Can you fondue with canola oil?

Fondue is a fun and delicious way to gather with friends and enjoy melted cheese, chocolate, or broth with bread and veggies for dipping. The key to good fondue is having the right kind of oil or fat to keep the fondue smooth and prevent separation. Traditionally, fondues are made with butter, cream, or oil. But can you use canola oil for fondue? Let’s take a closer look at how canola oil performs when making different fondues.

Cheese Fondue

Cheese fondue is a classic Swiss dish made by melting cheese in wine or broth and served communal style for dipping bread cubes or vegetables. The melted cheese mixture needs to be kept at a constant simmer, so a fat like butter or oil is added to prevent the cheese from separating and clumping. Most traditional recipes call for grated Swiss cheese and white wine, with a bit of cornstarch to thicken and 1-2 tablespoons of kirsch (cherry brandy). Canola oil can successfully be substituted for butter or other fats when making cheese fondue. It will keep the cheese smooth and incorporated. The neutral flavor of canola oil also won’t interfere with the other ingredients. The smoke point of canola oil is 400°F, which is higher than butter, meaning it’s less likely to burn or generate off flavors at the temperatures needed to keep cheese fondue smooth.

Chocolate Fondue

Chocolate fondue typically consists of melted chocolate and cream kept warm in a pot for dipping fruit, cake, or other treats. A little butter is often added to the chocolate and cream mixture to emulsify it and prevent the chocolate from clumping or separating. Canola oil can be used in place of butter to emulsify chocolate fondue. Since the mixture only needs to be warm enough to keep the chocolate fluid, not simmering hot, the smoke point of canola oil is not a concern here. The neutral taste won’t interfere with the chocolate or other ingredients either. About 1-2 tsp of canola oil per 12 oz of chocolate is sufficient to keep the fondue smooth and incorporated.

Broth or Oil Fondue

Some fondues feature hot broth or oil rather than cheese or chocolate as the main dipping liquid. Common examples are hot oil fondues for cooking thinly sliced meats and broth fondues for cooking vegetables, seafood, or meat. While butter can add flavor, these fondues rely more on straight oil to provide the smooth liquid base. Again, canola oil’s high smoke point and neutral flavor makes it an ideal choice. Its light texture won’t become heavy or greasy when kept simmering for prolonged dipping. Consider using pure canola oil or mixing it with a small amount of olive oil or broth for flavor.

Canola Oil Suitability for Fondue

So why does canola oil work well for fondues? Here are some of its properties that make it a practical fondue fat:

High Smoke Point

The smoke point of canola oil is 400°F, which exceeds butter’s smoke point of 350°F. This high tolerance for heat prevents burning or off flavors, especially important for cheese and broth fondues kept at a simmer for long periods.

Neutral Taste

Canola oil has a mild, neutral flavor. This allows the other fondue ingredients to shine rather than being overpowered.

Smooth Texture

Canola oil has a lighter viscosity and smooth texture. This allows it to blend and emulsify well with cheeses and chocolate to prevent separation.

Affordable

Canola oil is an affordable fondue fat option compared to some alternatives. This helps cut down on costs for large groups.

Easy to Find

As a common cooking oil, canola oil is widely available in any grocery store. Finding it is easier than tracking down specialized fats like Clarified butter.

Fondue Tips with Canola Oil

Here are some tips for getting the best results when using canola oil for fondue:

Use Refined or Expeller Pressed Oil

Look for refined, expeller pressed, or high-oleic canola oil. This avoids any strong flavors or smells from unrefined, cold-pressed oils.

Measure Oil Before Heating

Precisely measure out the amount of canola oil needed rather than pouring straight from the bottle into a hot pot. This gives more control and prevents accidentally adding too much.

Stir Frequently

Continue to stir cheese or chocolate fondues often, even after adding canola oil. This prevents any separation or clumping of ingredients.

Consider Oil Blends

Mixing a small amount of olive, avocado, or walnut oil can add some flavor complexity to canola oil in fondues. Just maintain canola as the majority oil.

Monitor Temperatures

Use a fondue pot or pot with temperature controls. Keep cheese and broth fondues at a low simmer around 180-200°F. Chocolate fondue only needs to reach 90-95°F.

Clean Up Properly

Be sure to wash fondue pots thoroughly after use to avoid any off flavors from old oil mixing in.

