, we answer these and other practical questions about making cheese fondue at home. You'll also learn what you need, which fondue pot to choose and how to prevent your cheese fondue from becoming too thick, too thin or lumpy.

In short: what do you need?

For homemade cheese fondue, you'll need the following basics:

• A cheese that melts well
• Liquid, such as white wine or a non-alcoholic alternative
• Cornstarch to thicken the fondue
• A fondue pot with a suitable heat source
• Bread, vegetables or other fondue dippers
• Fondue forks

With these basics, you can already make a simple cheese fondue. In the rest of this article, we'll explain your options for each step and what beginners should keep in mind.

What is cheese fondue?

Cheese fondue is a traditional Swiss dish made with melted cheese that is kept warm in a fondue pot. You enjoy it by dipping bread, vegetables or other fondue dippers into the cheese. The classic version is usually made with cheese, white wine and cornstarch. The best wine for cheese fondue is generally a dry white wine with fresh acidity.

Which cheese is best for cheese fondue?

A classic Swiss cheese fondue is often made with a combination of Gruyère and Emmentaler. Prefer a milder flavor? Young or medium-aged Gouda also works well. These cheeses melt smoothly and create a creamy base for cheese fondue.

A combination often works best: choose a mild cheese that melts well as your base and add a stronger cheese for extra flavor if you like, such as Gruyère, Comté, Appenzeller or a small amount of blue cheese. Not sure which cheeses work well together? Ask your local cheesemonger for advice. They can help you choose cheeses that complement each other in both flavor and melting properties.

How much cheese fondue do you need per person?

If cheese fondue is the main course, calculate around 200 grams / 7.05 oz per average eater. For bigger appetites, around 250 grams / 8.82 oz per person is a good guideline. Serving plenty of bread, vegetables and other sides? You may need slightly less.

Serving cheese fondue as a snack or part of an appetizer spread? Calculate around 75 to 100 grams / 2.65 to 3.53 oz per person. When choosing a fondue set, also check the maximum amount of cheese fondue it can hold and the recommended number of people. You'll find this information in the specifications on the product page of every BOSKA fondue set.

What do you need for cheese fondue at home?

For cheese fondue, besides the ingredients, you mainly need a suitable fondue pot, a heat source and fondue forks. Make sure everything is ready before you start, so you can serve the fondue immediately after melting and keep it warm.

Fondue pot: Choose a pot that is suitable for cheese fondue and large enough for the number of people.
Heat source: Use the burner, tealights or electric heating element that comes with your fondue set.
Fondue forks: Make sure there are enough forks for everyone at the table.
Cheese grater: Preferably grate the cheese yourself just before making the fondue. Pre-grated cheese often contains anti-caking agents, such as starch or cellulose, which can affect the texture when melted. Freshly grated cheese is therefore a better choice for a smooth cheese fondue.
Wooden spoon or whisk: To gently stir the cheese into the liquid.
Bowls or serving boards: Use bowls or wooden boards to neatly serve bread, vegetables and other dippers at the table.
Prepared ingredients: Measure the ingredients in advance and wash, cut and cook the dippers where necessary.

Before use, always check how the fondue pot can be heated. Not every pot is suitable for the stove or microwave. Does your fondue set use a burner? Then also check that you have enough fuel and a lighter or matches. With an electric fondue set, you will need a power outlet nearby.

Which fondue pot do you need?

Choose a fondue pot that is suitable for cheese fondue, is large enough for the number of people and suits the way you want to heat it. Pay particular attention to the maximum amount of cheese fondue and check whether you prepare the fondue on the stove, in the microwave or directly in an electric set.

The material also plays a role. For example, a cast iron pot retains heat for a long time. Suitable heat sources and cleaning methods vary by model, so always check the product specifications of the fondue set.

Easy cheese fondue

The base of cheese fondue consists of grated cheese, liquid and a thickening agent such as cornstarch. Heat the liquid gently and add the cheese in small batches. Keep stirring until the cheese has completely melted. Then keep the fondue warm, but do not let it boil.

Which wine do you use for cheese fondue?
For cheese fondue, preferably choose a dry white wine with fresh acidity. The acidity helps the cheese and wine combine smoothly and balances the rich flavor of the cheese. It is therefore best to avoid sweet white wines and very heavy, oak-aged wines. Good choices include Chasselas (Fendant), Pinot Blanc or a dry Riesling.

Traditional Swiss cheese fondue
A classic Swiss cheese fondue is made with Swiss cheeses such as Gruyère, Emmental and Mont-d'Or, combined with dry white wine. Want to make it yourself? View the full recipe with all ingredients, preparation steps and quantities for traditional Swiss cheese fondue for 2, 4 and 8 people.

View the Swiss cheese fondue recipe

Cheese fondue without alcohol
Want to make cheese fondue without wine, for example for children or during pregnancy? Choose a completely alcohol-free version. Alcohol does not evaporate completely during cooking. In our alcohol-free recipe, we use grape juice as a substitute for wine. View the full recipe for the ingredients, preparation method and quantities for alcohol-free cheese fondue for 2, 4 and 8 people.

