Knowing the best oil for fondue plays an essential role in the flavor of your fondue. Though this dish is simple, choosing the wrong oil will make your dish a disaster. Since you cannot use any random oils to make tasty fondue, you have to consider carefully before proceeding.
Don’t worry. This article will give valuable information for selecting suitable oil and some helpful tips. Stick around, and I will take you to the oil world to pick your own appropriate oil.
Common Knowledge About Oil Fondue
Though oil fondue has appeared in people’s meals for ages, not all people truly know about this fancy dish, where it comes from, or what food they can serve. Stay tuned and keep scrolling; I will provide helpful knowledge in this article.
Definition
Before discovering the best oils for fondue, you need to distinguish what oil fondue is and how it differs from fondue for cheese or chocolate. When people hear the word “fondue,” they immediately think of something delicious, including dipping food in chocolate or cheese.
However, fondue can be used for various creations, and oil fondue is one of the most popular and yummy.
Specifically, oil fondue (or fondue Bourguinonne) consists of a fondue pot filled with hot oil. Typically, people place the oil fondue pot over a flame at the table. People usually pair different dipping sauces to eat with this delicious fondue.
Oil fondue is easy to make with a few simple steps and easy-to-find ingredients.
Origin
Fondue’s origin started in Switzerland during the 18th century. At first, this method is to age pieces of bread and cheese to those unable to access fresh food in the winter.
This fantastic dish has become a Swiss tradition so far. Later on, many people modify it in many different ways, and oil fondue is one of those incredible inventions.(1)
At first, oil fondue refers to groups of vineyard workers in Burgundy who invented a method of cooking meat pieces in a pot of hot oil when they had a break. In 1956, Swiss restaurateur Konrad Egli launched fondue bourguignonne at his Chalet Suisse restaurant.
Best Types Of Meat And Vegetables For Fondue
Choosing the best types of foods for fondue depends on your preference and individual needs. Here are some recommendations for you to opt for:
Meat
Regarding meat for oil fondue, you can typically use pork, beef, chicken, and seafood, but you may use all types of boneless meat holding their shapes in hot oil.
NOTE: Remember to get rid of the fat and cut your meat into bite-sized cubes. If you choose beef, you can select a tender cut like filet mignon and tenderloin.
Uncover the proper way to cut meat for fondue.
Vegetables
You can use various vegetables for this dish, so choose the suitable ones depending on your preferences. In addition, you don’t need to steam or boil vegetables like eggplant, mushrooms, and zucchini before cooking.
However, you can precook dense vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, etc., until you feel they are tender enough or roast them for added taste.
NOTE: If you want to avoid the oil from boiling over, it is noteworthy that you shouldn’t use frozen vegetables for fondue.
Choose The Best Oil For Fondue
Many people think choosing a suitable oil is not essential since they believe all types of oil are identical. However, a few oils have enough characteristics that suit oil fondue.
To make it easier to select the best ones, I will supply some helpful knowledge about the main features of good oil for fondue.
Flavor
One of the most striking features you should consider when buying oils is their taste. However, this factor mostly depends on personal needs and preferences.
In fact, most oils are primarily flavorless, like Canola oil, while some provide a rich nutty taste, like olive oil, to your food. Generally, many prefer oils that have a neutral flavor for fondue.
Smoke Point
Knowing the oil’s smoke point is the most important thing affecting whether you cook your fondue evenly or not. It is noticeable that the smoking point is when oil starts to smoke.
In particular, fondue requires you to heat the oil relatively high, so you can choose the one having a high smoking point. If you choose a high or mild smoke point oil, your resulting fondue will still be fine, but it will lack a smoky flavor.
Price
Nowadays, you can find it easy to look for oils everywhere with various price ranges, and you can choose whatever type of oil suits your pocket to make delicious fondue by yourself at home.
Because you will need lots of oil for fondue, if you don’t want this fantastic fondue to cost you an arm and a leg, you ought to choose cheap oil.
Best Oil Brands To Choose From
I will recommend to you some famous oil brands in the USA market. They all possess various kinds of oils with distinctive features. Therefore, you should depend on your needs to pick the right one.
Spectrum Naturals
When it comes to peanut oil, Spectrum Naturals is one of the most popular oil brands. This company was established in 1986 in Petaluma. This brand has a wide range of non-GMO and organic ingredients, so their products are proud to provide you with a healthy meal.
Healthy Harvest
Healthy Harvest can be the first reliable option for your purchase. It is a famous American brand that was founded in the 1990s to offer high-quality oils in the market.
This brand stands out among other brands in the market because they tend to use organic methods to produce its products. Moreover, its olive oil has excellent quality, aroma, and flavor thanks to being manufactured by hand.
Iberia Foods
Iberia Foods can be your top priority for sunflower oil. This brand was established in 1930 and has quickly become the most prominent Hispanic and Caribbean food distributor in the United States.