Fondue Recipes with Canola Oil

Here are some tasty fondue recipes that use canola oil:

Classic Cheese Fondue

Ingredients	Instructions
– 1 clove garlic, halved – 1 cup dry white wine – 2 tbsp cornstarch – 2 cups grated Swiss cheese – 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese – 1 tsp fresh lemon juice – 1⁄4 tsp ground nutmeg – 1⁄4 tsp pepper – 2 tbsp canola oil	1. Rub inside of fondue pot with garlic clove. Discard garlic. 2. In pot, heat wine until bubbling. 3. Whisk cornstarch into wine, cook 2 min. 4. Add cheeses, whisk constantly until melted. 5. Whisk in lemon juice, nutmeg, pepper. 6. Just before serving, stir in canola oil. 7. Keep fondue over low heat to keep melted.

Dark Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients	Instructions
– 12 oz dark chocolate, chopped – 1 cup half and half – 1⁄4 cup brown sugar – 1 tsp vanilla – 1-2 tsp canola oil	1. In double boiler or fondue pot, melt chocolate and half and half over barely simmering water. 2. Once smooth, stir in brown sugar and vanilla. 3. Remove from heat, stir in canola oil until blended. 4. Pour into warmed fondue pot, serve with fruit and treats for dipping.

Asian Broth Hot Pot

Ingredients	Instructions
Broth: – 6 cups chicken broth – 1 cup water – 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce – 2 tbsp minced garlic – 2 tbsp minced ginger – 2 tbsp canola oil Dip Items: – Sliced meat, seafood, tofu – Sliced veggies like carrots, mushrooms, broccoli – Rice noodles or udon noodles – Scallions, basil, cilantro	1. In fondue pot, combine broth, water, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. 2. Heat to a simmer, then add canola oil. 3. Keep broth simmering for dipping throughout meal. 4. Set out plates of dipping items like meats, seafood, noodles and veggies. 5. Each person grabs items with fondue forks, briefly cooking in the simmering broth.

Ingredients

Instructions

Broth:
– 6 cups chicken broth
– 1 cup water
– 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
– 2 tbsp minced garlic
– 2 tbsp minced ginger
– 2 tbsp canola oil

Dip Items:
– Sliced meat, seafood, tofu
– Sliced veggies like carrots, mushrooms, broccoli
– Rice noodles or udon noodles
– Scallions, basil, cilantro

1. In fondue pot, combine broth, water, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.
2. Heat to a simmer, then add canola oil.
3. Keep broth simmering for dipping throughout meal.
4. Set out plates of dipping items like meats, seafood, noodles and veggies.
5. Each person grabs items with fondue forks, briefly cooking in the simmering broth.

Pros and Cons of Canola Oil for Fondue

Let’s summarize the main pros and cons of using canola oil for fondue:

Pros:

High smoke point prevents burning

Neutral flavor doesn’t interfere with other ingredients
Smooth, light texture
Affordable and accessible oil

Prevents cheese and chocolate from separating

Cons:

Less flavor compared to butter, olive oil, etc.
Thin texture unsuitable for some oil fondues

Some natural/organic brands have strong taste

So while butter or olive oil may add more flavor nuance, the neutrality, affordability, and gentle texture of canola oil make it a smart choice for keeping fondues smooth and uniform in consistency.

Fondue Tips

Here are some general tips for fondue success:

Use a fondue pot or pot with temperature control
Keep cheese and broth fondues simmering at 180-200°F
Only heat chocolate fondue to 90-95°F

Stir constantly to prevent burning or sticking
Provide lots of bread cubes, veggies, and proteins for dipping
Give guests plates for discarded dipping scraps

Set up the pot in the center of the table for communal fun

Conclusion

Canola oil can be used successfully in cheese, chocolate, broth, and hot oil fondues. Its high smoke point, neutral flavor, and smooth texture prevent fondues from separating while keeping a pleasant consistency. While butter or olive oil may add more complexity, canola oil is an affordable, versatile option accessible to most home cooks. Following fondue best practices like monitoring temperature and stirring diligently will lead to smooth, delicious fondue dipping no matter what oil you use. Gather some friends and enjoy a cozy night of eating and laughing around a simmering pot of fondue.