Popular in the 70s, the fondue pot has made a resurgence making a simple night in seem more like a major celebration. Whether it’s the main entree or a sweet dessert, it’s exciting for the whole family, young and old. That is, until it comes time to clean the pot. Suddenly, removing the remnants of the rich bubbly melted cheese or the ever-popular sweet drippy chocolate seems a daunting task. But, fear not! Cleaning up a fondue feast can be stress-free if you follow these few steps:
- Remove as much of the leftover contents from the fondue pot as possible with a spoon.
- Sprinkle powdered dishwasher detergent over the ooey gooey dried out cheese or icky sticky chocolate and cover with hot water.
- Let sit for 20 minutes.
- Rinse. Then use a microfibre cloth to wash away debris.
The secret is to use powdered dishwasher detergent rather than dish soap. Dishwasher detergent contains enzymes that start to breakdown food particles right away, helping to make light work of a sticky mess.
Pro Tip #1: Remember to allow the fondue pot and any leftover contents to cool completely before attempting to clean. This will eliminate any chance of getting burned from the hot pot or scalding sauce.
Pro Tip #2: Fondue newbies will often end up with very burnt messes to clean up. At all costs, avoid scraping the pot with sharp metal objects. Think plastic tools like plastic scrapers or plastic razor blades.
Photo by Angela Pham