Its sunflower oil is well-known for its high smoke point with rich texture, making it perfect for all your cooking needs, especially for fondue.
Crisco
Criso can be one of the best options for you to choose from. Since Procter and Gamble founded this brand in June 1911, it has introduced a variety of healthy and delicious products serving various cooking purposes.
The vegetable oil of this brand is famous for its high smoking temperature for cooking and neutral taste, making it more enjoyable for consumers’ meals.
The Outstanding Oils For Fondue
To help you have better shopping choices, this part will provide the characteristics of fabulous oils that you should consider for fondue. Based on the information in the table below, you can opt for which oil is your go-to option.(2)
1. Peanut Oil
When it comes to fondue oils, peanut oil is one of the best options. It stands out among all oils due to its high smoke point and slightly nutty flavor.
Additionally, many brands sell pure peanut oil nowadays, eliminating harmful additives from consumers’ diets. With a high smoking point of 450 ℉/ 232 ℃, peanut oil becomes one of the highest smoke point oils available.
This means it is less likely to deteriorate and will not interfere with the flavor of your food. Moreover, it has a mild taste that will not overwhelm your dishes.
Peanut oil is also a good option for fondue since it is economical; you can buy it from any grocery store, market, or supermarket in your country.
Among numerous peanut oil brands globally, Happy Belly Peanut is worth considering, and you should try this once due to its tremendous benefits.
2. Olive Oil
Many people have olive oil at home, which is one of the most widely available fondue oils. It has appeared everywhere, making it easy for people to lay their hands on it. Moreover, olive oil has a rich flavor that the other ingredients will not overwhelm the pot.
Even though olive oil does not have a high smoking point at 390-470℉/ 199-243℃, people can use it to make an excellent fondue. Additionally, you should remember to keep an eye on your fondue pot’s temperature.
A low smoking point does not necessarily imply that your fondue will taste bad, but you need to take precautions when heating the oil.
You can try using Pompeian Light Taste Olive Oil for its rich flavor, no additives or GMOs with a high smoke point of 440-470 ℉/ 226,7-243,3 ℃.
3. Canola Oil
Canola oil is the most favored and least costly oil for fondue. With a high smoke point of 375-450 ℉/ 190-232 ℃, it’s ideal for fondue and won’t ruin the flavor of your food.
Furthermore, canola possesses a neutral profile, so if you desire the authentic taste of the flesh or vegetables, you can use it for fondue. In addition, since canola oil is relatively low in saturated fats, it is a healthy and nutritious cooking oil.
Canola oil is always available globally; choosing the suitable variety for your budget and need won’t take long. For a good choice among various canola oils, Happy Belly Canola Oil is an affordable and healthy option with its free cholesterols.
4. Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil can be the go-to option for those pursuing a healthy lifestyle. It’s essentially made from grape seeds. Moreover, it is also high in polyunsaturated fats, making it a healthy option for cooking.
Additionally, it contains no trans fat and low saturated fat content. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want a healthy diet. Note that grapeseed oil has a mildly fruity flavor.
This is perfect if you like your fondue to possess a slightly distinct taste. Moreover, with a high smoke point of 421 ℉/ 216 ℃, it can be an excellent choice for cooking, particularly fondue.
Among several grapeseed oils in the market, La Tourangelle, Expeller-Pressed Grapeseed Oil, is the most popular oil for fondue that you should try. In addition, its high smoke point of 450℉/ 232 ℃ and its light flavor will suit your tasty fondue.
5. Sunflower Oil
If you want to save your budget, consider using sunflower oil for fondue since it is widely available and highly affordable.
Moreover, it offers a brilliant high smoke point of 486-489℉/ 252-254℃ though it has a relatively lower price than other oils. Furthermore, it has a mildly nutty taste, which can enhance your food on a higher level.
I highly recommend Iberia Premium Blend Sunflower Oil due to its economical price and various benefits. Additionally, it possesses a higher smoke point with a richer texture and is cholesterol free, making it wonderful for your food, especially fondue.
6. Vegetable Oil
You should consider vegetable oil as one of the most suitable oils for fondue. Specifically, it has many reasonable qualities you are looking for in your tasty fondue.
Additionally, it has an ideal smoke point of 428℉/ 220 ℃, making your dish a wonderful texture and neutral with no nutty or distinctive taste. Therefore, using it for your fondue can help maintain the meat’s authentic flavor.
More importantly, it can be a healthy option due to its nourishing source of fat. Starting your fondue with Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil will be a superior choice. Because it is a cholesterol-free oil with a lower price than any other oil, you should think of it when preparing fondue.
7. Avocado Oil
I consider avocado oil one of fondue’s most suitable and healthiest oils. People usually extract it from avocado, which is rich in Vitamin E, a great source for your skin.
