We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why trust us?

Ceramic and electric picks for chocolate, cheese and beyond.

Fondue has been around for a long time, and we understand why. It’s hard to go wrong with melted cheese or chocolate, especially when entertaining guests or kids. In its simplest form, a fondue pot is a vessel that sits atop a direct heat source — either a heating element or an open flame. It’s designed to stay warm on its own so it can be used on a tabletop or buffet.

The most common way to use a fondue pot is for melting cheese or chocolate for dipping, but it's also used for heating broth or oil for cooking meat. While you can certainly make fondue without a fondue maker, these warmers take away the fuss of making sure you're heating your food to the right temp without burning, and maintaining the perfect level of melty-ness.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts test thousands of products each year from the best knives to the coolest kitchen gadgets. Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou says the key factors to consider when shopping for a fondue pot are heating style (electric vs. manual), material (stainless steel, ceramic or enameled cast iron) and size (individual or up to three quarts). Read on for more information about our top picks for the best fondue pots you can buy.

This gorgeous enamel cast iron pot comes with a party-worthy wrought iron stand and burner. While we have not yet tested in our Labs, it caught our experts' eyes because it can be used on any heat source. That means you can easily switch to an electric burner or even your stovetop if you choose. Plus, the two-quart capacity and six forks give you some flex on your crowd size.

The big selling point of this electric fondue pot is the PFOC-free DuraCeramic non-stick coating, which makes it easy to clean. The three-quart set also heats quickly and works for oil, cheese and chocolate. It comes with eight color-coded forks, which helps when feeding a larger group, and an adjustable temperature control with a break-away magnetic connection for added safety and compact storage.

This pick is minimalist and romantic — and budget friendly! It comes with two bamboo forks, and the 24-ounce bowl is the perfect serving for a duo. The tea light adds to the ambiance, but the bowl is actually microwave safe to keep things simple and speedy. It's also top-rack dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a cinch.

The affordable price is undoubtedly a reason this is the best-selling fondue pot on Amazon. But the deep, six-cup stainless steel pot and color-coded forks make this a comfortable choice for gatherings of up to six people. Some reviewers on Amazon say the temperature control is fussy, but many users like the nuanced electric control that lets you make large and small adjustments to keep the fondue melted just right.

This electric fondue pot holds up to three quarts and includes color-coded forks for up to eight guests. The bowl has a wide enough opening to let everyone dip without fighting, and it comes with a fork rack that is notched to keep forks upright and separated. It also functions via a temperature probe that lets you choose from eight settings, meaning you can set it to high to start cooking meat, or to low as you wind down the evening on chocolate.

This adorable earthenware fondue pot is microwave-safe. Spend your time choosing the wine or music because you can just melt your cheese or chocolate in the microwave and then keep it warm over a tealight. You’ll also keep date night moving along by skipping the hand washing: This pot is dishwasher safe.

This baby screams party: It holds a whopping four pounds of chocolate and keeps it flowing over three tiers that ensure plenty of entry points for dipping. It also disassembles for easy cleaning. Sure, Wilton makes a mini version that holds one pound of chocolate. But ask yourself: Did you set up a chocolate fountain for practical reasons or to impress everyone you know?

This stunner has both a stainless steel pot, which lets you reach high temps for cooking meat in oil or broth, and a cast-aluminum insert that’s designed for use on your cooktop — and is oven safe — so you can melt cheese or chocolate with control. You certainly get function for your money, but you’re also buying this fondue set for style: The gleaming exterior looks like a classy chafing dish, making it right at home with serveware at catered parties or just an elegant cocktail hour. It comes with forks for eight guests as well as a fork-rack lid, but you’ll have to purchase fuel separately.

✔️ Electric fondue pots either have a heating element built into the base or are designed to sit on an electric burner. The advantage of an electric model is that it’s easy to adjust the heat. They’re better for cooking with oil or broth because they allow you to reach a high enough temperature. They also allow you to dial down the heat as the volume in the pot decreases so you avoid scorching the pot.

✔️ Manual fondue pots are set over an open flame. Some models require only a candle. These can be successful for individual pots, but they provide slow and uneven heat for larger vessels. Newer versions include a fuel source for the burner and allow you to adjust the flame. The advantage of manual sets is that they work anywhere — no need for an outlet.

✔️ Stainless steel fondue pots heat up quickly and are durable, so you’ll get years of use out of them. But some are thin and can burn your cheese or chocolate as you dip.

✔️ Ceramic is a classic material for fondue pots because although it heats slowly, it holds heat well. They’re also generally easy to clean.

✔️ Enamel cast iron can heat faster than ceramic and also hold heat well. They also often come in appealing colors.

Once you know what style you want, there are a few more features to consider when shopping:

✔️ Temperature control: Most modern electric fondue sets come with an adjustable temperature control. You want to be able to dial up to high heat for melting food or cooking with oil as well as to dial down so that you don’t burn your chocolate or cheese (especially as the night rolls on and the volume in the pot decreases). Check for an adjustable burner on manual fondue sets as well. Many let you open and close the fuel holder so you can control the heat under the pot.

✔️ Safety measures: Does the pot include a handle or handles? Does an electric model include a breakaway cord, so that the hot fondue won’t burn you or guests if someone snags the cord? Does a manual set include a snuffer so you can extinguish the fuel safely?

✔️ Forks: How many forks come with the set? Are they color-coded (which is helpful for keeping things sorted at a party)? Is there a fork ring for the pot, so forks don’t slip into the fondue?

✔️Size: A small fondue pot might hold only 12 ounces, which will work for you and your fondue-worthy friend. For a crowd, you’ll want a fondue set that holds at least 2.5 to 3 quarts.