SaurabhFondue is usually considered for cheese or chocolate-covered treats. It’s not just that but also offers a very popular creation which is meat fondue!
Meat fondue is the same concept, just a bit different as it is rustled up in a pot. On occasions when cooking fondue with oil, you should take care of the type of oil you’re using. It is because the type of oil you use has a major effect on your overall meat fondue.
In this guide, I will talk more about the 7 best oils for preparing fondue. So, read on!
How to Find the Best Oil for Preparing Fondue?
Finding the right oil for fondue is crucial for the overall taste and texture of the food items you use inside. Hence, there are certain requirements such as the following.
High smoking point
Fondue oil needs to have a high smoking point, such as peanut oil or sunflower oil.
This can help in preparing and cooking the fondue contents properly, such as meat, beef, or seafood too. However, a mild smoking point may work out too, in the case of olive oil.
Neutral taste
This mostly depends on the consumer but most people prefer neutral-tasting oils for fondue.
Moreover, some oils have no taste and some provide a distinctive taste to your whole dish once added. If you prefer the latter, you can opt for oils like olive oil or grapeseed oil.
However, in the case of such oils, don’t forget to check for a nut or similar allergies.
Health factor
Lastly, if you love to indulge yourself in oil fondue, you may want to consider the health factor. Oils that are high in saturated fats are slightly unhealthier than the ones with unsaturated fats.
Best Oils for Preparing Fondue
Many properties are essential for qualifying as the best oil for fondue. As stated earlier, you should go for oils with a high smoking point and typically, a neutral flavor.
Hence, such oils should complement the ingredients of your fondue. Some of the best ones include:
1. Peanut oil
Peanut oil is the best of all as it has the highest smoke point of all oils and makes a great choice for fondue.
The market has many brands that sell 100% pure peanut oil, so you shouldn’t worry about any additives. Moreover, many people use peanut oil for preparing meat fondue and hot oil fondue.
Another noteworthy point of peanut oil is that it doesn’t have an overpowering taste. The taste is slightly nutty and goes extremely well with fondue.
However, it is preferable to blend peanut oil with similar tasting ones if you want a subtle nutty flavor. If you have nut allergies, it’s better to go for other options.
2. Olive oil
Most of us have olive oil at home. So, it is one of the most commonly available oils for fondue.
Even though olive oil doesn’t have a high smoking point, it is still suitable for preparing fondue. Another great thing about olive oil is its rich flavor. So, whenever you prepare fondue with olive oil, you can expect a flavorful taste.
Also, did you know that olive oil is monounsaturated oil? This means that the fat in olive oil not just enhances your meat’s flavor but also enriches it healthily!
We recommend going for specifically extra virgin olive oil as it has a suitable smoking point for fondue. It’s also good enough for light fondue dishes requiring a savory flavor.
3. Canola oil
Canola oil is the most preferred and also affordable oil for fondue. Let’s understand why.
First of all, canola oil has a very high smoking point. So, it doesn’t disrupt the texture of your meat and thus, gives a delicious fondue!
Another thing to note is that canola oil has very little flavor of its own. Therefore, you can use it with meat fondue if you want the authentic flavor of just the meat.
Lastly, from a health point of view, this oil is healthy as it doesn’t have a lot of saturated fats.
4. Grapeseed oil
Grapeseed oil is another best oil for fondue due to its high smoking point. Additionally, it is also a healthy option as it is a highly polyunsaturated oil.
Keep in mind that the grapeseed oil has a slightly fruity taste. This works excellently if you prefer your fondue to have a slightly distinctive flavor.
So, we highly recommend grapeseed oil for a scrumptious and unique fondue.
On the other hand, if you prefer your fondue to have a neutral taste, go for other oils like canola oil. Additionally, when you’re making fondue with this oil, keep in mind that it is not good for high heat. However, it’s excellent for low to medium heat.
5. Sunflower oil
If you’re looking for a widely available and cheap oil for fondue, then sunflower oil should definitely be your go-to option.
Firstly, sunflower oil offers an excellent high smoking point. This works well for meat fondue as sunflower oil provides just the perfect texture to the meat. When it comes to the flavor, it has a slightly nutty flavor that can enhance your meat’s dishes at times!
However, sometimes, the flavor is barely noticeable. So, we highly recommend opting for sunflower oil for meat fondues.
6. Vegetable oil
When preparing meat fondue, vegetable oil is also a good option! It has most of the qualities you’d look for in a fondue oil.
Vegetable oil has a high smoking point which makes it ideal to give the meat a nice flavor and texture. Moreover, as it’s neutral with almost no nutty or distinctive tones, so you can enjoy the authentic flavor of the meat.
This makes it suitable for people who want neutral-tasting oils for fondue. Also, vegetable oil is considered healthy as they are a healthy source of fat!
7. Clarified butter or butter oil
Clarified oil is a handy option when it comes to frying, but is also a great option for preparing oil fondue.
It has a high smoking point which makes it suitable for sauteing. However, clarified butter or butter oil has a very distinctive taste with a toasty and nutty aroma, so this may slightly overpower the authentic taste of meat.
Moreover, you should also be careful while preparing meat along with clarified oil. You need to make sure that you don’t add salt to the meat before dipping as this may cloud the oil.
This brings us to the end of the list of best oils for fondue! Just know what type of flavor you want, what oil is available at home, and pick one from the list.
FAQs
What is the best oil for beef fondue?
Regardless of the type of meat you are serving, you must consider that the oil being used has a very high smoking point, neutral flavor, great health benefits, and zero bad fat.
For instance, you can use oils such as canola and sunflower oil for beef fondue as they have all the properties in the right amount.
What do you put in an oil fondue?
When you are preparing oil fondue, you might grab any boneless meat. However, that meat should hold its shape well when cooked in hot oil.
Many people use meat options such as chicken, pork, and beef in the traditional meat fondue recipes. Just note that when you’re using beef, cut the meat into bite-size cubes so that you trim the fat!
Is broth or oil better for fondue?
If you want your meat to be extremely flavorful, you should opt for a broth. Make sure that you take the respective broth type for every meat. For example, it’s beef fondue, go for beef broth.
However, you should opt for oil if you want a traditional meat fondue with an authentic taste of meat.
How do you heat oil for fondue?
When you’re preparing meat fondue, it is important to be careful with the oil. Just follow these steps and you will do just fine.
- In a fondue pot preheat the oil just before boiling. We recommend filling the pot one third to avoid oil splash.
- Do not preheat the oil in some other container and later on move the oil to fondue. It is very dangerous.
- Finally, in a medium heavy-bottom pot, let the fondue oil heat for around 5 minutes. Then, add the other ingredients.
1 comment
What about avocado oil? It has the highest smoke point at 520°. Peanut oil is just 450°.
Avocado oil is healthy and recommended for high heat cooking and frying, yet very few fondue lists ever mention it. I would love to find out if there is a reason for that, some info I have missed.