More importantly, its high smoking point of 520 ℉/ 271 ℃ can be a perfect choice for fondue. Among a variety of avocado oils, you should try Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil for your fondue.
This outstanding product offers a neutral flavor and contains antioxidants from vitamin E, which will be the best option for your healthy meal. Additionally, the oil’s high smoke point of 500℉/ 260℃ makes it suitable for your fondue.
8. Rice Bran Oil
Rice bran oil is another suitable option for making fondue. It has a mild, nutty, and earthy flavor similar to peanut oil. Moreover, it brings tremendous benefits to human health, such as improved heart health and blood sugar control.
More importantly, it can provide anticancer and anti-inflammatory as well. In addition, its smoking point of 450℉/ 232℃means that it’s reasonable for high-temperature cooking like fondue.
If you want to find tasty and healthy rice bran oil, Rice Bran Oil-100% GMO Free Rice should be your go-to choice. It has a naturally high smoke point of 490℉/ 254℃ and a light neutral scent, making it perfect for fondue.
Should I Use Broth Or Oil For My Fondue?
Broth and oil all have excellent qualities that offer themselves well to fondue. Oil is the go-to item if you want to make fondue the traditional way. However, broth is a brilliant choice if you want to add extra taste.
Moreover, you may heat oil fondues to 375℉/ 190.5℉ and cook food rapidly. Additionally, it takes longer to cook food because you can only heat broth-based meat fondue to medium heat of 195-200℉/ 90.5-93.3℃.
You can introduce herbs, spices, and wine to the broth to enhance the fondue flavor. Oil-based meat fondues mostly deep-fry the food and can speedily cook various types of meat and vegetables, making oil-based fondue ideal for large groups.
Mistakes To Avoid When Disposing Of Used Fondue Oil
Although disposing of used oil seems straightforward, there are some mistakes you should avoid to save your money for the sake of your house.
1. Pouring Oil Down The Drain Or Toilet.
Pouring the used oil into any pipes would be a ridiculous idea. Not only does it cost you a fortune to repair the pipe system, but it also promotes gunk in your pipeline, interfering with the water flow.
Hot oil may remain in a liquid state, but the cool-running water will solidify the oil remaining in your pipe. As a result, clogs will appear to stick to the inside of the pipe blocking the water flow.(3)
2. Pouring Oil Into A Garbage Can.
If you intend to pour hot oil into the garbage can, you must immediately let go of this idea. The garbage can is where you leave most of your trash and leftover food. Pouring hot oil into it may attract rodents like mice or rats.
Plus, the heat from used oil can create toxic chemicals by interacting with other materials, leading to some health problems. Moreover, hot oil may increase moisture, which leads to rancid odors.
3. Pouring Hot Oil On The Ground.
Regarding the disposal of used oil, many people may have poured it on the ground without knowing that only a drop of cooking oil into the ground may cause many problems, such as unwanted accidents due to falling on a slippery floor.
Oil can create clogs that can pollute the soil if you put them outside. These clogs will block the water flow and easily catch fire if they remain outside the environment. Moreover, used oil can negatively affect the animals and cause devastating physical effects.
Other Marvelous Fondue Recipes
There are many fabulous recipes you can choose to make your fondue. Here are some of the most delicious recipes you should try.
German Meat Fondue (Fleischfondue)
Once you get together with your friends and family, making German meat fondue (Fleischfondue) is the best appropriate choice. With this flavorful and delicious dish, you can conquer the hearts of your beloved ones and create a cozy meal with them.
Hot Oil Fondue
Hot oil fondue is also a great treat for your loved ones. Dipping your favorite meat and vegetables in boiling oil gives you a sense of enjoyment and helps you enjoy the food more deliciously.
On a nice day, if you desire to show off your cooking skills, then remember this dish. You can make this tasty and nutritious dish for your family and friends with some simple ingredients and steps.
Fondue Bourguignonne
If you are a lover of beef’s sweet, fresh, and tender taste, this dish is the ideal option. The wonderful combination of sour cream mustard dipping sauce and the sweet and smooth flavor of the beef will certainly not disappoint you.
With a few simple and easy steps, you can easily cook this fantastic dish.
FAQs
I will provide a few frequently asked questions to ensure this post equips you with complete knowledge about the fantastic oil fondue method. Keep scrolling to learn more about this excellent method.
Choose The Best Oil And Start Your Fantastic Fondue
Oil fondue can become the go-to dish for most people globally. To make this dish successfully, the most important thing you should remember is to choose the correct oil. The suitable oil helps you cook fabulous fondue and keeps your health from adverse health problems.
Therefore, why don’t you like, leave your valuable comment, and share this article so that everyone can gain such helpful knowledge? I claim that your friends will thank you a bunch for doing this.
References
- Fondue (2022) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
- Steed, M. (2017) Safely dispose of fats, oils, and grease, AnswerLine.