View the alcohol-free cheese fondue recipe

Prefer to try a different flavor? View all BOSKA fondue recipes.

View all fondue recipes

What can you dip in cheese fondue?

Bread is the classic cheese fondue dipper, but there are plenty of other options. Choose ingredients that are firm enough to stay on a fondue fork and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Here are a few ideas:

• Baguette, sourdough bread or garlic bread
• Boiled baby potatoes
• Broccoli, cauliflower or carrots
• Bell pepper, mushrooms or zucchini
• Apple, pear or grapes
• Meatballs or pieces of chicken, fully cooked in advance

A mix of bread, vegetables and something fresh adds plenty of variety to the table. You can briefly pre-cook firmer vegetables so they're tender but still have some bite. Discover our fondue dipper recipes for even more inspiration, including mini garlic rolls, grilled vegetable skewers and crispy puff pastry sticks.

View all fondue dipper recipes

What do you drink with cheese fondue?

A fresh, dry drink that is not too heavy pairs well with cheese fondue. Drinking wine? You can simply serve the same dry white wine you used in the fondue. If you used Chasselas, Pinot Blanc or a dry Riesling, for example, these also pair well at the table. Prefer red wine? Choose a light, fruity variety, such as Pinot Noir. A dry sparkling wine can also pair well with cheese fondue.

Not drinking alcohol? Good options include water, chilled apple juice or, as is traditional in Switzerland, black tea.

Which drinks pair less well with cheese fondue? Very sweet wines and heavy, strongly flavored wines can overpower the taste of the cheese. For red wine, it is therefore better to avoid heavy, tannic varieties, and for white wine, strongly oak-aged wines are best avoided.

How do you keep cheese fondue warm and smooth?

Keep cheese fondue warm at the table over low, even heat. Use the heating element, burner or tealights supplied with your fondue set. The fondue should stay warm, but it should not boil. Too much heat can make cheese fondue thick or grainy and can cause it to burn on the bottom of the pot.

Gently stir the cheese fondue from time to time. Does it become too thick while you're eating? Add a small amount of warm white wine or a non-alcoholic alternative and stir until you reach the desired consistency. Don't add too much at once, as this can make the fondue too thin.

The BOSKA electric fondue set has a dedicated setting for cheese fondue. It regulates and maintains a suitable temperature, so you don't have to keep adjusting the heat while enjoying your fondue.

Common cheese fondue mistakes

Cheese fondue works best when you heat the cheese gently and add it gradually. Something still going wrong? These are some of the most common cheese fondue problems:

• The fondue is too thick: Add a small splash of warm white wine or a non-alcoholic alternative and stir gently.

• The fondue is too thin: Mix a little cornstarch with cold liquid and add the mixture in small amounts.

• The fondue is lumpy or has separated: Reduce the heat. Mix a small amount of cornstarch with cold water or wine and gradually stir it into the fondue. A small splash of lemon juice can also help. If the cheese has turned into one solid lump because the heat was far too high, the fondue may no longer be salvageable.

• The fondue is burning: Lower the temperature and stir regularly across the bottom of the pot. A fondue pot with a thick base helps distribute heat more evenly.

• The dippers keep falling off the fork: Don't cut them too small and choose firm ingredients. Slightly dried-out bread often stays on the fork better than very soft, fresh bread. BOSKA fondue forks have three prongs for extra grip on your fondue dippers.

Always add extra liquid, lemon juice or cornstarch little by little. This prevents the fondue from becoming too thin, too acidic or too thick after you've tried to fix it. Discover more solutions to common fondue mistakes.

Frequently asked questions about cheese fondue

Yes, you can prepare cheese fondue in advance, but freshly made fondue usually gives the best result. Want to save time? Grate the cheese, measure the ingredients and prepare the dippers beforehand. If you do make the fondue earlier, cool it quickly and store it covered in the refrigerator.

Yes. Slowly reheat only the amount you plan to eat while stirring regularly. If the cheese fondue has become too thick, add a small splash of wine or a non-alcoholic alternative. Make sure the fondue is heated all the way through and preferably only reheat it once.

Yes. Let leftover cheese fondue cool quickly and place it in the refrigerator or freezer in a sealed container within two hours. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for no more than two days. Cheese fondue can be kept in the freezer for around 2 to 4 months, although the quality may gradually decrease.

Defrost frozen cheese fondue in the refrigerator whenever possible. Do not refreeze leftovers that have already been thawed and reheated.

First, let the fondue pot cool down and remove as much leftover cheese as possible. Soak stubborn residue in warm water with dish soap, then clean the pot with a soft sponge or dish brush. Avoid sharp objects or abrasive cleaning products, as these may damage the inside of the pot.

Always check the product specifications or instructions for use. Some BOSKA ceramic fondue pots are dishwasher safe, while the electric fondue pot and various cast iron models should be washed by hand. Never immerse electrical components in water.